#Interdisciplinary Approach

[nicholasandriani]

Catching Up and Embracing the Future: Archaeology, My Role in Championing Gameful Learning, the 4R’s, and FutureProofing for 2024 and Beyond

There are many new faces among us here and I’m so grateful for your support and readership as we reach one another from all across this wonderfully delicious planet. I am so proud of all that we’ve built as writers, readers, thinkers, friends, and whatever your calling, it’s the passion, your passion, that inspires me. I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce myself to the new faces and likewise…

[mexicanistnet]

The XI International Congress on Law and AI highlighted the urgency of addressing AI's impact on legal education. With global collaboration, experts explored challenges in intellectual property, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and interdisciplinary approaches.

[technicallyhappyarcade]

Sports Science Team: Developing a Cutting-Edge Sports Science Team for Pro Baseball

In the competitive world of professional baseball, staying ahead of the game requires more than just raw talent and rigorous training. Enter the Sports Science Team—a group of dedicated professionals who harness the power of cutting-edge technology, data analytics, and interdisciplinary collaboration to maximize player performance and minimize the risk of injuries. Led by renowned sports scientist Aaron Cunanan, this team revolutionizes the way baseball is played and trained. From biomechanics analysis to personalized nutrition planning, they leave no stone unturned in their quest to optimize training, enhance player wellness, and make data-driven decisions. Through innovative strategies and a relentless pursuit of excellence, they empower athletes to achieve their full potential and secure victory on the field.

[irrevocablecondition]

if you think i'm insufferably pessimistic online i really wish i could teleport you to a flat dinner because let me set the scene for you:

me: politics and english literature student - fielding the information. boyfriend: geography and history - climate crisis fears and Very Familiar Actions. best friend #1: accounting and finance - panicking over billionaires and keeping us up to date on stocks etc. best friend #2: marketing and finance - censorship and advert lore, number one person for the tiktok ban. best friends #3 and #4: army reserves (#3 studying politics and history, #4 studying geography and history)

can you imagine the scenes whenever we sit down to eat?? it's either the depressed sound of forks scraping against ceramic and then we part ways in silence, or the food has gone cold because we're cross-referencing all of our areas of study for hours and forget about it

best friend #5? physics. poor gal shes just,,, doing whatever she does in physics and plays smash bros whilst we sit at the table dissecting everything

[frank-olivier]

In the Beginning: A Scientific Exploration of Life’s Hypothetical Origins

In the most profound of inquiries, humanity seeks to comprehend the genesis of its own existence, prompting a meticulous examination of the Earth’s primordial landscape. This quest to unravel the mysteries of life’s origins has captivated scientists and scholars for centuries, leading to a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between chemical, biological, and environmental factors that potentially gave rise to the first living organisms.

Approximately 4 billion years ago, the Earth’s canvas was vastly different from the one we know today, with minimalistic cells emerging amidst this alien landscape. Characterized by carboxylic acid membranes and RNA-driven heredity, these primitive entities laid the foundational blueprint for the astounding complexity that would eventually follow. The evolution of ribozymes, capable of catalyzing metabolic reactions, was a seminal moment, bridging the gap between a lifeless chemistry and the nascent biochemistry of early organisms. This development not only enhanced cellular capabilities but also underscored the symbiotic relationship between genetic innovation and environmental pressures.

The pursuit of energy, a fundamental drive in the evolution of life, led early organisms to harness the planet’s primordial power sources. Mineral catalysis and reactive phosphorus species might have played crucial roles in the synthesis of ATP, with the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway exemplifying the resourcefulness of these early life forms in exploiting available energy sources.

Our exploration of the Earth’s history leads us to Luca, the Last Universal Common Ancestor, whose characteristics offer a fascinating glimpse into the life of our most ancient shared forebear. The proposed environment of Luca, akin to the chemistry-rich settings of volcanic vents, underscores the profound connection between life’s emergence and the planet’s geochemical landscape. Furthermore, the concept of the Origin of Life Domain (OLD) invites us to contemplate the possibility of alternative life forms, unconnected to Luca’s lineage, and the uncharted scientific territories that await discovery.

