I recently listened to a podcast episode about some of the surprising impacts the 1918 influenza had on events of the 20th century. You can listen to that episode at https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/dispatches-1918. In short, by infecting some influential people, the podcasters argue that the flu changed the course of art, politics, and even the second world … [Read more…]
Image Credit: Will Mallot on Unsplash Though my soul is set in darkness, I will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. – Sarah Williams, The Old Astronomer to His Pupil Greetings earthlings existing in this timeline, I am a wildlife biologist but I have … [Read more…]
A Leach’s Storm-Petrel: the most common breeding seabird in Newfoundland and the inspiration for my newfound love of science communication. Recently, I was interviewed for CBC Radio Canada about my ongoing MSc research. I did not know what would come of it, but the article has attracted some attention and brought my research into the … [Read more…]
It has been a rough year: 2020 seems as though it will never come to an end. Luckily for us, escape is but a quick car ride away in Newfoundland. Whether you want to or not, everyone grows to love “The Rock” (a.k.a. Newfounland) over time. Perhaps it is the inescapable beauty of living in … [Read more…]
When the first conference I was registered to participate in this year decided to go “virtual”, my head started spinning. “GOING VIRTUAL? You just sit all day and keep watching videos? What about the networking? Is it going to exist? If so, will people WANT to network and engage in this different format?” I have … [Read more…]
Honestly, I was anxious when I first discovered that the library would remain closed for the year with limited access to computer labs. However, to my surprise, a Spring as unique as this has brought about a cocktail of emotions. The transition from failing miserably to making each day count has been one of a … [Read more…]
Cheers! We are now at Level 2, that just means a step away to our old-gold COVID free world! I often ponder how much this Pandemic has affected us, how much it has taught us and how much there is that we have known of ourselves and of our lives whilst continuing to battle a … [Read more…]
Normally, this time of year, my team and I would be working hard to finish the analysis artifacts unearthed last summer. Our conversations would alternate between what still needs to be packed and what we are most looking forward to on the field this year. In a month’s time we would be methodically unearthing centuries … [Read more…]
Fieldwork Pre–pandemic For me, the pandemic seemed to come on very quickly and unexpectedly. One week I was making plans for summer field work, and the next I was left working at home. I was in high school during the SARS pandemic, and H1N1 hit Canada while I was in undergrad, but those felt like … [Read more…]
Some of the pairs of socks that I’ve knit since being home This sure is one for the history books. I’m writing to you from back home in Ontario. I didn’t have to travel very far, but I sure feel far away from the life I was building in Newfoundland. I was lucky to get … [Read more…]