I'm a "dirt-ologist". I love studying the interface of human and environment interaction, often asking the rather rhetorical question: "Do we change the landscape, or does the landscape change us?"
I also captain the ISS Insanitekian, a startup adventure of a lifetime.
The summer sun and heat calls people outside once again. With all the scares of mosquito transmitted diseases, the bug spray is par for the course. Who’s more at risk: city-dwellers or rural lovers? Research out of Panama suggests those along the main roads — whether they are rural or city dwellers are first choice …
Most school systems teach in blocks. Peak into any school, and you’ll see that they are teaching one topic. It usually goes introduction, explanation, practice, revise, and then finally a testing for mastery. Rinse, repeat ad nauseam. You likely know this as most people teach in this method because that’s how they were taught. It’s the …
What does it take to be popular? A desire to be the centre of attention, sure, but also people paying attention to what you say. Not everyone wants to be popular, but it certainly helps to be able to get your research seen and heard. This, in turn, helps to get grant money or raise …
Silly putty is a toy that entertained and fascinates many still today. Instead of being a store-bought item of entertainment, many make it at home, turning it into a great DIY party for kids of all ages. Silly Putty started out as a purposeful accident. Back in the early 1940s World War II was going …
I often hear the complaint, “Their heart just isn’t in it” or “I’m not entirely sure the new guy understands what’s going on. I don’t get it, his degree suggested he did.” The problem isn’t the business. The problem starts much earlier on in the educational institution. In 2013 came the startling announcement (Paton, 2013) that …
What happens to your research when you move on to the next great thing in life? If you’re like most scientists, the lab notebooks get relegated to a bookshelf or file cabinet where they collect dust until they are either packed in a box or picked up for a court case. Every time I open …
Is fat bad or good for us? What about eggs? And our precious coffee? Well, it depends. Back in the 90s, I remember my mother clearing all fats out of the house and banning eggs. She had read a study stating that they were bad for the health. Plasticy non-fat cheese, sugar-laden, non-fat yoghurt became …
A quick Google search notes that there are over 2 million pieces on improving your listening skills. This implies that there is something seriously wrong with the status quo of a person’s average listening abilities. Why is listening important? Well, as a human, you want people to hear you, see you, and understand you. As …
A quick Google search on career prep advice in the sciences is disappointing. The first few hits assume the only thing you want to be is a professor. Industry, independent, and research scientists are all lacking, not to mention any axillary jobs, like lab techs. This post aims to make a more inclusive list of …
A recent worry I’ve heard from some of our homeschoolers and independent scientists alike is how to do research successfully from the comfort of their home. You’d be surprised to know that a great deal of science and research can be done from home provided you pay attention to laws and regulations. I beg you …