From the First Organism to LUCA - The Evolution of Life's Core Processes (Wolfpack Astrobiology, March 2024)

Life Began Much Faster Than We Thought (Sabine Hossenfelder, December 2024)

Saturday, December 7, 2024

[superchemistryclasses]

Nature Chemistry vs. Synthetic Science: Harnessing the Power of Both Worlds

The realms of nature chemistry and synthetic science have long fascinated scientists, innovators, and thinkers alike. While nature chemistry draws inspiration from the intricate processes of the natural world, synthetic science thrives on human creativity and ingenuity. Together, these fields hold the key to solving some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. This article explores the unique…

[latest-info]

The Importance of Cross-Disciplinary Learning

Introduction In today’s fast-paced world, the boundaries between different fields of knowledge are increasingly blurred. As we navigate through an era of rapid technological advancements and complex global challenges, the ability to draw from multiple disciplines has never been more crucial. This approach, known as cross-disciplinary learning, involves integrating insights and methodologies from…

[iishmael]

ok it’s time to start phdposting. This is a new series where u guys, my esteemed colleagues in tumblr, get to see me have breakdowns over the next four years over my research. Welcome. The first topic is: why is my methodology so complicated

[tonfairy]

Too Tired to Hate You

pairing : academic rival! anton x fem! reader

genre : academic rivalry, angst, slow burn, mutual pining, light romance

cw : mention of anxiety, nothing explicit just making out ! | wc : 2k

💌 : hi ! sorry for not updating for like 2 weeks </3 i've been resting... and THANK U GUYS SM FOR 100 !! 🥹🩷 so so grateful for every one of u 🫶🏼🫂 (proofread, enjoy!)

It’s a regular Thursday afternoon—just another lecture, no big tests, no surprises. But for you, everything feels like it’s caving in. Your vision blurs, your thoughts twist into tangled knots of deadlines and expectations. The classroom hums with idle chatter, but in your mind? It’s turmoil. Academic pressure. Anxiety. Burnout. And worst of all, your inner voice— relentless, unforgiving.

Your heart thuds unevenly, the familiar knot of anxiety tightening. You tell yourself this classroom is just a battleground to survive — not a place for weakness. But part of you wishes someone could see past the cold walls you’ve built.

You’re welcomed by the cold, fresh air you’ve been craving all day. It feels like a breath of life. The rooftop—rarely visited by other students and tucked away from where students usually pass—is your secret escape, your quiet place to breathe and let go.

This rooftop isn’t just a place to escape noise. It’s where the suffocating expectations fade into the background—where you can remember how to just be.

You sit on one of its rusty chairs, gazing at the now glowing city, the traffic, and the restless night. Breathing in deeply, you close your eyes and let the negativity drain from you, just feeling the moment, for once.

For a brief moment, you think maybe, just maybe, you don’t have to hold it all together. You stay like that for a while, until the soft creak of the rooftop door breaks the silence. Someone else has come up. You turn slightly; there he is, Anton Lee, your long-time rival.

You hadn’t expected anyone here. Not him.

You’ve hated each other for years—known across campus for your fiery debates, dramatic eye-rolls during shared lectures, and snide remarks at student council meetings. You, a Chemistry major from the Science and Technology Department, and Anton Lee, an Interdisciplinary Studies student from the IS Department, couldn’t be more different in your approaches, priorities, or personalities.

Anton is known for being approachable—easygoing, friendly, the kind of person who gets along with everyone, from professors to freshmen. He thrives in group discussions and knows how to charm a room. You, on the other hand, are often seen as cold and arrogant. You’re serious, focused, and don’t waste time on small talk or appearances. In reality, you’re not arrogant at all—just guarded, overwhelmed, and constantly trying to live up to the weight of your own expectations.

And yet, somehow, you keep ending up in the same rooms, on the same panels, across from each other at every competition that matters.

Your departments have become unofficial rivals because of you two—students taking sides, professors pretending not to, and every academic event turning into a quiet battlefield.

But beneath the rivalry lies burnout. Exhaustion. The crushing weight of always needing to perform, to win, to be the best. Neither of you knows how to stop running.

He steps out into the cold night air. His hoodie is barely enough against the chill, but he doesn’t care—he needs air, needs quiet. The weight of back-to-back presentations and late-night study sessions presses against his ribs like a vice.

He hadn’t expected anyone to be here, especially not you. Seeing you like this, so raw and vulnerable, unsettles something deep inside him. Maybe you aren’t the enemy. He hadn’t expected anyone to be there. But you are. Sitting there like you belong to the night. Like you needed this place just as much as he does.

“You lost, Lee?” you say without glancing his way.

Anton smirks, brushing a hand through his hair. “Didn’t realize you owned the sky now, Y/N.”

You finally turn, eyebrows raised. “I don’t need to own it. Just need to escape it—something you wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh, please,” he says, stepping closer, voice low. “You act like Chemistry’s so high and mighty. But it’s all formulas and memorization, stuck in a lab while the rest of us actually think outside the box.”

Your lips curl into a sharp smile. “At least I’m not juggling a million half-baked ideas with no real focus. Interdisciplinary Studies? More like ‘indecisive studies.’”

Anton’s smirk falters for a moment, but he masks it quickly. “Better to be indecisive than stuck pretending to be a scientist. Don’t think those equations will save you when burnout hits.”

You match his gaze. “Maybe. But unlike you, I’m used to pressure. Maybe that’s why you’re always one step behind.”

