Regrettable Resumes
Charged with perusing applications for an open scientist job, our columnist gets testy.
Storytelling: Man of Letters
SpeakeasyDC‘s annual Top Shelf show, showcasing the best eight stories of 2012. A story about deviousness in the world of competitive Scrabble. (This story was selected for SpeakeasyDC’s Storycast podcast, which you can listen to here. It was also made into an award-winning short film by Big Honkin’ Productions, which you can watch here.)
Brain Burps about Books: New York Times Article Makes Grad School Rap Book Trailer Go Viral
Video interview on Katie Davis‘s “Brain Burps about Books” video podcast.
USA Today College: 5 Silly Reasons for Going to Grad School
My book, Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School, is referenced in #5 (“To suffer”).
Science Careers 2012: The Year’s Best Stories
For the second straight year, three of the year’s most popular articles were in Adam Ruben’s “Experimental Error” series.
The Myth of the Well-Rounded Scientist
Despite what grad school admissions committees seem to believe, outside interests are good.
The Last Word (SCRABBLE® Newsletter): Phonies, Kids, and a Prize-winning SCRABBLE® Story
A video inspired by a SCRABBLE® story from Washington, D.C., SCRABBLE® club member Adam Ruben won the first contest sponsored by a D.C. storytelling organization called SpeakeasyDC involving the quick production of a movie based on a story. (See pp. 40-41)
Does Scientific Research Need a Purpose?
Not all research is easily justified—but what do you do when you can’t even justify it to yourself?
Washington Post: “Better Said Than Done” Storytelling Workshop in Fairfax
Ruben, a stand-up comedian and a molecular biologist, told a story about trying to find the right Christmas presents for his hard-to-please ex-girlfriends. The story begins with humor but turns poignant when Ruben realizes the right woman is one who doesn’t care what the present is, as long as it’s meaningful.
Washington Post Going Out Guide: Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza!
This quirky middle school science demonstration gone wrong is hilarious, has a great message, and is a lot of fun. Kids in the audience were laughing just as hard as adults. Don’t miss it!
Washington Post: Future Montgomery Workforce Experiments with Science, Medicine
Adam Ruben, a scientist with Sanaria of Rockville, demonstrates to Forest Oak Middle Schools students how a balloon dipped in liquid nitrogen becomes small and wrinkled because of the cooling, then quickly expands again as it warms up.
Huffington Post DC Top 5 for November 1
HuffPo names “Dr. Science’s Science Time Science-va-ganza!” one of the top 5 picks for 11/1/12.
Compel to Tell: Storytelling Workshop in Fairfax
Northern Virginia Magazine says you should attend Better Said Than Done‘s storytelling workshop, which I’m co-teaching.
Better Said Than Done: Spotlight on Adam Ruben
Over the next month, as preparation for our first storytelling workshop, “Spotlight on You” on October 13th, we will be featuring the four Better Said Than Done storytelling teachers. And now, introducing, Adam Ruben!
The Audacity of Graduate School
The overworked grad student seems to embody the most pointless aspects of graduate school.