Alberta should stop digging up the oil sands and build a nanocrystalline cellulose factory instead – turning trees into a light, strong, transparent material that conducts electricity. Sensible forestry practices are far less environmentally damaging than oil sands development. Plus, if we’re clever about it, using trees for NCC could help slow climate change by increasing carbon sequestration.
What I read on the bus this week
A fellowship I’m applying for wants people who’ve “developed their own vision for the future that defines a bold change for the community or a group, cause or organization.” Of course, people with truly bold visions will have their applications tossed in the garbage. Whenever I get frustrated with my application, I like to picture the reviewers reading a proposal by Shulamith Firestone.
August’s Berry Go Round is up. My favorite entry was this moss id post.
Scientists are expected to be working all the time, though usually it’s a subtle, cultural pressure with at least lip service given to the idea of a life outside of work. But the people who pay the bills are pretty explicit about how they think scientists should live.
Rain in Prague by Maya Wronksa
Congratulations! (not)
The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Himmapaan
Several months ago I received a letter from my fellowship funders, self-congratulatory and long winded as all such letters are. But the patronizing tone was quickly forgotten at the line “your fellowship is being increased by $X for the next academic year.” Then there was great rejoicing among the fellowship recipients. Great plans were laid for feasting (i.e. non-ramen meals), epic journeys (i.e. less than 6 people in a hotel room for conferences), and dancing our shoes off.
But our dreams were dashed this morning when the new year’s tuition and fees were announced. It turns out that the fees have increased by twice $X, so the funding increase merely means that the reduction in our paychecks won’t actually cause anyone to starve.
Music for doing dishes on a sunny Saturday
Berry Go Round!
I bet you miss all the blogging I used to do about plants. Go get your fix at this month’s edition of the Berry Go Round botanical blog carnival. And here’s a picture of some adorable Western hemlock cones to help make up for all the plant blogging I haven’t done. 