Southern Fried Science Best of the Web 2010

Posted on By Andrew Thaler 2 Comments on Southern Fried Science Best of the Web 2010
Blogging

Southern Fried Science is on vacation! Once again, we’ll be taking a break from blogging during the month of December. Weekly dose of TED and Biodiversity Wednesday will continue (since they don’t require any work on our part). While we’re gone, please enjoy a selection of exclusive penguin videos shot by Antarctic Adventurer David Honig. Don’t forget to check out the Gam to catch up with the rest of the Southern Fried Science Network, follow us on twitter (Andrew, David, Amy), and subscribe to the Gam RSS feed for updates across the network. Regular posting will return in January.

In the mean time, consider this post an open thread to discuss anything about marine biology, graduate school, conservation, life in science, or just life in general. We’ll check in every so often.

Can’t last a month without the fry-off? Check out our favorite blogs, tweeps, and articles.

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Wicked Problems

Posted on By Bluegrass Blue Crab 3 Comments on Wicked Problems
Science

A little editing back-and-forth today introduced me to a fun new policy word: wicked problems. My initial reaction was that the author was writing informally and taking cues from Boston, but it turns out he was using a legitimate vocabulary word. Wikipedia has a few good definitions, but the Australian Public Service Commissioner described it … Read More “Wicked Problems” »

How to apply for a job working with sharks

Posted on By David Shiffman 14 Comments on How to apply for a job working with sharks
Science

A few weeks ago, I listed several common mistakes that people make when applying for a job in the field of shark science. This led to a lot of laughs and commiseration. It also led to a series of e-mails asking me how to apply for a shark science job.  These e-mails came from people in various stages of their lives, all the way from children to adults who already have another career. Since I had some laughs at the expense of people who apply for jobs incorrectly, it seems only fair that I offer my advice on how to do it correctly.

This photo of me with a sandbar shark was taken while working for the South Carolina coastal shark survey

It is important to note that I am describing the path that worked for me. There are many other paths, though there are likely lots of similarities with mine. Some may seem pretty straightforward, but what seems obvious to some can be a life-changing revelation for others. Most are applicable to science in general and not just sharks. Similar advice can be found on this excellent website from the Love lab.

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