He lets out a low laugh, shakes his head. “Keep telling yourself that, formula martyr.”

Then, without another word, he walks over and sits a few feet away from you. “I didn’t come here to talk to you.”

You don’t respond, but don’t tell him to leave, either.

Silence stretches between you, tight and strange. Not hostile, but not quite comfortable either. The kind of silence that settles between two people who are too tired to keep fighting, but too proud to admit they understand each other.

The silence is heavier than your words, filled with unspoken exhaustion. For once, neither of you feels the need to armor up.

“Do you ever… feel like you can’t breathe down there?” Anton asks suddenly, his voice lower now, stripped of its usual sharpness.

You don’t answer right away. Your gaze stays fixed on the skyline, but your posture shifts—tense, exposed.

“Every day,” you say finally, barely above a whisper. “But you wouldn’t get it.”

Your breath hitched, and for a moment, you debated pushing him away. But maybe, just maybe, someone else feeling this same weight means you’re not as alone as you thought.

“Why? Because I smile too much?”

“Because people like you don’t need to prove anything. You’re already liked. Me? I only get noticed when I’m flawless.”

That hits deeper than either of you expected.

Anton turns to face you, brows drawn. “Is that what you think of me? That I have it easy?”

You look at him now—really look. His eyes aren’t smiling. Not tonight. There are dark circles under them, and tension in his jaw.

“I think,” you say carefully, “we’re both really good at pretending.”

“Sometimes I think… if I stop trying to be everything, I’ll disappear.”

The wind picks up, tugging at your clothes, your composure.

Anton stands and walks to the edge, leaning forward just slightly, hands on the cold railing.

“You ever wonder,” he says, “what it’d feel like to not compete? With anyone? Just… exist.”

You join him quietly, shoulder to shoulder. The warmth of him surprises you.

“I don’t remember what that feels like,” you admit.

Anton lets out a slow breath. “Maybe we forgot how.”

You glance sideways. “Or maybe no one ever taught us how to stop.”

He doesn’t say anything right away. But when he does, it’s not with sarcasm or defensiveness—just quiet truth.

“Maybe we can teach each other.”

He’s not sure what that means exactly. But for the first time in a long time, the idea of letting down his guard doesn’t seem so impossible.

He looks at you, and this time, you meet his gaze. No walls. No armor. Just… quiet.

Without thinking—without planning—he leans in.

You don’t pull away.

Your lips brush his, soft and sure, and something in his chest breaks open.

The kiss is brief. Barely a moment. But it hits. Like breathing for the first time in weeks.

The kiss isn’t sudden—it’s inevitable, like breath finding lungs.

The kiss deepens.

But not fast.

Just full—like you’re pouring months of unspoken feelings into every movement. Your hand slides into his hair, fingertips gentle at the nape of his neck, and Anton lets out the smallest sound, like he can’t breathe unless he’s touching you.

Your fingers weave into his hair—not to draw him nearer, but as if you’re grounding yourself in something tangible.

Your mouths move like muscle memory. Like you’ve done this in another life.

His hand cradles your jaw, thumb brushing your cheek as if you might vanish.

Then his other arm wraps around your waist, tentative at first, seeking permission. When you don’t pull away, he pulls you closer, anchoring you to him like he’s been waiting years just to hold you.

You melt into the space between you, fingers curling tighter in his hair, lips parting slightly as your rhythm discovers a new depth—slow and searching. No rush. No pressure. Just quiet intensity.

Your breath hitches when he kisses the corner of your mouth, slow and reverent. You respond in kind, grazing his lower lip with yours, lingering, as if you want to memorize the shape of him.

Your foreheads touch between kisses, breaths mingling. Your hand slides down to rest on his chest, feeling the rapid beat beneath your palm—mirroring your own.

The world blurs around you. This isn’t just a break from the pressure—it’s an admission you’ve been craving connection, even from your fiercest rival. Maybe the fight isn’t what you really needed.

His usual smirk fades, replaced by something softer, desperate. Holding you close isn’t about rivalry anymore—it’s about finding a lifeline in the chaos.

For a moment, nothing else exists. Not the pressure. Not the rivalry. Not the world below.

Maybe this rooftop’s the only place you’ve ever felt real. Just this rooftop. This moment. This softness between you that you never knew you needed.

You stay like that for a while, wrapped in each other. Not saying anything. Not needing to.

The rooftop wind presses against your back, cool and restless, but between you is warmth, steady, anchoring. Your forehead rests against Anton’s, your fingers still curled lightly in his hoodie now, grounding yourself in the feel of him.

Eventually, you pull back just slightly, just enough to see his face. His eyes are half-lidded, dazed in a way that makes something flutter low in your stomach.

“That was stupid,” you murmur, but your voice lacks conviction.

Anton lets out a small breath—half a laugh, half a sigh. “No. It wasn’t.”

