Today’s facts may be tomorrow’s fallacies. And last Thursday, I got a serious reminder that science is a progressive continuum of new discoveries, and not a static body of facts. I study minnows, and last year I wrote a post to clear up some misconceptions about minnows. Things like how many small fishes are called…
Category: Fishery Science Profession
How to “attend” a professional meeting without attending
There are many reasons, financial, personal, professional, which inhibit us from attending every relevant conference and meeting in person. While other means of communication and engagement will surely never replace the experience of being present at a conference, we do now often have alternative means to participate in some capacity…
A Conference Angle: From Socialization to Publication
Conference season is upon us, and the national meeting of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is fast approaching! Here at The Fisheries Blog, we’ve shared posts on the value of professional conferences, as well as a student’s guide to networking at conferences (I recommend reading both prior to your next conference). I’d like to share…
Book review: the Squidtoons comic
This is the coolest piece of #scicomm I’ve seen in a while: Squidtoons: Exploring Ocean Science with Comics by Garfield Kwan and Dana Song. Squidtoons has been ‘illustrating science with farts, burps, and giggles’ since 2013. Their website features entertaining comics packed with info on the amazing diversity of marine life, including a 2016 collaboration…
How “little brother syndrome” makes our fisheries profession stronger
We instinctually look for and look up to “big brothers” in our organizations and careers. There can be great value in harnessing “little brother syndrome” to push our fisheries profession foward.
Radios Reveal Wandering Habits of Smallmouth Bass in Oklahoma: Angler-funded research lends greater understanding of one of America’s greatest sport fish
By Craig Springer, USFWS About the time that redbuds flash their pretty pinkish blooms on eastern Oklahoma’s hillsides and gray streamside sycamores unfurl their fresh leaves the color akin to a wet lime, there’s something curious going on. And it goes mostly sight unseen. Smallmouth bass are on the move with the singular purpose of…
What is our fisheries research impact?
The daily work of fishery managers can have very tangible impact on the resources…research can be a bit more removed but can still have a significant impact with engagement of appropriate audiences.
Science Moms: navigating work and life
Navigating work life balance as a science mom in the Department of Interior Climate Science Centers (CSCs) within U.S. federal research community.
What’s Your Story?
I just read For the Love of Rivers by Kurt Fausch. It came out a couple years ago when I was a postdoc, but I just got around to reading it because, as it turns out, postdocs don’t have a whole lot of spare time for leisure reading. For the Love of Rivers describes the…
Blog Biodiversity: Related Species in the Scicomm Ecosystem
It’s my first semester teaching Evolution & Ecology at Nicholls State University; with plenty of challenging and complex topics to tackle, I’ve also been given the latitude to integrate more science communication (scicomm) into this upper-level biology course. We’ve included Twitter and popular science articles alongside analyses of natural selection, genetic drift, and traditional scientific…
Woman scientist of color blazes path for others
Guest Author: Christina Uh Editor: Patrick Cooney Resilience. What does this word mean to you? To me it means overcoming obstacles that obstruct your mission, your goal, your purpose. It is your ability to succeed in the face of adversity; it is your power to be adaptable, strong, and tough. I am of Mayan and…
A fish scientist’s 10 tips for surviving a hurricane: Lessons learned from Puerto Rico
Guest Authors: Zach Moran and Mackenzie Gunn Editor: Patrick Cooney On September 20th, 2017, Puerto Rico was directly hit by a Category 5 hurricane. We were on the island conducting research on fish and found ourselves unaware of all the proper steps to take ahead of time to prepare ourselves for the aftermath. Hurricane Maria…
Surviving the Hurricane: Science Center Nears Completion 1 Year After Hurricane
Despite the devastating impact of a Category 1 Hurricane just one year ago, the new Nature Coast Biological Station nears completion.
How (not to) fail grad school
Grad students can be successful for countless reasons, depending on their unique projects and experiences. But unsuccessful grad students have several things in common. Fall semester starts this week at many universities, and lots of grad students are taking the leap for the first time. Here are a few tips. I finished grad school in…
9 Key Principles for Instructors to Help Students Learn
Guest Author: Dr. Don Orth Editor: Patrick Cooney We are all teachers and learners, albeit too often flawed, slow learners. Here, pictured with a filmstrip projector, I listened as the Beatles sang “You say you want a revolution. Well, you know. We all want to change the world.” (John Lennon / Paul McCartney Revolution lyrics…
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