A Good Name

My parents enjoy bird-watching, and have set up fountains throughout our yard to attract the little fellows. Today we were outside at dusk playing cards, and I noticed some smaller visitors were imbibing. I thought it was cute, so I got out my camera. Looking at the picture, I was reminded of my good name, as Melissa means both "Seeking One" and "Honey Bee". (Side note, I've always thought the honey bee part was especially apropos since I plan on studying plants for a living). Anywho, just thought I'd share this with you since a), I've always liked my name and thought you should know how cool it is, and b) honey bees have a cute side that should be publicized more often.

What the girl needs now, is cash, sweet cash.

Its the only thing, that there's just, too little of. Okay, okay, enough of sappy 70's song make-overs. But seriously, I could really use some cash, and lots of it. Today I accepted my Federal Student loans for Northwestern. While I have a goodly fellowship to attend, the money I was given does not even cover all of the tuition, much less room and board, mandatory health insurance, transportation, books, etc. The really sad part is that my new Federal loans aren't even enough for that, so I'm going to have to take out a few thousand more dollars in a GradPlus loan. And all of that goes on top of my Biola loans from undergrad of course. Oh the joys of education.

All of these sad sad woes were rolling in my brain one late night about a week ago when I decided to email Harrison Ford. Yes, I emailed Harrison Ford last week. Before I continue with this thrilling tale, there are a couple important facts to keep in mind: a) it was kind of late at night, and b) I had had a single raspberry/pomegranate beer and am sort of a lightweight. Thus it was in this slightly altered state of mind that I was conducting a desperate search for school money. Clicking disappointing link after disappointing link, I accidently discovered that Harrison Ford was recently awarded the prestigious World Ecology Award for his work with Conservation International. Now I'm definitely not much of a celebrity follower, but I have to admit that I've had deep crush on Harrison Ford my whole life. Actually, I've had a deep crush on Han Solo, but tomayto tomahto. Anyways, when I learned that he is environmental enough to win awards for it, I was done for. Out went my rational, scientific self, and in came the long dormant schoolgirl dreamer. Thinking that maybe this was my answer for school money, I began a new google search, this time for his email. I finally found what I still think is his correct email (several fan sites had the same one listed), and I began my bold begging of my favorite celebrity. With all sincerity, I thanked him for his good work with CI (and as Han Solo), and then told him it would be really helpful if he could give me some money for school. I explained my future dreams of working for the Nature Conservancy, and even had enough clarity to include my financial aid "estimated cost of attendance" for Northwestern as well as my home address. I told him I'd understand if he declines on the money, but did let him know I'd be happy with an autograph. And now its been a week with no response. I can't really blame him , and hey, it was worth a shot.

But man, it would be so sweet for a sarcastic, low-belted, environmentally-minded, space cowboy to pay for my school! I would soo write "I love you" on my eye-lids if he did that.

Gah, my own place!

I just filled out a lease agreement for my very own studio in Evanston, IL (my very first place alone). Talk about adulthood milestone! Phew. The last month or so I've been having lots of fun buying the necessaries for my yet-to-be-found studio, and its so great to finally have a "face with the name" so to speak. The apartment search has been sooo long and tedious, and full of Google-Earthing, and I'm glad to finally have a place nailed down. Its a little freaky because I haven't actually seen this place in person and I haven't yet secured enough money in student loans to pay for everything, but I think it will be ok. Its in a cute old building in a downtown area, and just a few minutes walk from the free Northwestern shuttle (an important fact, seeing as I'm not bringing a car). Now I just have to move in!

