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| Whew... | | Date Created: Jul 15, 2005, 03:12 PM |
2 weeks, 2 conferences, multiple time zones, many (many) pints, many frequent flier miles.
First conference was at Queens College, Oxford, a conference on Visualization in Science and Education. The number of interesting tools and methods of visualization that people are inventing for looking at scientific phenomena was pretty stunning. Though, I'm a bit concerned that, as our methods of creating these cool images grows, the disconnect between scientists and the rest of the world will also grow (including the disconnect between scientists and their students.) Just because creating a new type of visualization makes it easier for scientists to "see" something doesn't mean it's easier for students to learn.
The conference went well, and I made several good contacts with other people in the field. I felt especially pleased when one of the other attendees told me after a brief presentation on my work, that it was the most interesting thing he'd seen at the conference. That was certainly fun to hear, especially since, in some ways, my work was probably the most "low tech" thing there.
The plane ride over was quite pleasant. Got an exit row seat (a necessity for anyone over 3 feet tall.) Ended up sitting next to a guy who wasn't some freak of nature. I, as is my usual habit, took along several DVDs to watch on my laptop. Two of them, "Closer" and "Everyone" were so boring that I couldn't finish them. You know a movie is bad when it is too boring to watch on a plane. The cutie sitting next to me had planned much better than I and was watching DVDs of The Transformers. Not sure that he was a sister, but I suspected that he, like the Transformers, was more than meets the eye. My frequent flier profile automatically signs me up for a vegetarian meal, but I'd just eaten dinner before I got on the plane and therefore didn't want it. You'd think I was sending back some amazing meal at a fancy French restaurant. They seemed amazed that someone wouldn't actually want to eat airline food. Four different flight attendants tried to get me to eat it. Not sure what the deal was there -- are they working on commission? After the third one tried and failed to get me to eat the plastic tray of glop, I started just ignoring them, turning up the volume on one of the other movies I'd brought along.
Have you ever played the game "Gay or British?" or perhaps the North American version, "Gay or Canadian?" Well, let me just say that playing "Gay or British" while wandering around a college town like Oxford is even harder. I have freaky accurate gaydar here in the states, but apparently I forgot to update the software to the international version because I simply couldn't tell at all. I did find out that my little hypothesis about there being more cute men in college towns did translate, however. Not sure why that is (and no, it isn't because the average age is 19, because I'm not really into twinks) but I suspect that "good nutrition has given them length of bone" (to paraphrase Dr. Lector.)
Got to do some fun sight-seeing with some colleagues, including Christ Church (the inspiration and filming location for Harry Potter) and the Eagle and Child (the pub where CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, and others hung out). Also got to see the Oxford Shark. I'll post some pictures later.
There are numerous reasons why I suspect I may have gone to the wrong college as an undergrad, but I got to add another to my list. All the colleges in Oxford have a pub int he basement. One evening, over a pint of Oxford Bitter, one of the other attendees, a lovely British professor of education suggested that she could outdrink me. Considering that I had about 100 pounds on her (she weighed about 25 pounds) and considering that I'm a chemist, I replied that she was very likely wrong. I would have ignored her challenge had it not been July 4th. However, since we both had presentations the next day, we decided to postpone the experiment. Let me just say though, that a few days later, once again, the colonies thoroughly routed the British.
I arrived back in Detroit (for 12 hours) on the 7th. Landed, and then found about 14 voicemail messages on my cell phone. It wasn't until then that I found out about the bombings in London that had taken place just as I was leaving. Unfortunately, my parents believe anything in the UK is in London, so they were very worried, but the closest I got was Gatwick airport and didn't have any problems getting home at all.
The flight back was reasonably uneventful. I again got an exit row, but moved because the guy next to me was about 5000 pounds and taking up my seat as well as his (and some of the aisle). Fortunately the flight was about half empty, so I got a whole row almost to myself.
12 hours, a couple loads of laundry, then repack and leave for Palo Alto, California and a conference at the Carnegie Foundation.
Flight out ... got upgraded to first class. Pissed off some couple who wanted to sit together, but that would have meant that I had to give up my aisle seat. Not gonna happen. They should have done what I do and call several months in advance to make sure I get the seat I want.
Also a good conference, also made several good contacts, also drank too many pints. Note to students: Always include at least one faculty member in every bar outing. They often buy several rounds. It seems like I spent most of the conference asking people what time it was and what day it was. (My watch was not keeping good time and I was pretty screwed up with jet-lag or jet-forward, whatever.) I'll also post some pictures of that conference.
Whew...glad to be back. |
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