Warren County, North Carolina, doesn’t seem the most likely place for the environmental justice movement to have started. It’s a small, rural county northeast of Raleigh, and might have stayed just that if not for a decision to dump a toxic landfill in its midst in 1978. The response of Warren County’s primarily black residents … Continue reading
Merry Christmas from UNdertheC! In blog tradition, we’re kicking off our holiday hiatus with a poem. (For more, check out Kelsey Ellis’ versions of Christmas classics, updated for grad students: The Twelve Days of Christmas and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.) See you in 2016! A Bioluminescent Christmas Below the grey Atlantic waves, a starfish … Continue reading
Before attending your first scientific conference, you’ll get a lot of feedback. Most of that commentary is about science, fittingly enough. “Be prepared to see at least 17 big wigs in your audience,” your advisor warns. “That graph is kinda nonsense,” your grad student practice audience frowns. “Will green and blue make it tough for … Continue reading
As anyone who’s tried to keep a fickle houseplant alive knows, plant cultivation is not easy. While Matt Damon is growing potatoes on Mars, most of us are struggling to figure out why our bromeliads are drooping despite our unfettered attentions. Now imagine growing those plants in slightly less hospitable conditions- say, a few days … Continue reading
Pope Francis released an encyclical on the environment in June, and your first thought was probably, “Should I care?” Your second may have been, to quote 1920s presidential candidate Al Smith, “What the hell is an encyclical?” Quick answers: 1) yes, no matter who you are, and 2) read on. Let’s start with the basics, … Continue reading
In the Southern Outer Banks, taking walks on the beach is a routine activity rather than an aspirational line for one’s OK Cupid profile. I don’t know how an affinity for beach walking became the clincher for personal ads rather than, say, “likes cooking gourmet meals and then doing all the dishes,” but it’s true … Continue reading
At some point while roaming a library, I came across a book entitled The Weekend Makeover: Get a Brand New Life by Monday Morning. It was kind of silly and I never ended up checking it out, but the basic premise has stuck with me. Each chapter focused on an area of improvement- organization, exercise, … Continue reading
As modern marine scientists, we spend a lot of time learning to effectively communicate science to various audiences. That’s mostly so we can make friends at parties, but has some nice side benefits like educating the general public, whatever. Sometimes though, and I’m probably admitting to a cardinal sin of outreach here, there’s a certain … Continue reading
Hope your binoculars are polished and your shade tree seedlings are ready to go- it’s International Migratory Bird Day! Yes, ornithologists’ Christmas is finally upon us, and there’s no better reason to get out there and scan the skies or participate in an official event near you. But on the off chance that you found … Continue reading
If you were walking down the street, mulling over your latest research conundrum, and were suddenly accosted by a mad-eyed figure demanding the name of an ocean-themed poem, you would probably shout over your shoulder as you sprinted away, “The Chambered Nautilus!” (Either that or Feedback, if the insane number of hits Kelsey’s post receives … Continue reading
UNder the C 