Effective communication is one of the most important skills required of a successful scientist. We’re all accustomed to the process of writing papers, presenting data and giving talks among colleagues. But once we leave the lab, things can get dicey. Think of the dinner party where you’re the only scientist and someone asks “What do you do?”
BenchLife
Being a scientist isn’t just about doing experiments, so neither are we. This is where we make breakthroughs beyond the bench for scientists.
Communicating with Non-scientists: It’s a Ball or Tylenol?
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If You’ve Got a Tongue, You’re Gonna Love These Cheese Balls
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Pete Schweddy (Alec Baldwin) might have done more than anyone in history to put “holiday balls” on the map when he shared his family’s recipe with the ladies of public radio on Saturday Night Live. Well, more than almost anyone…
What Makes a Successful Scientist?
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As scientists, we’re as diverse as the DNA that encodes us. Some of us would read papers at the dinner table, if allowed, while others need a break and leave the literature in the lab. Some of us consider an 80-hour week to be normal, while others just don’t consider it at all. Some of us prefer to work in solitude, while others spend half of the day discussing future experimental plans with colleagues.
Scary Seminar Seat Selections
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You knew trying to set up the last-minute experiment was going to cost you- it just wasn’t clear how badly… After speed-walking to the seminar room, you quietly enter – the introduction has just started. You carefully scan the crowd for familiar faces and empty seats. Unfortunately, you recognize all of the faces sitting next to each of the remaining five seats. Even the Dali Lama would struggle to remain calm when faced with an hour sitting right next to one of these folks.
How Do You Fill Free Time in Lab?
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Scientific research is often filled with incubations- 30 minutes here, two hours there. In some of these cases, careful monitoring of the reaction or instrument is required. Others, however, leave the door wide open to do other things.
Are You a Social Media Junkie?
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A recent study showed that greater than 15% of Twitter users access social media in the restroom and more than 10% access it while driving. (Note to self, never borrow Dave’s iPhone again…) If we’re prioritizing social media over these tasks, then when aren’t we on it?
What Do You Want in a Boss?
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Deodorant and a collared shirt? Is that all we’re looking for in a leader? If a great boss could be guaranteed by something so simple, Right Guard would be the most powerful company in the world…
Infrared Thermometer: The Kitchen Weapon You Need
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Just as the right piece of lab equipment can make our life easier, so too can the right kitchen tool. And if it just happens to make us feel like Dirty Harry when standing in front of the stovetop, all the better…
Holiday Videocamera Giveaway!
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We’ve hit that point in the year where time seems to accelerate. Next week is November. In a few short weeks, we’ll be passed out in a turkey coma – stuffing and cranberry sauce all over our sweater. Before we know it, it’ll be mid-December and we’ll enter our usual last-minute holiday gift panic. High anxiety and a low bank account… not good. But we’re here to help!
Project Juggling: How Many Can You Handle?
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In fishing, the more lines in the water, the better the chance of catching something. In science, this may or may not be the case. Some people prefer to perform one project at a time, staying focused on every experiment. Others prefer to balance their time among several projects, increasing their chances of both finding one that works and making a mistake.
