This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
It’s been a while since I shared what I’ve been reading. Here are a bunch of things that have made me think, or helped me think, in the last few months.
Normalizing the existence of women and the work they do
On supporting science journalism
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Here is an archive of images of women doing science
Here is an archive of images of women breastfeeding
Teaching in higher education
“My student’s performance of the sassy me was meant as a compliment and in a mode she wanted to emulate in spirit if not in style. We were having fun, and I liked her too much to ruin her enjoyment of my “sassiness,” my “fierceness,” my “no-you-din’t-ness,” but it stayed with me and had me wondering about that space between what I perform (however badly) in the classroom and what is projected onto me and how those are inevitably racialized by both me and my students. Recently a student wrote, “She is the SHIT! Know DAT!” on the back of one of my evaluations, and, after laughing aloud in my office, I had to wonder what about my teaching of 19th-century British literature invites this interpretation of me.”
Navigating Difficult Dialogue in the Classroom
Role modeling
Re: “When I grow up, I want to be a zookeeper!” and other girly things
The Year I Didn’t Retweet Men: Being mindful about whose voices I amplify
Trolls and other jerks
Internet Trolls Really Are Horrible People (paper to which this article refers here)
Please Consider This a Polite Spanking
Here are some quotes from a manuscript review shared in the above post.
That means an editor at Global Ecology and Biogeography let these through, which I find shameful. [I misunderstood -- the review did not happen at that journal, but it's where the manuscript was eventually published.]
“the study was done on less than 10% of the appropriate species […] Such academic laziness is inexcusable and scandalous
“there are many instances where the authors appear to pull the wool over the reader’s eyes
“This is another example of embarrassingly obvious laziness.
“That goes beyond even forgivable bending of the truth
“If any of the authors were thinking
“Please consider this a polite spanking.”
Miscellaneous science
Building Babies press briefing from AAAS. Those of you who are teachers may want to consider springing for the actual session – it’s $50 for six great talks.
5 Psychological Studies that Require a Second Look
Breast Cancer’s Latest Saga: Misfearing and Misplaced Goalposts
Male Sexual Orientation Influenced by Genes, Study Shows. I just had to share an article that wins this month’s award for most vaguely accurate title.
