Category Archives: ranting

Mystery Geology Theatre 2012

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Chris Rowan

Yesterday was, of course, the long-awaited day of the apocalypse, as we reached the end of the Mayan calendar. The fact that the descendants of the Maya didn’t buy this interpretation was, of course, beside the point, as were all … Continue reading →

Categories: geology, public science, ranting, reviews

Dear Nature, You got a sexist story, but when you published it, you gave it your stamp of approval and became sexist too.

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Anne Jefferson

Dear Nature, “Womanspace” by Ed Rybicki is the most appalling thing I have ever read in a scientific journal. When I read the Futures (science fiction) piece you published on 29 September 2011, about how the hero and a man … Continue reading →

Categories: academic life, by Anne, publication, ranting, society

Stay broad! Why you should fight the intellectual narrows

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Chris Rowan

For this month’s Accretionary wedge, my co-blogger Anne is asking us to mark the beginning of a new teaching year by pondering the nature of education in the geoscience. As a post-doc, I may not be in the best position … Continue reading →

Categories: academic life, geology, ranting, science education

If you’re waiting for an earthquake warning, you’re doing it wrong

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Chris Rowan

The magnitude 6.3 earthquake that stuck central Italy near the city of L’Aquila in April 2009 killed more than 300 people, made tens of thousands more homeless, and caused billions of Euros’ worth of damage. No-one could have predicted exactly … Continue reading →

Categories: earthquakes, geohazards, public science, ranting, society