On the Rocks

Geology undergrad student studying igneous petrology This is my research life in a nutshell

[brandiwhine]

there’s this rock at my uni that anyone can paint on whenever they want and this is what someone painted on it today and i know i am typing in lowercase but i was legit freaking out when i saw it

a sign from the heavens

[captainoinkers]

update

[tittes]

oh my god

[make-it-gneiss]

When someone tells me that I should use their methods instead

Some jerk tried to tell me the published methods of my group was shit and we should use a method and program devised by his old group (he's now working in a hydrology lab). This was supposed to be a calm, positive little poster session for the undergrads to show their summer work - yeah, not to this guy.

[maryhomegirl]

WHEN I'M THE TA AND THE PROFESSOR ASKS ME TO LECTURE FOR A BIT

HOW I IMAGINE THE STUDENTS SEE IT

[make-it-gneiss]

How does the prospect of grad school just jump out at you? Shit, I felt like I was a freshman last year. Luckily I have my list down to four schools, one of which is where I really want to go.They have an electron microprobe lab! How can I not want to join that group?

But I have a lot on my plate right now: writing my paper, getting a good abstract for AGU Fall, presenting next week, preparing for TAing, and applying for grad school. Priorities are definitely not in that order but man, does it get any better? I'm getting overwhelmed.

[make-it-gneiss]

When my advisor sends me five emails in the middle of the night with papers to read

[make-it-gneiss]

Uncomfortable situation? CHECK!

Last week I was a speaker at a recruitment event for our College of Arts and Sciences. I stood with my advisor, waiting for non-existent questions about the geology program here and we just talk until this man approaches us. What do you know, he is a creationist. The strangest part was that he was very nonchalant and nonconfrontational. 

Simply put, that was the most awkward 20 minutes of my life. My advisor is a geomorphologist my trade, hydrogeologist by study. I am an ig. petrologist by study. (I shamefully admit I have never taken a paleo class before nor sed/strat.) We're not the best people to briefly discus these topics with that man, much less bring some of them down to a level he could understand.

Granted, I looked to her the entire time and she took it like a champ. It was a very respectable discussion, despite us being slightly dismissive to some claims about floods, index fossils, and dating - the usual arguments. At least he was not a Young-Earth person. That would not have been a fun situation in which to try to remain polite.

Chrissy's first official candid experience with a creationist didn't go too badly.

[make-it-gneiss]

The Loch Ness Monster: It's Scotland's Fault

I see what you did there, Accuweather.

[make-it-gneiss]

I have not progressed in my work for two weeks. Similarly, I began to lapse two weeks ago. This is not going to be good.

[whatisgeology]

When my advisor tells me TA-ing Mineralogy won't be "too much work"

[make-it-gneiss]

TAing any class in the sequence made me realize I would almost rather do the work AGAIN than have to grade it

[whatisgeology]

Students' reactions when I say you can tell a lot about a sedimentary rock by its texture in your mouth

[make-it-gneiss]

Why is poster design the best and worst part of research? As much fun as it is, it is just as painful.

[scienceisbeauty]

What scientists say in research papers vs. What they actually mean (via io9).

[make-it-gneiss]

Papers is what happens when you find anomalous Al2O3 content in your data. Probably gonna finish it tomorrow morning. It's a little too dense for tonight.

[algrenion]

[make-it-gneiss]

When I remind myself that some papers have suggested what my results show

[make-it-gneiss]

When all the samples I need to request are from the '80s and I don't know if they still exist

[make-it-gneiss]

the theory of plate tectonics?

that shit was first accepted in the early 70's

most of our parents are older than it