Where wonder exists

There are many things that don’t go well together. Water and cellphones.  Superman and kryptonite. Bare feet and LEGOs. Art and science? At first glance it might seem art and science are polar opposites too. According to the Oxford Dictionary, art is defined as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically […]

Read More Where wonder exists

True Facts

Do you like random facts about animals? Do you like watching YouTube? Then you should definitely check out “True Facts” by zefrank1 This series of videos is the product of what is clearly some pretty rigorous research. They chronicle the lives of many of the overlooked species that aren’t as ‘charismatic’ as a whale or […]

Read More True Facts

Pick up a good book

Now that our summer season of sharks, fieldwork, and exploration is beginning to wind down, many of the ASLC researchers are retreating to their offices like bears to their dens. There, we find a never-ending conveyor belt of new papers and information that has piled up over the summer, waiting to be read. While reading […]

Read More Pick up a good book

What can we do?

When we’d discussed the idea of having questions and answers from our exhibit room this summer, I was happy to act as a Google search for simpler questions about animals because curiosity is amazing, and many of these questions make me smile (“Do Fish Yawn?” Yes, Evan R. they do!!). But, I also had really […]

Read More What can we do?

AMSS 2019: Florida to Alaska

Opposite ends of our country, but science knows no bounds I currently work in Northwest Florida, which in many ways is the polar opposite of Alaska. Our Gulf doesn’t have majestic marine ecosystems littered with unique marine mammals and diving sea birds. We don’t have grandiose mountains and glaciers. And the only ice you’ll find […]

Read More AMSS 2019: Florida to Alaska

Friday Frontiers: “The shutdown chronicles”

Synchronicity and the butterfly effect are wreaking havoc with marine science. Synchronicity – syn.chro.nic.i.ty – /ˌsiNGkrəˈnisədē/ Definition: ‘meaningful coincidences’ – the simultaneous occurrence of events which appear related but have no discernible causal connection. Butterfly effect  Definition: ‘an African butterfly’s wing-beats can lead to hurricanes across the Atlantic’ – In chaos theory, the butterfly effect […]

Read More Friday Frontiers: “The shutdown chronicles”

A look back at 2018

A co-worker recently said to me, “I don’t know what you do on an average day”. It isn’t uncommon in an organization of our size not to know the day-to-day happenings of all your co-workers. That was partially why we started this blog, to share with our ASLC family and all of you the highlights, […]

Read More A look back at 2018

Social Media and Outreach

Traditional ideas of scientific outreach and communication usually refer to press releases, news articles, public talks, formal and informal education, and public demonstrations. These are all valid (and excellent!) choices for outreach. But what about less traditional means? Social media and science communication Many people think of social media management as a light, fluffy, fun […]

Read More Social Media and Outreach

Shrimp treadmills and nerds of trust

What is outreach? Part 2 In my last post, I covered some of the immediate and small scale benefits of outreach: researchers who participate in public engagement and outreach develop better analytical and research skills while also helping to dispel myths and stereotypes about scientists. While certainly important, these justifications are not the primary goal […]

Read More Shrimp treadmills and nerds of trust

What is outreach? Part 1

In my last post, I introduced myself and mentioned that I’m at the ASLC to work on outreach. But that begs the question: What exactly is “outreach” and why should we care? No one can agree on a single, “official” definition of outreach (and if you go searching, you will in fact find many different […]

Read More What is outreach? Part 1

Reading Recommendations

I’ve got my coffee, a delicious white chocolate biscotti from the cafe up the road, and all my emails from overnight have been checked. It is 7:30 am, technically a good half hour before my day starts, but I finally have a few moments to check through my bookmarked sites and see what my fellow […]

Read More Reading Recommendations

AMSS 2018: Education perspective

As an Informal Science Educator (ISE – yep that’s a real job) I come to these kinds of conferences with a bit of a different perspective. As a practitioner of the “soft” sciences (social and human dimensions) we don’t often have presentations here. Instead, we are looking to refresh relationships, build new connections, go to […]

Read More AMSS 2018: Education perspective

A look back on 2017

Let’s face it 2017 was a tough year for many – in particular, those of us who work in the field of science – but some amazing things also happened this year: There was the March for Science (we had a great turn out right here in Seward)! There were technology breakthroughs advancements in green […]

Read More A look back on 2017

Tis the Season

The nights are getting longer, the snow is falling softly, and holiday music has been playing for at least a month already. That’s right, it is Scientific Proposal Season! Here at the ASLC, many of us in the Science Department have been hunched over our computers since Thanksgiving, typing away as deadlines for some marine […]

Read More Tis the Season

How we get research ideas

You’ve probably heard stories about how scientists get ideas that might include ‘it came to me in a dream!’. This blog post shares a different kind of story–one about how scientists take an idea, design a scientific study, discover an answer, and excitingly, end up with more questions!

Read More How we get research ideas