One day, perhaps...

"A joy it will be one day, perhaps, to remember even this." --Aneas (from Virgil's Aneid)

Things have been moving at a fast pace these days-- it looks like I have a date set for my defense: Friday, August 9th! It also happens to be Baby H's birthday. Only to bring me luck, of course.

Everyone was on board at a recent committee meeting and the discussion was surprisingly pleasant. This helped my confidence a lot, and reinforced what I have been saying since I've realized it: start this process early! Get a committee and get them involved as soon as you can. Group meetings are even better because of the discussion they drive-- not just a benefit for you and your project, but the discussion amongst the faculty with their peers allows them to bicker between each other and not with you. Really, everybody wins here.

There is a visible light at the end of this 6-year-long tunnel. Finally.

Now it's jut a matter of getting all of my remaining experiments done, dissertation written, and papers submitted! Yeah... sound like a lot? Because it is. But, I think my excitement and the prospect of ACTUALLY BEING DONE has overtaken any extreme feelings of stress. In the last months, the project has been streamlined and is manageable. I know exactly which experiments need to get done, and, barring any serious contamination/mysterious lab issues, it will get done on time.

The writing part is somewhat daunting. I like writing, but it is quite the time-consuming process for me. Actually, it's just consuming in general. Writing consumes me, and in order for me to produce a product I'm satisfied with, it's essential that it does. It is an art form that breeds and destroys perfectionists. And, hardest of all, there is no real way to know when you're "done" writing something. It will forever seem like something can be tweaked and changed, something could be said differently, or expanded upon. In the end, though-- at least with a dissertation-- it doesn't matter.... It all has to be in there, the data, the story, but in the end, it just needs to be finished.

Communicating Science

Exciting news! I am going to be taking a course in the fall dedicating to 'Science Writing for Impact.' It is taught by a local freelance editor and journalist, and will focus on learning to express ideas and thoughts on science in a clear manner for the general public. Besides actual writing exercises and assignments, there are some guest speakers (local writers, etc) set to come throughout the quarter.

I'm really excited about this class; I've been looking for a formalized atmosphere to learn more about the world of science writing, which can be quite different than other types of writing. Living in the world of science research requires a knowledge of what is rightly seen as its own language. There are terms and words used in science that otherwise may not even exist or have very different meanings in other contexts. It is because of this-- the fact that much of scientific research is published in a highly academic and seemingly indecipherable manner-- that some important information often never reaches the people to whom it can be the most useful. In public health field, communicating the science that is being done and the results of such research is extremely important; the work we do is directly linked to the health of people, and understanding this information is necessary for people to protect themselves and their families.

At the very least, it will be a nice change of pace to break up the lab routine. It probably won't hurt for networking either. Otherwise, things are going ok. It's that time for the SOT abstract again, this year it's in San Francisco! Woot.