@NicoleCRust@neuromatch.social avatar

NicoleCRust

@NicoleCRust@neuromatch.social

Professor (UPenn). Brain researcher. Author (nonfiction). Advocate for community based progress & collective intelligence.

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jonny, (edited ) to random
@jonny@neuromatch.social avatar

Students for divestment at #UCIrvine have taken a building and riot cops are staging

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/pro-palestinian-protesters-occupy-building-at-u-c-irvine/

edit: unclear whether riot cops have live ammo or just rubber bullets

NicoleCRust,
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@jonny
Not you, right?!

NicoleCRust,
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@jonny
Hugs to everyone at Irvine. + whew.

NicoleCRust, to science
@NicoleCRust@neuromatch.social avatar

When should one call themselves an X researcher?

There are so many different types of researchers. Weather researchers, climate researchers, brain researchers. And within those categories, the nuances (like memory researchers).

When someone says they are an X researcher, what does that imply to you? In other words, what qualifies? Does it just imply that they are curious about X? Or perhaps that they know a bit more about it - perhaps they've mastered some scholarly literature or they've done at least one experiment? Or maybe even published a paper in a peer reviewed journal? Or maybe even more - perhaps they have a body of work on the topic; maybe they even run a lab (and have grants to support X research).

On one hand, no one should gate keep curiosity! On the other, certain terms imply knowledge and qualifications. I'm a "researcher". But just because I know a lot about memory doesn't automatically mean that people should listen to me about climate or economics. And I once read a very good book about ecosystems, but I don't think that means I should quality as an ecosystem researcher. So what, then, might instead?

NicoleCRust,
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@analog_ashley
Great point! The field has built things up to require some bravado to declare "Yes, I'm computational". What qualifies? Is y=mx+b enough? Does x need to be a vector? Or do you need to be able to define what a "Jacobian" is?

Some of my best computational insights have been of the form: if you and and subtract and apply a threshold, then ....

NicoleCRust,
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@amras
Great points!

APBBlue, to random
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I think I'm going to need reading glasses soon. ::squints::

NicoleCRust, (edited )
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@APBBlue
Solidarity. My sense there is that some of us are open to reading glasses when 14 pt font menus are a normal distance from our face whereas others of us won’t give in if there’s any arm length distance we can still read a menu. If you look around at a restaurant, the more sensible among us have glasses on. The less sensible … (just look; it’s amusing!)

NicoleCRust,
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@APBBlue
Manifestion is the key!

jonny, to random
@jonny@neuromatch.social avatar

Just got chased out of a lab by a PI while doing a Union walkthrough. I feel bad for people in labs like that man, for your boss to be so tightly hovering over you and actively hostile to your rights as a worker must suck a lot.

NicoleCRust,
@NicoleCRust@neuromatch.social avatar

@jonny
❤️​

NicoleCRust, to random
@NicoleCRust@neuromatch.social avatar

On making the anticipation bifurcation collapse ...

At the final stages of pulling together a big proposal where I'm really sticking my neck out, I feel like I'm torn between two states: I can be nervous about woulda-shoulda-coulda, or I can be really happy with the delta from start to finish.

After musing for a good while on the first (Did I do everything I possibly could, given what I know?), I'm going to opt for the latter.

While it feels a bit dangerous to be hopeful and excited, I'll say it: I'M EXCITED!!!

And instead of being superstitious, I'm opting to invite the universe to join in. Hey universe: working together could be fun. Want to collaborate?!

neuralreckoning, to random
@neuralreckoning@neuromatch.social avatar

Three grant rejections in one week. Sigh.

NicoleCRust,
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@neuralreckoning
It’s rough when they pile up like that. Empathy and solidarity!

NicoleCRust, to random
@NicoleCRust@neuromatch.social avatar

Many know about amyloid, the gene APP and its relationship to Alzheimer's. But how many know the backstory? It all began with a letter from Carol Jennings to John Hardy .... Wonderful tribute and retelling here in @thetransmitter.

Much gratitude, Carol Jennings. RIP.

https://www.thetransmitter.org/alzheimers-disease/carol-jennings-whose-familys-genetics-informed-amyloid-cascade-hypothesis-dies-at-70/

NicoleCRust,
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@barrygoldman1 @thetransmitter

Carol's family is among those with a type of rare genetic mutation that, if inherited, determines that an individual will develop Alzheimer's with near certainty. This is only true for ~1% of all individuals with Alzheimer's (more here: https://dian.wustl.edu/). For this group, there is very little question about the science. But tragically, we still don't have a cure for them.

But what I expect you are hinting at is also true: for the 99% of other individuals with Alzheimer's, what triggers it, and the role that amyloid plays in that, is a lot less clear. In some of those individuals, genetics leads to higher risk. For others, no genetic links have been found.

NicoleCRust, to random
@NicoleCRust@neuromatch.social avatar

Summer reading recs?!

I’m looking to compile a big pile of IRL books for summer beach reading.

Big fan of scifi, specfic, murder mysteries. Strong female characters = bonus points. Can’t deal with darkness. Nothing high brow or tedious. Nonfiction lover but that list is already bursting at the seams.

I also love long series - 3 body problem, wheel of time, foundation … those waves all have good memories attached.

If that brings anything to mind, please send the rec!!

NicoleCRust,
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@Scoobadood
I actually didn't know the Expanse was a great book series. Now I wish I would not have watched it first ... I'll still give it a try. thank you.

NicoleCRust,
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@theta_max
Excellent - added to the list. Thank you!

NicoleCRust,
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@D3Reo
@gregeganSF. Big fan here of Egan's books. I haven't read this set yet; thank you!

NicoleCRust,
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@adardis
A rare one from this list that I've read. I agree; great rec - thank you!

NicoleCRust,
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@jwc
Thanks!

NicoleCRust,
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@adardis
Didn't know these. Excellent!

NicoleCRust,
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@csgordon
Looks really great. On it's way. Thanks!

NicoleCRust,
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@dcm
That's a rare combo. Thank you! I'll check it out.

NicoleCRust,
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@kimhoar
thanks!

NicoleCRust,
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@cmaclell @dcm
Sounds delightful; thank you.

NicoleCRust,
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@zeh
Super - thank you!

NicoleCRust,
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@axoaxonic
Oh wow - I'll definitely check those out. Thanks!

NicoleCRust,
@NicoleCRust@neuromatch.social avatar

@olena
Thank you!

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