Am back here in Oxford MS for the joint Oxford ICSB conference (intnl conf on Science of Botanicals) + 7th World Congress on Medicinal & Aromatic Plants.
Never knew of this till 2 weeks ago and never been to this before, but I did manage to get into what I think is suitable professional attire. (Also #MaskOn - can't believe I'm one of maybe a handful using one)
Tonight, I bought a new dress and shoes for the teaching awards ceremony next Monday. I was tempted by a pair of gold Sam Edelman heels, but opted for sparkly sneakers instead. The DKNY dress has short sleeves so my ink will be out and it is like nothing I would normally wear to work. Tomorrow, my mom arrives for the weekend and to attend the ceremony. Life is feeling a bit surreal these days. #Personal#ProfLife
Tonight I hosted a screening and discussion of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”. Everything worked technically and there was a good audience. I am very grateful for my chemistry students who came and contributed to the conversation.
Even if you don’t know Henrietta’s story, you’ve probably benefited from her cells. You can read the excellent book (by the same name) or this: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henrietta-lacks.
I woke before my alarm. Today I have 2 difficult conversations this morning, class at 12, then daughter’s state wrestling tournament until 9pm. At some point, I guess I’ll eat a meal? Carrying grief around like a too heavy backpack. I also knew it was cloudy before opening my eyes, stupid sinuses. Happy Friday, friends.
So there's not 1, not 2 but THREE floor to ceiling whiteboards that you can move as you like on one side of the conference room - and where does the room full of PhDs choose to write? #ProfLife#FacultyTales
I think I'm going to do this for all classes now:
Use stickers to encourage students to speak up. First class of the semester went quite well!
These are the leftover stickers.
5 days till spring semester starts and I definitely have a cold. Looks like the viruses going around my daughter’s school have found some traction at home. We are all less than well today. Time for a #COVID test.
Reading a student capstone paper about synthetic #cannabinoid receptor agonists and the author notes that "Efficacy can also be determined in vivo by radiobiotelemmetry, which can quantify physiological levels of the 'cannabinoid tetrad' (i.e. hypothermia, analgesia, hypolocomotion, and catalepsy)." This has got to be the most sciency way ever of saying that you can tell if the person is really high. #chemistry#proflife
Expected news: Now, here’s the open access publishing fee ($795). In 2020, my school had ha fund at the library for this so I went looking for the form to request support.
Bad news: Apparently the fund has been discontinued due to budget cuts. The librarian who told me of the change suggested I organize a crowdfunding campaign to support the publication of my article.
What.A.Day!
Great day at #Nagasaki Univ. Q&A after seminar went in for 40mins - maybe because you can encourage even college students to speak up if you offer stickers (hot tip, let the shy kids at the back who stay on, come & get stickers after anyway)
Then a most fabulous shabu shabu dinner with Kagoshima pork (+ sake) in an amazing environ
Sorry no more details now - going to bed - I have to wake up for a 6am zoom panel (4pm US) 😳
Pretty big crowd at the #ISNAC2023 meeting - on #NucleicAcids#Chemistry
I thought I did ok - went over Advances in #DNA & #RNA#Polymer hybrids. Key slide ⅓ of the way through after acknowledgements & background I showed the headers, titles of the 4 papers my student has out - in Chem, Precision Chem, JACS and ACS Nano, the last one just 2 weeks ago.
Told the audience he was happy, I was happy, and I hope they would read the papers, so "you too will be happy"
Just one slight chuckle #ProfLife
Today, I finished a 5 page narrative about why I should be considered for a Teaching Excellence Award and sent it out for comments. Writing about myself is not fun. Also, I don't like the amount of work I have to do for just phase 1 of this award cycle. (Next up is 150 page dossier and I'm tired just thinking about that.) Still, the reflection I did today was positive, so that's something. #ProfLife#Teaching#ChemistryEducation
Who do you really love following that you suspect too few others in your orbit know? I want to know them too.
I’ll start with:
@OkieSpaceQueen who teaches kids in Oklahoma about the stars and alerts the rest of us to big & exciting nighttime goings on.
@joyce, a retired professor of Medieval Literature turned fiction writer. Her ~daily updates somehow ground me in a away I find hard to explain (and I hope she never stops or changes).
Last weekend, I bought a beautiful old oak office chair for $25. It was very comfy and I thought “let’s make this my desk chair!” I mean it just screams “a professor sits here”. But friends, let me tell you. It is NOT comfortable after a 3 hour zoom meeting. It does not slide on carpet. And even lowering the desk to a better height, my wrist and arm are now saying “wtf were you thinking?” So yeah, I might be buying a new (softer more supportive) desk chair this weekend. #ProfLife
Getting my combo COVID/Flu shot. I usually get pretty loopy for the rest of the day, trying shots at night so I won’t have to cancel classes tomorrow. What will happen? #highered#academicchatter#proflife
It's been a while since I have felt so unempowered and beaten down. I am just so tired of feeling disrespected and ignored. Going into this meeting at 3pm with the expectation that I will be shut down again. I can't be strong or forceful. I can't call out my chair's decision. I have a mortgage. I have a teenager. I don't have tenure. Today, I will be put in my place again and asked to accommodate a male superior's ego. And I'll do it. I have no other choice. #ProfLife
@DrFerrous I was down about 10% of my class yesterday. I heard that COVID is going around one of the dorms, so I emailed folks to encourage them to get tested, stay home if positive/symptomatic, and wear masks. I got at least two responses from students who are now COVID positive
I often feel like the #LastMaskStanding but maybe I’ll convince more folks to #MaskUp. #profLife