Ok, so I've gotten some feedback from people in other fields about my post earlier today on CS 101, and I realized that I really would like to know what everyone else does too.
So, I'm tagging all of the science blogosphere with, "ok, wtf do you do?" Maybe not even that specific. More like, "wtf does your field REALLY mean? what problems are you trying to solve?"
Please edify me :). I like to be edified. Don't leave me hangin' peeps! Link to your posts in the comments. I realize that it is a lot to ask - it took me quite a while to write my post, but let's share!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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16 comments:
Okay, I'm really keen and wrote mine already! I decided not to talk about my research specifically, because there are a grand total of 3 of us in the field. So, I did a general post instead :)
http://mrscomethunter.blogspot.com/2009/01/astronomy-101.html
Now that you've given this assignment out, I have another one for you Phizzle - write about what you do within computer science ;)
I did a similar write up about the field of CS, but with a different focus.
I don't have anything to "do" yet, but currently I've done a lot of mathematical modling for biological thingermajigers.
(I make fake data.)
Gail, I'll check out your post. As for what I do, I'd tread on the carefully for fear of anonymity loss. But I will probably do a few more specific posts on separate areas sometime, or I will try to figure out how to describe what I do in a vague, general way :).
Eugenie - I bet you can do better than that! I'm not even sure what field your'e really interested or what it's trying to do....:)
Ah yes, that's a good point about anonymity - I sometimes forget that because I'm not anonymous. Maybe one day I'll just get really curious and email and ask what you do. ;)
See, now the thingamajigers has a lot to do with epidemiology. I can't give anymore away though :-) .
Ah, but I have no idea what epidemiology is....broad swathes, broad swathes :). I think it has something to do with epidemics. Or something.
The key to someone easily knowing who I am would be my subfield...but my general field (i.e. CS) makes it a lot harder to identify me.
epidemiology: the branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health.
Hmm, PD, I'd love to explain my field of research... it is so fun... but I'm afraid it would compromise my cloak of pseudonymity. Thanks for the info on computer science though, it's always been like a black box to me.
Candid - sigh, I guess that's sort of the case with everyone. I wish I could get into specifics of what I do like Gail asked for, but I just can't. I suppose something like Biomedical Eng (which I think you do, yes?) makes more inherent sense to your average layperson, i.e. I have some basic concept of what that means, such that a post that is remotely edifying would have to be more specific and could out you. I guess CS is so misunderstood by many people that I could be edifying even by stepping several steps away from what I really do and not risk anything.
Sigh. I guess my hopes of learning lots of new things have been spectacularly dashed :). Oh well - I did learn something from Mrs. Comet Hunter!!
So, thanks for playing MCH! :)
PD, this post isn't exactly what you asked, but it covers some stuff I do, at least in general ways. I don't really define geology, as it is the quite-all-encompassing field of studying the earth!
Thanks Silver Fox!!! Geology is something I really haven ever encountered or thought much about, but your post did help me put it into context, or at last the mining aspects of geology. I also had never really thought about how mining and geology were so related, but it makes total sense. Thanks for posting!
PD, that last link to my "geologist" post is no longer any good - I was having trouble with getting it to register on feeds for various reasons and had to create a new one right here. Sorry for the inconvenience to your comments - that earlier link goes nowhere!
The link below under 'links' should update or show the new one soon, I would think.
I have been fighting with this nonsense half of yesterday and part of today! Success!!!
Your post really got me thinking about this, so I put together some summary links from last year having to do - some more, some less - with the work I do. I hope you don't mind that I'm linking them here!
Not at all! I'm making my way through your links :).
I'll do this as soon as I have some time to think about HOW to do this without essentially making a giant blinking sign stating my name and what I do.
But in the meantime, I am going to attempt to make your bacon woven heart attack for my Superbowl party, per your suggestion on the original post. If the Steelers lose... it's all on you!
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