Putting your research field in context isn’t just about reading the latest journal articles, or searching out the seminal papers from the past few decades. It can also include learning about the history of your field: how did it start, who were the key players, how did ideas evolve over time, etc. I have a…
I just had a two part blog series posted on the Canadian Science Publishing blog, looking at whether or not science is broken – and if it is, how can we fix it. I’m by no means the only person talking about these topics – this is part of a broader conversation on science culture,…
In case you hadn’t heard, American geoscientists are in a fight for their (funding) lives, as the Republican-dominated Congress moves to make drastic cuts to geoscience budgets. From demanding that NASA focus more on space and less on earth observation, to creating their own definition of what constitutes ‘pure science’ – and thus which of…
In the far southwestern corner of Alberta, tucked up against the eastern flanks of the Rocky Mountains, is the Star Creek watershed. Seen from the road, its alpine heights blend seamlessly with the rest of the Flathead Range, which extends south down to Montana. Its forested lower elevations are hidden in the folds of the…
In early November I had an email from Kelly, an environmental science student finishing her MSc. She’s at a crossroads, with loads of questions about career trajectories. Should she do a PhD? Can she be a writer AND a professor? Would she enjoy being a professor as much as she’d enjoy writing? What are the…
Watershed Moments: Thoughts from the Hydrosphere 