Neither moves to fix it.

You look away first, blinking out at the city. Lights flicker like stars, far too many to count. “What does this mean?”

He doesn’t answer right away. Just reaches up and brushes a strand of hair behind your ear with the gentlest touch, like you might vanish if he’s too rough with the moment.

“I don’t know,” he admits. “But… I’m tired of pretending I hate you.”

He realizes how exhausting it is to keep up the act of hatred. Maybe this fragile, unexpected connection is the only thing that could give him peace.

You snort, dry and soft. “You’ve been very convincing.”

“Yeah, well,” he says, smiling faintly, “so were you.”

You stand in silence again, but this time it feels different—less tight, more open. The kind of quiet that follows a confession.

“I’m still mad at you,” you say, not quite seriously.

He raises an eyebrow. “For what?”

“For existing. For being everywhere I turn. For being good at everything without even trying.”

He grins. “I do try, you know. I’m just subtle about it.”

You roll your eyes, but it lacks venom. “Infuriating.”

“And yet, here you are. Not running away.”

Your expression softens. “I think I’m tired of running too.”

Anton leans in again, just enough to brush his lips against your temple. It’s not a kiss so much as a thank-you.

Then, without asking, he tugs you into a full hug, arms wrapping around you like he doesn’t trust the night not to take you back. You hesitate a second, then let yourself fold into it, resting your cheek against his chest.

“You’re warm,” you mutter.

He chuckles into your hair. “That’s because I’m emotionally well-adjusted.”

You snort. “You’re literally clinging to me on a rooftop. That’s not emotional stability, that’s a crisis cuddle.”

Anton grins, not letting go. “I prefer ‘therapeutic affection.’”

You roll your eyes again, but your hands stay at his back, fingers gently gripping his hoodie.

“…Gross.”

“And yet,” he murmurs into your hair, “you’re still hugging me.”

You don’t reply. You don’t have to.

Because for the first time in forever, you don’t feel like you have to prove anything. Not to him. Not to yourself.

For once, you don’t have to be perfect to be wanted.

This time, you let yourself feel the delicate ease of simply being—no expectations, no pretending, only this moment.

And that feels like a beginning.

-end-

thank you so much for reading ! ❤️‍🩹

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Dramaturgy

Dramaturgy - the study and practice of using dramatic composition to represent a scene on stage in performances, world-building, and historical contexts.

Dramaturgs have an interdisciplinary job in which they help open up and clarify the world of a production from different perspectives:

Study dramatic productions: Production dramaturgs study dramatic productions such as musicals, operas, and plays to represent and contextualize the given story in a way that makes historical and dramatic sense. A dramaturg has extensive theater history knowledge and experience building narrative structures and analyzing dramatic literature.

Perform script analysis: Dramaturgs can provide key script analysis for playwrights, musical theater writers, producers, and directors to help identify the most (and least) exciting parts of the narrative. They also suggest ways to improve the structure, clarify the timeline or setting of a piece, and help logically develop the story.

Conduct research: An expert’s dramaturgical analysis may also include research for directors, production teams, or costume designers for historical accuracy, making sure that details such as language, clothing, or behavior accurately match the specific period.

Theory of Dramaturgy

Sociologist Erving Goffman developed a sociological theory applying dramaturgy as a theatrical metaphor for human beings in the world.

Human behavior: Goffman’s sociological, dramaturgical approach likens human behavior in real life to a continuous play, and every person is an actor. Goffman first introduced his dramaturgical theory in his 1959 text The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life.

Symbolic interactionism: Goffman posits that you are set on a stage from the day you are born and that your symbolic interactions with other people (and vice versa) determine your roles—who you are and how you behave. Humans use impression management to attempt to control how they are seen and regarded through appearances, manners of interacting, and behavior.

Front stage vs. backstage: Goffman’s theory of dramaturgy divides human life into front stage and backstage activity. The front stage is where you live out your normal, public life—working at your job, going to dinner, and aspects of social life. The backstage, or off stage, is the private area where you can be your true self without managing others’ impressions or expectations. The backstage is where you practice your future performances on the front stage for all to see and work to refine others’ perceptions of you.

Examples of Dramaturgy

Dramaturgic interactions unfold both in the entertainment world and in everyday life. Here are some examples of dramaturgy that you might see in the real world, in which the same people inhabit different roles or behaviors in related situations.

In the classroom: A professor giving a lecture to dozens of students is giving a front-stage dramaturgical performance. They will likely present themselves in professional attire to give the appearance of a qualified, trustworthy individual. The professor creates their lesson plan and prepares their lecture when they are backstage, in the privacy of their own office, or wearing pajamas at home.

