At several points in my university career I have seriously considered going all the way for my PhD and becoming a professor. I am really interested in science, in conservation of the environment, how the world works, and strongly believe that science can play a major part in improving the quality of life for disadvantaged groups around the world, be they in a third world country or our own backyard. I know I wouldn't be the world's best teacher, but guiding graduate students is somewhat appealing to me. Besides, those three extra letter behind my name would be pretty cool.
But I'm not getting a PhD. As much as I'm enjoying my Masters, I am feeling the lure of government work, where I can be paid extremely well, have great job and pension security, flexibility for when I have a family, and also do my part to make Canada better. Another reason that I'm not getting my PhD is that I am terrified of the comprehensive exams process. I think I would cry for about the month leading up to it. But one of the most significant reasons I don't want to become a Professor is because of my sex, and the real discrimination which is still placed against it in academic settings, especially for science.
I am currently working in a department strongly deviated from the norm, with several female professors, one of whom was head of the department for the last year. The graduate students are predominantly women as well. And while we are part of an extremely large university, recently ranked 12th best in the world, I think that we have managed this because its a very small department, in a small part of the field and with several unique research interests.
My undergraduate career culminated with a fourth year thesis in a much larger department, and while again the undergraduates were mainly women and there were no overt indications that biology is difficult to get ahead in, I observed several things. There were 2 female professors with tenure out of nearly 30 professors in total. One the 2 women happened to be my supervisor and she had managed to balance both a research career and a family, but often made comments that inferred that there were a number of members of the department who didn't take her seriously, due to the focus of her research, her vehemence that scientists must speak for the environment and not try and remain neutral as some would suggest, and that she did not commit insane hours in the office so that she could go home with her children. She worked several hours at home every night (I have e-mails sent at 11:30 to prove it!) and involved herself in numerous department committees and processes, and was an excellent lecturer. But there was always the sense that she wasn't quite as serious, not as much a real scientist.
I recently found a blog linked to by one of my dear friends who is being very brave and pursuing her PhD, called FemaleScienceProfessor, which is written by a leading female researcher in the sciecnes. I must admit to reading several of the posts this afternoon. The anonymous blogger relates people asking about her private life in interviews (which is pretty much illegal), being constantly assumed to be a student or post-doc rather than an actual professor, and other moments that her credibility as a researcher is questioned due to her sex. It's a depressing read in some cases but I am also very impressed with the author for expressing her problems so well and serving as an example for those braver than I. I'm jumping off the tower, but wish all my female brethren the very best of luck.
Monday, March 31, 2008
I'm baaaaack
I have returned from my travels round Ontario, which were a rousing success. I relaxed to the hilt in Ottawa, making sure to keep enough shopping in the mix to keep active and then went on to Toronto to dress up at the conference and wander through China Town. The conference was interesting, met some good contacts for later on, especially people who work for Health Canada. The head of a group recommended a job to me when I asked what kind of opportunities were available to someone with an MSc - I just looked it up and it pays 70K$ a year!!! That's a lot of Coach purses I could buy!
But I can't apply because I have more than a year left of school. Poor school, where I have to wake up super early and do homework, not cool. But I'll stick it out. The Coach purses will motivate me.
Nothing super new to report, returned to the lab today and am trying to finish up my ethics application so I can focus on all my coursework due in the next few weeks. But once that's done that is all the courses I have to do!! Mwa ha ha....
It seemed to almost be spring this morning but the snow that started soon after I got to the lab seems to indicate otherwise. I'll hold out, with visions of cute non-salt stained shoes and being able to hang out outside motivating me. I'm thinking of getting a leash for my cat so I can take her out, she's getting a little squirrely. Maybe she needs some squirrel in her! *Bdoom-ching* Thank you, thank you - I'll be here for what seems like forever, try the chicken.
But I can't apply because I have more than a year left of school. Poor school, where I have to wake up super early and do homework, not cool. But I'll stick it out. The Coach purses will motivate me.
Nothing super new to report, returned to the lab today and am trying to finish up my ethics application so I can focus on all my coursework due in the next few weeks. But once that's done that is all the courses I have to do!! Mwa ha ha....
It seemed to almost be spring this morning but the snow that started soon after I got to the lab seems to indicate otherwise. I'll hold out, with visions of cute non-salt stained shoes and being able to hang out outside motivating me. I'm thinking of getting a leash for my cat so I can take her out, she's getting a little squirrely. Maybe she needs some squirrel in her! *Bdoom-ching* Thank you, thank you - I'll be here for what seems like forever, try the chicken.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Miss Manners taught me so well...
So being a polite bitch seems to work... A few weeks ago, in a disastrous moment Liz and I were informed an hour after having placed an order with Pizza Pizza that they actually did not deliver to our address and could we come pick it up? Since this was the day after the last major storm of the winter and we lacked both a car and a will to put on real pants, we responded to the negative. Peeved at having to cook my own dinner, I wrote a polite yet annoyed customer service complaint and sent it off. Just yesterday I had complained about the lack of response but today an e-mail landed in my inbox apologizing and offering a free pizza! Yee-haw!
