Deep thoughts and silliness

I’ve just made a decision about a manuscript I’m editing. Now the software won’t give me the form letter to send to the authors.
Aaagh! I have to think of what to write all on my own! I FEEL SO HELPLESS.

There is much excitement on NN today because we’ll finally be getting MT4 as a blogging platform. I’ve just had a great idea for a post, so we’ll see if I can get it ready in time.

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There was lots of carnival action yesterday. More below the fold, as well as a new scheme to help make it easier to follow all these science and nature carnivals.

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I had been writing this post, but had put it aside (honest). Yesterday Jenny posted about the same topic, so I’ll take a break from putting envelopes around trees, and finish what I was writing.
If you have been hanging around in the scientific blogosphere for some time, you get to read about several people who have been through the scientific mill, doing PhDs, and perhaps post-docs, but at some point finding they have to leave science. For some it is because they have fallen out of love with academic research, for others it is because of difficulties finding their next job. This is the problem that Jenny was worrying about.
As a PI I also see the other side: the pressure to acquire funding for research. In practice, this means getting bodies into the lab or in front of the computer. These will either be PhD students or post-docs, because they’re cheap. Students in particular. A large number of junior posts are thus created, but senior posts are few and far between. My impression is that this has got worse over the last 20 or 30 years. How did it get this way, and what can we do about it? I can speculate on the first, and wave my arms on the rest. And, this being a blog, I will simplify hopelessly. So be warned.

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(this is ANOTHER post that was mysteriously unpublished. The whole thing is a bit moot now: the bill died in committee, which is a good thing although I’m not aware of any alternative being raised, which is probably a bad thing. Anyway, feel free to ignore this)
Grrlscientist is worried about a new bill going through the US Congress. The intent of the bill (H.R. 669: Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act) is laudable:

To prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species that negatively impact the economy, environment, or other animal species’ or human health, and for other purposes.

The Union of Concerned Scientists give a good overview of why such a bill is needed. The problem is that it the way the bill is set up, it has the potential to do much more, including quite a bit of harm.
Grrlscientist has mainly addressed the effects on the pet industry, and Mike Dunford has explained why he likes the bill. I want to (largely) concentrate on what the bill may mean for scientists.

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I’ve had my head stuck in a working group all week, estimating species distributions. So I’m a bit slow in picking this up, but thanks to PZed, I’ve just read an interview of Jerry Fodor in Salon. And now I’m unhappy…

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Go on. Submitting a blog post to science carnival Scientia Pro Publica! Unless something remarkable happens over the weekend it will appear on Monday March 1st at just round the corner at Stephen’s Reciprical place.

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I had a pithy idea for a blog post this morning, but I forgot what it was. Then I started writing something else, but it was boring me to tears, so instead I’ll leave you with this photo, which may or may not need a caption

There are a few more insects in the shopping centre too…

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(this is another post that was de-published: you can tell because it still has a comment. But it reminds me I should have advertised that Scientist 21 is up at Living the Scientific Life, despite the best efforts of our router. You should also consider submitting to the next Scientia too!)
Scientia Pro Publica 2, The Science, Nature and Medicine Blog Carnival is up at Grrlscientist’s blog.

It’s filled with far too much good science writing for me to handle, so I’m going to run away and enjoy the sun. But if you’re reading this, you’ve obviously got worse weather, or you’re in need of deep psychological help. So go over there, and follow the links to read the other posts. It won’t help psychologically, but it’ll keep you out of mischief.

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Today is Charles Darwin birthday.

(Damn, I really should photoshop a party hat)
So what better way to celebrate the 201st anniversary of his birth than…

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