As if one conference/seminar/course wasn’t enough, I am doing another one tomorrow. Nature Networks are running a one day conference on science blogging at the Royal Institute in London. The programme looks quite interesting, and I have already decided which of the “Breakout” sessions I will be attending (presuming enough space of course). Some of you (dear readers) may already know of my dilemma in whether or not to start writing about science: in particular: interaction between science and society, such as medical geology. But I am very worried about the level of commitment and the amount of time¹. A conference like this won’t make up my mind for me, but maybe it will help in informing my decision. Most important of all, it looks like fun, and there is scheduled drinking time too.

1. something I don’t have, I am starting a Master of Environmental Law next year, working full time and I still want to continue drawing The Cat’s Paw [↩]

I had been putting together a list of open access geological journals when I stumble across the Directory of open access journals (direct link to Earth and Environmental Sciences subject). Open access is a great tool, as it allows the general public, and independent media and researchers access to papers that normally require a university or other institutional subscriptions.

There is a one day Science Blogging Conference at the Royal Institution London on August 30th. I am attending it. I am now questioning my sanity (and stamina) as I will be attending this the day after finishing a two week seminar on international law, the environment and human rights. It should be fun. However, I may be a slavering zombie by the time I arrive back in Australia.

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New Research On Octopuses Sheds Light On Memory : analogous processes in cephlapod and higher verterbrate brains in storing and retrieving memories. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2008, June 18). New Research On Octopuses Sheds Light On Memory. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 22, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/06/080617102853.htm

Just a blurb for a useful tool for managing articles online: Connotea. It has been around since 2005(?) but this is the first I have heard of it, so I thought I might post the link in case there is anyone else out there as oblivious as I am. Connotea is bookmarking tool aimed at researchers, clinicians and scientists. It differs from social tools such as del.ic.ious because it can incorporate bibliographic information.

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I had run into some members of CEC Australia (associated with the LaRouche organisation) last month, and they had some interesting ideas that I wanted to check into further (socio-political not geological). So I gave them some contact details and they phoned me last night. It didn’t take long for me to realise that this wasn’t a group I wanted to be involved in (anyone who repeatedly uses the word ‘truth’ creeps me out). But being a ‘nice’ person I didn’t hang up on them. Towards the end of the phone call the conversation strayed into geology. They have some very strange ideas about geology, in particular the origin of groundwater, ore deposits and hydrocarbons. Todays bizarre pseudo-science topic is: iron ore deposits form from the blood and bones of animals.