As a note, the blog will be heading on the road next week (as most of the 4 people who read this blog know), first to Ottawa to be taken care of by the parentals and then to Toronto for a conference. My first real academic conference! I'm fluttering with excitement and debating what to pack, what to pack. Hopefully I'll manage to post something, but until then, catch y'all later!
As a note, the blog will be heading on the road next week (as most of the 4 people who read this blog know), first to Ottawa to be taken care of by the parentals and then to Toronto for a conference. My first real academic conference! I'm fluttering with excitement and debating what to pack, what to pack. Hopefully I'll manage to post something, but until then, catch y'all later!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Bitter is the new Montreal
So my upstairs neighbour doesn't know how to flush a toilet.
I've always wanted my life to be more like Jen Lancaster's - but I was thinking the designer clothes and successful writing career, not having issues with icky water coming from the ceiling.
I was floating in blissful sleep last night when my subconscious registered a dripping noise. Having had to give the tap an extra turn the night preceding to shut it off, I presumed it was the sink again. However, as I stepped out of my bedroom into the hallway I couldn't help but notice the HUGE PUDDLE on my floor.
I look up - there is a massive crack on the ceiling outside my bathroom and its dripping. Charming. So I do what comes naturally, panic, wake up Liz, put a bowl down and place a bitchy call to my building's emergency number. (BTW - having a building professionally managed is SO much better than having your landlord's 80 year old cancer patient handyman come over. I never wanted him to do anything, just sit down and have a cookie!). I then notice another crack - on my bedroom wall - and the stuff coming out of it is.... frothy?
So I've had a less than great 4 hours of kind of sleeping since then, but was impressed that before 9 there have been 3 capable looking guys in here. Who told me that the upstairs neighbour likely had let her toilet overflow for around an hour, and thus why there are now 3 cracks in my ceiling and pockets of moisture in the bathroom that we're sure are about to go too.
And this was going to be my productive working at home day..... I feel your pain Jen.
I've always wanted my life to be more like Jen Lancaster's - but I was thinking the designer clothes and successful writing career, not having issues with icky water coming from the ceiling.
I was floating in blissful sleep last night when my subconscious registered a dripping noise. Having had to give the tap an extra turn the night preceding to shut it off, I presumed it was the sink again. However, as I stepped out of my bedroom into the hallway I couldn't help but notice the HUGE PUDDLE on my floor.
I look up - there is a massive crack on the ceiling outside my bathroom and its dripping. Charming. So I do what comes naturally, panic, wake up Liz, put a bowl down and place a bitchy call to my building's emergency number. (BTW - having a building professionally managed is SO much better than having your landlord's 80 year old cancer patient handyman come over. I never wanted him to do anything, just sit down and have a cookie!). I then notice another crack - on my bedroom wall - and the stuff coming out of it is.... frothy?
So I've had a less than great 4 hours of kind of sleeping since then, but was impressed that before 9 there have been 3 capable looking guys in here. Who told me that the upstairs neighbour likely had let her toilet overflow for around an hour, and thus why there are now 3 cracks in my ceiling and pockets of moisture in the bathroom that we're sure are about to go too.
And this was going to be my productive working at home day..... I feel your pain Jen.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Productivity
I might have a problem with productivity.
Today started out quite well, working efficiently to get a PCR in first thing, then starting to work on the letter of informed consent that will go with my ethics application. Until 10:30 I was doing well... and then was invited to grab a coffee. And I did. And except for pouring a gel, the last hour has been a wasteland of productivity. I've skimmed an index of a book, checked the news, checked the blogs I read, searched for a blog on academic productivity which led me to another site to download a podcast on productivity and am now writing a blog on the subject.
Whoops - lunchtime!
(You see my problem?)
Today started out quite well, working efficiently to get a PCR in first thing, then starting to work on the letter of informed consent that will go with my ethics application. Until 10:30 I was doing well... and then was invited to grab a coffee. And I did. And except for pouring a gel, the last hour has been a wasteland of productivity. I've skimmed an index of a book, checked the news, checked the blogs I read, searched for a blog on academic productivity which led me to another site to download a podcast on productivity and am now writing a blog on the subject.
Whoops - lunchtime!
(You see my problem?)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
this may explain many things....
So I was speaking with the mater this evening and talking about dogs. As many know, I adore tiny little dogs and want one badly (sorry Twigs and Angel!) though I know right now is not the best time. We were discussing my adoration of chocolate brown Pomeranians (that I would call Starbucks because they're coffee coloured! So I could call it Bucky for short! Like the geodosic domes! From a name based on BOTH coffee and Battlestar Galactica! Yes, I know I'm a dork....) and my mother pointed out that terrier are much cuter in her eyes.
To which I responded : 'Yes they are cute but they are very expensive, almost $1000 sometimes.'
My mother : 'What?! That's crazy, you could buy a whole bag full of hamsters for that!'
My mother ladies and gentleman...
To which I responded : 'Yes they are cute but they are very expensive, almost $1000 sometimes.'
My mother : 'What?! That's crazy, you could buy a whole bag full of hamsters for that!'
My mother ladies and gentleman...
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