The SCQ is pleased to announce that the winner of the last book was Alex Roger’s “Astro I Reference Notes.” To keep things rolling a little bit, we would like to present the next book up for grabs. This one is called “Follow the Line Around the World” by Laura Ljungkvist. We think every reader should submit just for the possibility of owning a book who has an author with such a marvelous last name. Anyway, like before any kind of submission will do, and please send on your good material to tscq@interchange.ubc.ca (deadline is October 15th).
The Science Creative Quarterly
By The Science Creative Quarterly
Castigat ridendo mores.
THINGS TO AVOID WHEN SPEAKING PUBLICLY (VIDEO VERSION)
The SCQ will recommence as of Wednesday, September the 3rd with our regular programming, but in the meantime, please let us introduce Terry talks – a student conference hosted by our sister site at terry.ubc.ca. “Imagine UBC’s most fascinating and engaging students coming together for a day, giving ‘the talk of their lives,’ sharing their ideas and discussing their visions for UBC and the world. Now imagine being there, with students, alumni, faculty, administration, and members of the general public watching this unfold and partaking in the various discussions, and think of all the possibilities that this idea-share holds.” Sounds…
HAPPY 500 (OR SO) DAYS FOR THE SCIENCE SCOUTS – A LITTLE GET TOGETHER THIS COMING FRIDAY FOR ALL YOU VANCOUVERITES READING THE QUARTERLY
Just a quick note. Although it’s been a while, a few of us are meeting for drinks on Friday night (July 25th) at The Revel Room in Gastown, Vancouver (8pm on). It just so happens that it’s about the 500th Day Anniversary of the Science Scouts. What’s this? Well, it’s this. Think: science plus badges plus raising a pint in celebration and you’re getting close. If you happen to be in the area feel free to drop by – better yet, let us know by replying to the facebook page.
THE SCQ’S MONTHLY CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITING CONTEST: BACK ON
We have been neglectful for the last 5 months, but here we are back again. Once again, the SCQ is seeking general submissions, where any submission that makes its way to our pages is a contender, The one that we receive before the end of August that we happen to like the best will be our victor. These pieces can be anything, serious, not serious, funny, not funny, pretty, not pretty, etc. And the prize… Well, a really pretty dinosaur book, by award winner artist Christopher Wormell. Again, send in your good stuff to tscq@interchange.ubc.ca.
ANNOUNCING OUR PROFESSIONAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY WORKSHOP
JULY 21 – JULY 25, 2008
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES WORKSHOPS (SUMMER 2008 PROGRAM): Now accepting registration To register, please contact Dr. David Ng at db@interchange.ubc.ca (1) ONE WEEK VERSION Dates: July 21st – 25th, 2008 Price: CAN$1250 (does not include room or board) Reviews and Testimonies Can be found here. INSTRUCTOR: Dr. David Ng DESCRIPTION: This intense one week workshop will focus on a myriad of different techniques used in the molecular manipulation of DNA, RNA and protein. Primarily aimed at researchers who are new to the area, or familiar but require a quick updating. Procedures that will be covered both practically and theorectically can be…
JOURNAL CLUB FIND: SOMETHING ABOUT MATING WITH YOUR COUSINS IS A GOOD THING?
An Association Between the Kinship and Fertility of Human Couples (pdf). Science 8 February 2008: Vol. 319. no. 5864, pp. 813 – 816 To quote… “greatest reproductive success observed for couples related at the level of third and fourth cousins” and as if tables like below really take away from the “ick” factor. ABSTRACT: Previous studies have reported that related human couples tend to produce more children than unrelated couples but have been unable to determine whether this difference is biological or stems from socioeconomic variables. Our results, drawn from all known couples of the Icelandic population born between 1800…
A BIG HURRAH TO ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE INAUGURAL FIRST ANNUAL “MOST EXCEPTIONAL ESCAPADES IN SCIENCE” HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE
Not just exceptional, but awesome… Thanks go to Phil Hieter, Jane Roskams, Brett Finlay, Jaymie Matthews, Daniel Pauly, David Ng, Joanne Fox, UBC Let’s Talk Science, the many volunteers within the Michael Smith Laboratories, and the 100 or so high school folks who came out for the day. So doing this again… – – –
JOURNAL CLUB FIND: CREATIONISM + MICROBIOLOGY = YEAH, RIGHT…
Microbes and the Days of Creation (pdf) (2008) Answers Research Journal 1 (2008): 7–10. In which we learn that microbes were created on Day 3, no wait – Day 4 – hang on a minute, Day 5? – – – – – – ABSTRACT: The world of germs and microbes has received much attention in recent years. But where do microbes fit into the creation account? Were they created along with the rest of the plants and animals in the first week of creation, or were they created later, after the Fall. These are some questions that creation microbiologists have…
JOURNAL CLUB FIND: DIVORCE IS IN THE AIR
Environmental impacts of divorce. (pdf) (2007) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 104:p20629 In which we learn that being divorce can lead to higher carbon dioxide emissions when compared to married couples. – – – – – – ABSTRACT: Divorce is increasingly common around the world. Its causes, dynamics, and socioeconomic impacts have been widely studied, but little research has addressed its environmental impacts. We found that average household size (number of people in a household) in divorced households (households with divorced heads) was 27– 41% smaller than married households (households with married heads) in 12 countries across the world around the…