During an interview: A person interviewing for a job will use the backstage to prepare for their interaction with the hiring manager. They may rehearse practice answers, what not to say, or work on their anxious behaviors to influence a desired impression. Their front-stage behavior will be markedly different from their rehearsed backstage practice to inform how the hiring manager perceives them, which may leave a better impression.

While babysitting: A babysitter may dress casually and behave more childishly to make the child they are supervising feel more comfortable. The adults who babysit children may not play with toy trains or dolls in their private life, but they will pretend like they do to control the child’s impression of them and create a pleasant social interaction.

During athletic competitions: Athletes may have a perfectly confident front-stage persona, making the audience feel like they are effortlessly defying gravity. However, they may be anxious backstage, repeatedly going over their moves and mantras to put on the best performance.

The etymology of “dramaturgy” comes from the Greek word “dramatourgía,” meaning “action of a play.”

Theater historians believe that the philosopher and scholar Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was the first dramaturg: The Enlightenment-era writer first used the term in the Hamburgische Dramaturgie (“The Hamburg Dramaturgy”), a series of essays he wrote on dramatic theory in the 1760s.

In a work of drama, film, and storytelling, dramaturgs research the given period of a story, who its players would have been, and the social climate of the time. This historical context strengthens a play’s development, the actor’s relationship with the text, and its relationship with the audience.

Dramaturgy is an in-depth study of the work that playwrights, screenwriters, and directors create. Writers and directors may take on the role of the dramaturg themselves if they possess enough know-how and experience. The social sciences also apply a sociological perspective to dramaturgy, likening human interaction in everyday life to theatrical performance.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[slavdollz4mangione]

I saw the answer to this ask and remembered when I wanted to be a history teacher, so I thought of the reader being a history teacher and Luigi being a math teacher, in the same context as this ask

omg this brought me back to middle school days, my history teacher was literally married to my math teacher 😭 but here’s the hc <3 i hope you enjoy !!

- okay so you’d both be teaching high school kids and your classrooms would literally be next door to each other

- sometimes you guys would pop in each others class room to borrow supplies

“hey ba- i mean [name] can i borrow a chalk/whiteboard marker? forgot to bring mine”

- and it would make the students SNICKER because you both are trying to remain so professional and keep your relationship under wraps but everyone can tell you two are dating

- everyone is so obsessed with you two and love watching you interact; shared small smiles, bringing each other coffee/tea during breaks, looking at each other like the other person hung the moon and the stars in the sky; some of lu’s ballsy students would keep pestering about when he’s gonna ask you to marry him and he’d act SO oblivious and sassy AAKSKSKSJ

- your teaching styles would compliment each other so well, you’re so passionate about history and would bring it to life with stories and references while he would be so methodical and so calm, breaking down complex problems into simple steps for his students

- you guys would inspire each other so much and give each other tips on how to approach new topics you’d have to be teaching, going as far as to incorporate the others subject into your respective classes so subtly that very few students would pick up on it

- lu would be so in awe while listening to you talk about historical facts because you’d talk about them with so much passion, clarity and wisdom, he’s not surprised at all the entire school is obsessed with you

- and you’d be just as in awe of him, seeing him explain math in such a simple and understandable manner would make you wish you had teachers like him when you were a student, it would’ve saved you from so much stress and resentment for the subject 😭

- one time you guys decided to team up for an interdisciplinary project, combining math and history to analyze historical data or timelines and you’ve never seen your students be so excited to participate in a project

(what you two don’t realize is that yes they enjoy both of your classes but really what got them so excited for this was seeing mr mangione and mrs [name] act like an old married couple for 40 to 90 minutes in the same room)

[blackstarlineage]

Cheikh Anta Diop (1923–1986) was a Senegalese historian, anthropologist, physicist, and philosopher, widely regarded as one of the most influential scholars in the field of African history and the promotion of African identity. Born on December 29, 1923, in the village of Diourbel, Senegal, Diop is best known for his pioneering work in the study of African history, culture, and civilization. He sought to challenge the Eurocentric narratives that had long dominated the understanding of African history and instead emphasized the central role of Africa in the development of human civilization.

Diop’s academic journey was remarkable for its breadth and depth. Initially studying in Senegal, he later pursued higher education in France, where he studied at the University of Paris. His academic background was diverse, as he was trained in the natural sciences, including physics, and in the humanities, which shaped his interdisciplinary approach to African history. Diop's work integrated a range of fields, including linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, and Egyptology.

One of his most significant contributions to African scholarship was his argument for the African origins of ancient Egyptian civilization. In his landmark work, The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality (1974), Diop proved that ancient Egypt was a black African civilization, challenging the anti black theories that often portrayed it as an entity disconnected from sub-Saharan Africa. He used linguistic, cultural, and anthropological evidence to support his thesis, positing that Egypt was an integral part of African history and that African contributions to world civilization were often underrepresented or misrepresented.

