I attended NCSBC 2008 this last weekend, and I’ve got much to write about on it. Just like last year’s event I’m left will a great deal to mull over, new intellectual avenues to pursue, and issues to work out.
Bora Zivkovic has the best roundup of coverage from the conference, including several videos of the sessions. There’s a lot of great stuff there, so take a moment to check it out if you’re curious. There are some good lectures listed.
It’s sooooo cool to hang out with minds publishing on the frontier of this ever-evolving medium.
Some Miscellaneous Notes from the Conference:
Look at all that stuff!
NCSBC08 Schwag Bag |
The “Shwag Bag” this year was freakin’ stuffed!!! Magazines like National Geographic, Discover, Scientific American, The Scientist, Science News, and Wired, and CD’s of Nature Podcats, News Hour, and Software, and free books on Science in SF movies (right up my alley), public speaking, and the Edge’s What are You Optimistic About? and, of course, the PLoS t-shirt, which I will wear to the gym all the time (still have last year’s) …aaaaand, like last year, there was an excess amount of magazines, so I grabbed a few stacks to give away at the Port Discover Children’s Science Center.
I got Chris Mooney to autograph my copy of The Republican War on Science, the book I was very excited to see come out when it did because it gave a public voice to all the anger and frustration I’d been feeling (and will continue to feel for another 365 days). Mooney’s signature included the statement, “…thanks for defending science, reason, and the Enlightenment.” All scientists should be defending Enlightenment values.
Dr. Reed Cartwright
and Prof Steve Steve
of Panda’s Thumb
With Cthulu |
I experienced a great deal of the Familiar Stranger phenomenon, seeing all these bloggers in real-life who I’d previously become acquainted with through online pictures, a one-sided acquaintance, as they don’t know me. The Science Bloggers are celebrities, and I imagine it must take some acclimating to have so many strangers looking at you as if they know you.
One of my favorite things about hanging out with Scientists and other Academics is their inclusiveness. These are people who all share an interest in education, and Enlightenment ideals. They make for a very sensitive, friendly, and engaging group.
There wasn’t a single smoker in the crowd. How awesome and how unique. It speaks highly of the demographic.
Can you conclusively say 100% of them smoke 0% of the time? :)
Ummm… No. I need more research funding for that. : )
As I was handing out badges at the welcome desk, I can say that only one attendee asked me where he could go to have a smoke without violating state clean air guidelines. A fine fellow, he.
This may shock all but our dear Bora Zivkovic/Coturnix is an occasional smoker. Why else do you think he’s 6-foot-3 and 125 lbs.?
So, 2 out of 200-ish still isn’t too bad.
Thanks so much for coming out and engaging with everyone.
Thanks Abel Pharmboy. I’ll stop writing that Grant Proposal now; although, I’m certain I can find another thesis in the groundbreaking Anthropological field of studying Science-Bloggers. : )
Maybe they just have faith that stem-cell therapies will be able to treat the lung cancer that they might get in 30 years :)
[...] an interesting note, Ryan Somma points out that not a single person at the conference smoked. Hmm. Perhaps scientists are smarter than the [...]
Hé! c’est passionnant. Vous avez m’a inspiré d’organiser une vidéo-conférence leçon avec mes élèves. Les conseils Comment avez-vouscommencer par le projet
Merci!
Translated from French (it is possible to translate ideonexus to other languages with the flags in the righ-hand column):
Hey This is enthralling. You have inspired to me to organize a videoconference lesson with my pupils. The councils How have-vouscommencer by the project
[...] Science Online Coverage 2009, 2008, and 2007 addthis_url = [...]