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.
Welcome to the first instalment Frugal Fun ─ which takes an assortment of lessons and applies them in a fun, frugal way. These posts are designed to take basic lessons and apply them in utilitarian, hands on ways. After all, what’s the point of all these lessons if you don’t know how to apply them? …
Editor’s note: This post has been updated and broken links removed. Please see our policy on broken hyperlinks for more. Science communication circles are growing ever more popular and passionate about science. Google “science is for…” and you’ll see that it fills in “everyone.” No doubt it’s because of the associated TEDTalk, but it’s an infectious, exciting …
The Cornell Method of taking notes is pretty straight-forward and helpful to people just starting out in the world of developing good study habits. The original plan was to take notes during lecture, then add your own comments and thoughts in a smaller column, then summarise every page at the bottom like the image to …
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 …