Diop was also a strong proponent of the idea that Africa had a rich and complex history prior to European colonialism, which had been distorted or ignored by colonial and racist scholarship. He sought to restore Africa’s history to Africans themselves, arguing for a history of self-determination and pride in African cultural and intellectual achievements.

In addition to his work on African history, Diop made important contributions to the development of Pan-Africanism. He was a vocal advocate for African unity and independence and believed that the revitalization of African identity was key to the continent's progress. Diop’s ideas on African unity were influential in shaping the political discourse of the 20th century, and he was respected by leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, who shared his vision of a united and self-reliant Africa.

Cheikh Anta Diop's legacy as a scholar and activist has had a lasting impact on the fields of African studies and postcolonial theory. He challenged the dominant Eurocentric worldview and provided the intellectual foundation for later generations of African scholars and activists. His work has been instrumental in fostering pride in African heritage and in challenging the lingering effects of colonialism on African thought.

Cheikh Anta Diop passed away on February 7, 1986, at the age of 62. His death marked the loss of a towering intellectual figure whose work continues to influence scholarship on African history, culture, and identity. His contributions to the understanding of Africa’s place in world history and his advocacy for African unity remain key elements of his enduring legacy. 🇸🇳

[chase-solidago]

Job Posting: Assistant or Associate Curator, Mycology or Cryptogamic Botany

The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is seeking an outstanding Mycologist or Cryptogamic Botanist for a career-track appointment in the Center for Biodiversity and Evolution. We seek candidates who are innovative and collaborative, eager to advance nature-based solutions to contemporary challenges. The successful candidate will develop an innovative collections-based and laboratory research program focused on important issues in biodiversity science, supported by extramural funding from federal and private sources.  They will also use diverse data (emphasizing but not limited to systematic and floristic data) in creative ways for conservation and nature-based solutions.  The new hire will join a growing interdisciplinary research and scholarship team at NYBG to build fundamental and applied knowledge that contributes to developing solutions-oriented approaches to biodiversity and conservation, climate change mitigation, climate and community resilience, and/or food security. This position will help NYBG meet its strategic goals to increase faculty diversity and grow the impact of NYBG research locally, nationally, and internationally.

[academicfever]

This is a good starting point but its not exhaustive by any means...

#Research 101: Part 1

##    How to find a good research topic?

It’s best to familiarize yourself with a discipline or topic as broadly as possible by looking beyond academia

Tips:

Be enthusiastic, but not unrealistic. For example, you might be tempted to throw yourself into finding out to what extent an entire economy has become circular, but it may already be challenging and tricky enough to find out which building materials are being recycled in the construction sector, and in what ways.

Be open-minded but beware of cul-de-sacs. You should always find out first whether enough is known about a topic already, or you might find yourself wasting a lot of time on it.

Be creative but stay close to the assignment. This starts with the topic itself; if one learning objective of the assignment is to carry out a survey, it isn’t helpful to choose a topic for which you need to find respondents on the other side of the world. One place where you can look for inspiration is current events. 

Although professors and lecturers tend to be extremely busy, they are often enthusiastic about motivated and smart students who are interested in their research field. You do need to approach them with focused questions, though, and not just general talk such as: ‘Do you know of a good topic for me?’ In many cases, a good starting point is the scholar themselves. Do a search on them in a search engine, take a look at their university web page, read recent publications,

In most university towns, you’ll come across organizations that hold regular lectures, debates, and thematic evenings, often in partnership with or organized by university lecturers and professors. If you’re interested in transdisciplinary research where academic knowledge and practical knowledge come together, this is certainly a useful place to start your search.

If you want to do interdisciplinary research, it is essential to understand and work with concepts and theories from different research fields, so that you are able to draw links between them (see Menken and Keestra (2016) on why theory is important for this). With an eye to your ‘interdisciplinary’ academic training, it is therefore a good idea to start your first steps in research with concepts and theories.

##How to do Lit Review:

Although texts in different academic disciplines can differ significantly in terms of structure, form, and length, almost all academic articles (research articles and literature reports) share a number of characteristics:

They are published in scholarly journals with expert editorial boards

These journals are peer-reviewed

These articles are written by authors who have no direct commercial or political interest in the topic on which they are writing

There are also non-academic research reports such as UN reports, data from statistics institutes, and government reports. Although these are not, strictly speaking, peer-reviewed, the reliability of these sources means that their contents can be assumed to be valid

You can usually include grey literature in your research bibliography, but if you’re not sure, you can ask your lecturer or supervisor whether the source you’ve found meets the requirements.