My Science Must-Reads List

For those of you who don't know, I was a student in the Torrey Honors Institute (a Classical great books program) at Biola University. When you are a junior or senior in the program, you have the ability to propose new specialty classes that you and others can take instead of the traditional courses. A couple years ago my friend and I were tossing around the idea of a class on Science and Literature. While we never got far enough to actually propose this "Meta-Torrey", we did have some good conversations on how science and scientists are presented in classic works of fiction. As we were discussing possible books, I came to realize that there are very few pieces of fiction that present a scientist and his endeavors in a positive light. I guess that's because science-gone-wrong is terribly exciting, but I found it a little disturbing nonetheless. This revelation lead to a conversation with my wise mentor Rafe Payne, who gave me quite a few suggestions of good science books, and who also emailed his good pal John Janovy for suggestions. The result of all these interactions is what I call my Science Must-Reads List. It includes many of those infamous works of fiction, as well as works of non-fiction that are more sympathetic to the scientific process. The suggestions from John Janovy and Dr. John Bloom (whom I also asked for suggestions) are just copied and pasted from emails from them, so that's why the formatting is a little strange. I've also included the entire email from Dr. Janovy in case you're interested in his explanations. Once upon a time I was also interested in a Meta-Torrey on the Theology of Nature, so there are some books from Dr. Fred Sanders on that topic at the bottom of the page. I also dredged up the reading assignments for another meta-Torrey (one that actually took place) called Christianity and the Nature of Science, and I've included those books as well. I've been talking with quite a few people about this list lately, so I thought I'd post it up here for the benefit of posterity (because I just know so many book-worm science buffs read this blog). The list is annotated with the dates of any books I've finished, but as you can see I have a long ways to go. Enjoy!

Science Must-Reads List:

From Rafe Payne:

• Yellow Legs by John Janovy
• Darwin’s Autobiography
• Origin of Species (read 1/08, for which I earned a steak dinner from Rafe)
• Log of the Sea of Cortez by Steinbeck (read 1/14/07)
• Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas (read 6/22/07)
• The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn
• Moby Dick by Herman Melville (read 7/6/08)
• Lessons of History by Durante (read the chapt. On Lessons of Biology)
• Double Helix by Watson
• The Future of Life by E.O Wilson
• Panda’s Thumb by Stephen Jay Gould (read 6/14/07)
• The Flamingo’s Smile by Stephen Jay Gould
• Rocks of Ages by Stephen Jay Gould
• The Blind Watchmaker by Dawkins
• Creator and the Cosmos by Hugh Ross (read Fall 2007)
• Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
• Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
• Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold (read 8/3/07)

Baja Books (if you go, you must read some of these):

• Log from the Sea of Cortez by Steinbeck (read 1/14/07)
• Vermillion Sea by John Janovy (read 12/06)
• Forgotten Peninsula by Krunch
• Almost an Island by Berger
• Baja Highway by Minch and Leslie
• Magnificent Peninsula by Williams

From Dr. Bloom:

• Meaningful World," by Wiker and Witt. (read Fall 2007)
• Bacon would be positive also, as a classic scientifically-oriented author.

From Jeff Conn (my friend with the Meta-Torrey idea):

• That Hideous Strength by Lewis (read 2001)
• Frankenstein (read 7/2/07)
• A Brave New World (read 6/22/07)
• I, Robot (read 7/3/07)
• The Island Of Dr. Moreau by HG Wells (read 6/10/09)

From John Janovy Jr.:

• Peter Matthiessen's "Far Tortuga."
• "The Mind's Eye," a book I believe was edited by Douglas Hofstadter.
• Hofstadter also has another book entitled "Metamagical Themas."
• Richard Adams' "Shardik,"
• Paul Thereaux's "The Mosquito Coast,"

Email from Dr. Janovy to Rafe Payne (forwarded on to me).

