Uncategorized – Page 27 – Southern Fried Science

Fun Science FRIEDay – Virus be good!

November 6, 2015November 6, 2015 Kersey Sturdivant

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“The era of the oncolytic virus is… here.” Stephen Russell, Cancer researcher and haematologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnessota

…. and let me be the first to welcome our new virus overlords!

Viral-based cancer therapy: T cells (orange) are recruited to attack malignant cells (purple). (Photo credit: Dr. Andrejs Liepins/SPL)

Last week the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a decision that received little fanfare, but has huge implications for modern medicine and how we approach cancer treatment in the US. That decision? The FDA granted their approval for a genetically engineered virus to be used to treat cancer. That virus was the herpesvirus called talimogene laherparepvec, and its use is for the treatment of melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes. This huge decision makes it the first oncolytic virus to receive market approval and could pave the way for more oncolytic viruses to enter the “market.”

How I decide whether or not to give an interview to a journalist

October 28, 2015October 28, 2015 David Shiffman 16 Comments

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I’m quite selective about what journalists/ publication I’ll agree to an interview with, as well as what topics I’ll agree to speak about. I turn down ten or so interviews for every one that I agree to give, though I will often recommend alternative experts for journalists to interview.

First and foremost, if I don’t have time, I won’t do a media interview. My primary job is to focus on my Ph.D. research so I can finish and graduate. If it means helping a friend or taking advantage of an amazing opportunity for exposure, I may be able to reshuffle around some time, but that’s only for exceptional circumstances. Similarly, I’ll generally only do interviews before or after work, while I’m in the car between campus and home, or during my lunch break, because my main job comes first.

Contribute to science communication research, take the Southern Fried Science reader survey!

October 19, 2015 David Shiffman

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We have partnered with Dr. Paige Brown Jarreau, a science communication researcher, to create a survey of Southern Fried Science readers. By participating, you’ll help contribute to scientific understanding of blogs and blog readership. You’ll also get some free science art from Paige’s photography, as well as chances to win a t-shirt and other prizes. … Read More “Contribute to science communication research, take the Southern Fried Science reader survey!” »

Fun Science FRIEDay – Dude, I’m Glowing!

October 2, 2015 Kersey Sturdivant

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Happy Fun Science FRIEDay! After a brief hiatus, due to life, hoping this installment represents the regular…err, semi-regular, occurrence of FSF. So this hit the interwebs pretty big earlier this week, the first documented reptile to glow. That honor belongs to the Hawksbill a sea turtle, observed first by David Gruber, of City University of … Read More “Fun Science FRIEDay – Dude, I’m Glowing!” »

Fish tales: Combating fake science in popular media

September 23, 2015September 22, 2015 Andrew Thaler

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Yesterday, after months of waiting, David and my magnum opus on our efforts to stem the tide of fake documentaries was, at last, made available online: Fish tales: Combating fake science in popular media. What role should scientist play in correcting bad science, fake science, and pseudoscience presented in popular media? Here, we present a case … Read More “Fish tales: Combating fake science in popular media” »

Are you suffering from FOBLAB?

September 22, 2015 Michelle Jewell

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Warning: The following blog post contains some language that is NSWF.

You are sat at a table of professionals within your field and they are discussing a topic you are very experienced with. The group keeps mentioning common beginner errors that you could easily correct, but you don’t. You sit quietly and sip your coffee.

When conservation scientists talk the talk but don’t walk the walk

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015 Chris Parsons

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A couple of days ago I was at a big meeting to welcome environmental scientists into our university. The catering supplied by the university came on non-recyclable plastic, with non-recyclable plastic glasses cups for drinks and some food items that were from infamously unsustainable sources. Instead of going away saying what a great program, half of those going out of the door were talking about the catering faux pas. To be fair, the organizers didn’t expect catering was going to bring the environmental equivalent of platters of grilled panda marinated in dolphin tears, but then again this is something that perhaps they might have anticipated – after all the University administrators have put the Environmental Science Department in one of the most energy inefficient, environmentally unfriendly buildings on campus. In winter, you can see plumes of heat and asbestos leaking from the faculty’s office windows from miles away.

What kind of scientist do you want to – and should you – be?

September 2, 2015 Bluegrass Blue Crab

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Last month, I had the great privilege of attending the 100th Ecological Society of America meeting. This meant there were many opportunities to reflect upon the last century of ecological science and think about what worked, what didn’t, and where we go from here. As with many of the sciences, this involved a lot of … Read More “What kind of scientist do you want to – and should you – be?” »

Thanks for buying David Shiffman (A.K.A. me) a less ugly pair of sunglasses!

August 21, 2015 David Shiffman

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In April, Andrew introduced the “Buy David Shiffman less ugly sunglasses” crowdfunding campaign, a campaign which included several amazing donor perks like 3D printed megalodon teeth. All funds raised in excess of the cost of a new pair of prescription sunglasses would go towards ongoing shark conservation research and outreach projects. After a month of campaigning, we raised $2,440 from 92 donors!

Once the funds had been transferred, I spent an extremely amusing afternoon at my neighborhood LensCrafters asking the staff and customers (along with my Facebook fans and twitter followers) to vote on which pair of sunglasses I should get. A few days later…. my new, improved, less ugly sunglasses arrived in the mail: