PeerReviewIsADishBestServed
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Had to climb into the cigar tube, again, yesterday to head into the Eastern time zone.
Which meant that, this morning, given the time change, it was up at 4:00 am Pacific time to head down into the hotel basement bunker with fifteen other science geeks so that we can metaphorically bash each about the head as a prelude rank ordering a passel of grant applications from our fellow geeks.
The thing is, when I'm lying in bed at night in these places trying to get to sleep by 9:00 pm Pacific/Midnight local time after having already suffered through an entire day of all that stinks about riding the cigar tube on the cheap these days, I invariably come to the conclusion that I'm too old for this stuff.
But then, once we get in the bunker and the bashing/discussions begin all those science geek nerve endings get tickled such that, before you know it, the excitement begins all over again.
Why?
Because there really is a whole lot of really good stuff being done by lots of folks working in the life sciences these days - and these grants are filled to bursting with their newest/freshest ideas. It's a chance to have our best and brightest try to convince you that they can dent the universe which is something that never gets old.
Because there really is a whole lot of really good stuff being done by lots of folks working in the life sciences these days - and these grants are filled to bursting with their newest/freshest ideas. It's a chance to have our best and brightest try to convince you that they can dent the universe which is something that never gets old.
OK?
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Why cigar tubing on the cheap?...Well, what do you want health charity donor dollars to be spent on - research or a little more leg room for a fine fellow like myself?
Subheader?...Since COVID this kind of thing is most often still done online...That, in my opinion, is sub-optimal as, over the two to three days that these things usually take, the collective attention often wanes online and the best decisions are not made.
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8 comments:
Will Trump's actions have an effect on the turn-out?
I would guess that certain kinds of research will be going North, and the researchers too!
NVG--
There is, as of yet, no issues with American researchers coming north. However, for the many folks, including trainees, who are immigrants on visas working/training in the States, they have been instructed not to leave/cross borders as they may not get back in. I was witness to that recently on a different panel where a couple Canadians with positions in the States Zoomed in rather than travel to the meeting site.
As for going the other way...There are many folks, including all international trainees studying/working in Canada, who are not going south. As for more senior folks like myself, it appears that the great majority are not going south either for the great majority of things. I haven't seen any active cross border collaborations end though. No one that I know of has any beef with their fellow scientists, of course.
Anon-Above--
Ya, that does seem to be picking up some steam - and it's not just northward. There is a lot of stuff (and people) being relocated to Europe. In my opinion, if this continues the potential for a significant brain drain in the U.S. is high.
When I think back to my own experience, which took place during the Clinton years, there was absolutely no trepidation when we moved south for a few years so that I could finish my training and C. could work. If I was at that stage in my career now, I honestly think I would choose not to go to the States because of the uncertainty/arbitrary nature of everything that's happening (i.e. everything might be fine today, but what about tomorrow, or next week, or next year?)
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A neighbour of mine who just returned from a family funeral from the excited was advised by his relatives not to bring his cell phone. he told me his deceased relative had many friends who do not fit Trump's profile of a "white" American, ICE was also in attendance video taping the funeral.
Anon-Above--
Seriously?
They were taping the funeral?
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Yes sir, that was what I have been told. It seems apartheid is back with a vengeance in the USA; if you do not look like a home grown whitey, everything has changed.
That is so sad! I wish that this surprises me, but it doesn't.
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