In thinking of literature in which nature is an essential character and in which the human characters interact with that nature in a manner almost metaphorically like scientists do, i.e. chasing something (an idea, an ideal, an answer to some problem, a livelihood in a way not too dissimilar to the way we scientists use our curiosity to carry us through a career, etc.), of course "Moby Dick" comes to mind, as does Peter Matthiessen's "Far Tortuga." Melissa might also try a copy of "The Mind's Eye," a book I believe was edited by Douglas Hofstadter. I loaned my copy to a student and I'm not sure it ever returned, or I'd look through it and find the specific references. But in one of those chapters there is reference to a story (fictitious, I believe) in which an individual, perhaps this case an engineer, makes toys that express emotion. He makes these toys because his daughter has had brain surgery and simply does not seem to be the same afterwards. One of the toys is a beetle that screams, cries, and leaks blood when it is abused. So this person is actually using technology to explore a part of nature. Hofstadter also has another book entitled "Metamagical Themas." One time years ago I made a list of several books mentioned in that book and tried to find them in the library (unsuccessfully), but that was before Google and Amazon, so next time I'm up at school I'll try to remember to send you that list (there is no guarantee those books are actually real, given the nature of "Metamagical Themas"). There's also Richard Adams' "Shardik," set in primeval times but nevertheless very much about nature and the decisions we make in our interactions with that nature (again, using nature for something other than food and shelter, something spiritual). I'm also thinking of Paul Thereaux's "The Mosquito Coast," which is stretching the assignment a little bit, maybe quite a bit, but I distinctly remember thinking that the father character was caught up in the idea of this adventure in much the same way that scientists get caught up in the adventure of their explorations (Searcher?), whether those explorations be of the microscopic or the intergalactic.

Dr. Sanders’ suggestions for Theology of Nature:

• Calvin and subsequent discussion: Susan Schreiner's book Theatre of His Glory.
• Barth Vs. Brunner on natural revelation -iffy
• Collingwoods' Idea of Nature
• Alister McGrath's 3-volume scientific theology, the volume entitled Nature
• Colin Gunton - the Triune Creator.
• Bergmann, Creation Set Free, "an ecotheology of liberation"
• Ted Peters on proleptic creation from God the World's Future

Christianity and the Nature of Science Metatorrey Reading List

• Miracles by CS Lewis
• Christianity and the Nature of Science by JP Moreland
• Reason in the Balance: The Case against Naturalism in Science, law and Education by Phillip Johnson
• Physics; On the Heavens; On Genearation and Corruption; On the Generation of Animals, all by Aristotle
• A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology by Andrew D. White
• The Soul of Science: Christian Faith and Natural Philosophy by Nancy Pearcey and Charles Thaxton
• A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science by John Losee
• Science in Europe 1500-1800, by Malcolm Oster
• Christian Ethics by Norman Geisler
• Faith, Reason and Earth History by Leonard Brand
• But is it Science by Michael Ruse
• Intelligent Design: The bridge between Science and Theology by William Dembski
• Darwin on Trial by Phillip E Johnson (Read Fall 2006)
• Faith form and Time by Kurt Wise
• Signs of Intelligence by William Dembski
• Mere Creation: Sceicne, Faith and Intelligent Design by Dembski
• Three Views on Creation and Evolution by Moreland, Reynolds, and Davis

Botanists are Boring

The dear friend who inspired me to start this blog suggested "Botanists are Boring" as the title. While I ultimately went with a more romantic name for my blog, I really do appreciate the self-deprecation of her suggestion. As a student of plant biology, I've encountered many people who groan when I tell them I that I study plants. The most memorable of these was a woman I met a couple years ago in the Sequoias (the Sequoias of all places). She started a conversation with me, telling me all about how she and her husband enjoy mountain biking, and hiking, and exploring the natural beauty of the area. Our conversation continued, and when she learned that I was in college, she began an impassioned rant on the importance of higher education for women, and how she is so proud of me. She then asked me what I was studying and what I wanted to do with my education. I was surpised to note her sudden change in demeanor when I told her I was studying biology with the hopes of going to graduate school for plant ecology and conservation. She didn't say anything for a few seconds, and then with face full of drama and a heart of spite, she asked me, "No offense, but WHY? Isn't that one of the most boring subjects? I mean, I guess someone has to... but botany.... wow." I was dumbfounded, and I realize now that sometimes I am too nice for my own good. I mumbled something polite like, "Well, I really enjoy it" and that was pretty much the end of the conversation. If I were one of my older siblings, I could have really ripped her a new one about her hypocrisy and ignorance. Instead I just think these things to myself, recreating the senario in ways that leave me the witty, sarcastic victor. Probably my silence has contributed to the idea that botanists are boring, because aren't smart asses more interesting than peace-makers or perhaps cowards? Oh well. I'm sure I'll have future encounters with people who just love nature and the empowerment of women, but just can't understand why a girl would actually want to study plants. Maybe then I'll have something to say.