Google and Wikipedia are unreliable: the former due to its commercial interests, the latter because anyone, in principle, can adjust the information and few checks are made on the content.

disciplinary and interdisciplinary search machines with extensive search functions for specialized databases, such as the Web of Science, Pubmed, Science Direct, and Scopus

Search methods All of these search engines allow you to search for scholarly sources in different ways. You can search by topic, author, year of publication, and journal name. Some tips for searching for literature: 1. Use a combination of search terms that accurately describes your topic. 2. You should use mainly English search terms, given that English is the main language of communication in academia. 3. Try multiple search terms to unearth the sources you need. a. Ensure that you know a number of synonyms for your main topic b. Use the search engine’s thesaurus function (if available) to map out related concepts.

During your search, it is advisable to keep track of the keywords and search combinations you use. This will allow you to check for blind spots in your search strategy, and you can get feedback on improving the search combinations. Some search engines automatically keep a record of this.

Exploratory reading How do you make a selection from the enormous number of articles that are often available on a topic? Keep the following four questions in mind, and use them to guide your literature review: ■■ What is already known about my topic and in which discipline is the topic discussed? ■■ Which theories and concepts are used and discussed within the scope of my topic, and how are they defined? ■■ How is my topic researched and what different research methods are there? ■■ Which questions remain unanswered and what has yet to be researched?

$$ Speed reading:

Run through the titles, abstracts, and keywords of the articles at the top of your list and work out which ideas (concepts) keep coming back.

Next, use the abstract to figure out what these concepts mean, and also try to see whether they are connected and whether this differs for each study.

If you are unable to work out what the concepts mean, based on the context, don’t hesitate to use dictionaries or search engines.

Make a list of the concepts that occur most frequently in these texts and try to draw links between them.

A good way to do this is to use a concept map, which sets out the links between the concepts in a visual way.

All being well, by now you will have found a list of articles and used them to identify several concepts and theories. From these, try to select the theories and concepts that you want to explore further. Selecting at this stage will help you to frame and focus your research. The next step is to discover to what extent these articles deal with these concepts and theories in similar or different ways, and how combining these concepts and theories leads to different outcomes. In order to do this, you will need to read more thoroughly and make a detailed record of what you’ve learned.

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[frank-olivier]

The Future Unscripted: Professor Nolan’s Musings on AI, NHI, and Humanity

Professor Garry Nolan’s conversation offers a profound exploration of the intersections between unconventional phenomena, artificial intelligence (AI), and humanity’s future. His personal anecdotes of unexplained childhood experiences serve as the catalyst for his professional inclination towards the unorthodox, underscoring the importance of considering unconventional data in scientific inquiry. By embracing anomalies, Nolan exemplifies the transformative potential of curiosity-driven research in the pursuit of novel knowledge.

Nolan’s scientific approach is notably inclusive, as evidenced by his exploration of Non-Human Intelligence (NHI), a term that broadens the scope of inquiry beyond traditional notions of extraterrestrial life. The analysis of enigmatic materials, such as Bismuth Magnesium, and the theorized capabilities of NHI, including mastery over anti-gravity and energy, prompt intriguing questions about coexistence. His analogy between human-ant interactions and potential human-NHI relations offers a thought-provoking perspective on mutual existence, shifting the focus from competition to symbiosis.

The future, as envisioned by Nolan, is intimately tied to AI’s development and application. He posits AI as a dual-edged solution: a tool for expediting scientific breakthroughs and resolving global crises, as well as a potential precursor to artificial superintelligence (ASI) that could embody a form of consciousness. This speculative horizon highlights the imperative of careful AI management to ensure equitable global access to education and growth. Nolan’s emphasis on AI-driven objective decision-making processes also presents a compelling case for reforming the current political landscape, which is often mired in tribal histories and scarcity mindsets.

A notable aspect of Nolan’s discourse is his critique of contemporary leadership and power structures, juxtaposed with the conflict resolution methods of bonobo chimps as a paradigm for more harmonious human interactions. This dichotomy underscores the urgent need for innovative, peace-centric approaches to global relations. Ultimately, Nolan’s optimism about humanity’s future, rooted in our capacity for crisis-driven ingenuity and the judicious leveraging of AI, presents a compelling vision of a world where challenges are met with collective brilliance and equality in education and growth becomes a universal reality.

Gary Nolan: Alien & UFO - The Critical Question Nobody's Asking (Gita Wirjawan, Endgame Podcast, December 2024)

Friday, December 6, 2024

[geometrymatters]

Buckminster Fuller: Synergetics and Systems

Synergetics

Synergetics, concept introduced by Buckminster Fuller, is an interdisciplinary study of geometry, patterns, and spatial relationships that provides a method and a philosophy for understanding and solving complex problems. The term “synergetics” comes from the Greek word “synergos,” meaning “working together.” Fuller’s synergetics is a system of thinking that seeks to understand the cooperative interactions among parts of a whole, leading to outcomes that are unpredicted by the behavior of the parts when studied in isolation.

Fuller’s understanding of systems relied upon the concept of synergy. With the emergence of unpredicted system behaviors by the behaviors of the system’s components, this perspective invites us to transcend the limitations of our immediate perception and to perceive larger systems, and to delve deeper to see relevant systems within the situation. It beckons us to ‘tune-in’ to the appropriate systems as we bring our awareness to a particular challenge or situation.

He perceived the Universe as an intricate construct of systems. He proposed that everything, from our thoughts to the cosmos, is a system. This perspective, now a cornerstone of modern thinking, suggests that the geometry of systems and their models are the keys to deciphering the behaviors and interactions we witness in the Universe.

In his “Synergetics: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking” Fuller presents a profound exploration of geometric thinking, offering readers a transformative journey through a four-dimensional Universe. Fuller’s work combines geometric logic with metaphors drawn from human experience, resulting in a framework that elucidates concepts such as entropy, Einstein’s relativity equations, and the meaning of existence. Within this paradigm, abstract notions become lucid, understandable, and immediately engaging, propelling readers to delve into the depths of profound philosophical inquiry.

Fuller’s framework revolves around the principle of synergetics, which emphasizes the interconnectedness and harmony of geometric relationships. Drawing inspiration from nature, he illustrates that balance and equilibrium are akin to a stack of closely packed oranges in a grocery store, highlighting the delicate equilibrium present in the Universe. By intertwining concepts from visual geometry and technical design, Fuller’s work demonstrates his expertise in spatial understanding and mathematical prowess. The book challenges readers to expand their perspectives and grasp the intricate interplay between shapes, mathematics, and the dimensions of the human mind.

At its core, “Synergetics” presents a philosophical inquiry into the nature of existence and the human thought process. Fuller’s use of neologisms and expansive, thought-provoking ideas sparks profound contemplation. While some may find the book challenging due to its complexity, it is a testament to Fuller’s intellectual prowess and his ability to offer unique insights into the fundamental workings of the Universe, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and transforming the fields of design, mathematics, and philosophy .

When applied to cognitive science, the concept of synergetics offers a holistic approach to understanding the human mind. It suggests that cognitive processes, rather than being separate functions, are interconnected parts of a whole system that work together synergistically. This perspective aligns with recent developments in cognitive science that view cognition as a complex, dynamic system. It suggests that our cognitive abilities emerge from the interaction of numerous mental processes, much like the complex patterns that emerge in physical and biological systems studied under synergetics.

In this context, geometry serves as a language to describe this cognitive architecture. Just as the geometric patterns in synergetic structures reveal the underlying principles of organization, the ‘geometric’ arrangement of cognitive processes could potentially reveal the principles that govern our cognitive abilities. This perspective extends Fuller’s belief in the power of geometry as a tool for understanding complex systems, from the physical structures he designed to the very architecture of our minds. It suggests that by studying the ‘geometry’ of cognition, we might gain insights into the principles of cognitive organization and the nature of human intelligence.

Systems

Fuller’s philosophy underscored that systems are distinct entities, each with a unique shape that sets them apart from their surroundings. He envisioned each system as a tetrahedron, a geometric form with an inside and an outside, connected by a minimum of four corners or nodes. These nodes, connected by what Fuller referred to as relations, serve as the sinews that hold the system together. These relations could manifest as flows, forces, or fields. Fuller’s philosophy also emphasized that systems are not isolated entities. At their boundaries, every node is linked to its surroundings, and all system corners are ‘leaky’, either brimming with extra energy or in need of energy.

Fuller attributed the properties and characteristics of systems to what he called generalized principles. These are laws of the Universe that hold true everywhere and at all times. For instance, everything we perceive is a specific configuration of energy or material, and the form of this configuration is determined by these universal principles.

Fuller’s philosophy also encompassed the idea that every situation is a dance of interacting systems. He encouraged us to explore the ways in which systems interact within and with each other. He saw each of us as part of the cosmic dance, continually coupling with other systems. This coupling could be as loose as the atoms of air in a room, or as flexible as molecules of water flowing.

We find that precession is completely regenerative one brings out the other. So I gave you the dropping the stone in the water, and the wave went out that way. And this way beget that way. And that way beget that way. And that’s why your circular wave emanates. Once you begin to get into “precession” you find yourself understanding phenomena that you’ve seen a stone falling in the water all of your life, and have never really known why the wave does just what it does.

Fuller’s concept of precession, or systems coupling, is a testament to his deep understanding of systems and their interactions. He described how we sometimes orbit a system, such as a political movement or an artistic method. Our orbit remains stable when the force that attracts us is dynamically balanced by the force that propels us away. This understanding of precession allows us to comprehend phenomena that we have observed all our lives, yet never truly understood why they behave as they do. Fuller’s teachings on systems and their inherent geometry continue to illuminate our understanding of the Universe and our place within it.