Before jumping in, I figured it’s never not a good time for an unrelated college throwback photo, specifically a photo from when I taught a robotics and engineering class at a local elementary school. Still crossing my fingers that one day I’ll have LEGO robots back in my life.

Anyways, onto the current projects. On the side, I’ve been doing some science writing and launched a new professional(ish) website, because what else am I going to do on weekends when I literally can’t leave my apartment. Don’t worry, this blog will stay the same as always, which is to say an erratic but occasionally entertaining mix of stories and life updates.

Science Communication via Massive Science

Massive Science is an online media outlet that publishes both in-depth articles and shorter “lab notes” written by scientists about their work, and is particularly supportive of newer writers. While I don’t claim to be either a scientist or a writer, I do enjoy outreach and science communication and figured it would be fun to try and write some science stories about things I care about, like astronomy and sports. Also apparently boats.

My first long-form article was published just this past week (!!), a fun explanation of the physics of big ships in small canals.

So far, I’ve also published short notes on some mistakes by a pair of astronomers that led to a new discovery, and why we need to quit icing sore muscles.

I feel like that gives me a (small) excuse for not posting here more often, right? Right.

New Website

I also decided that I should make a more professional website for myself. If I decide to pursue science communication more seriously in the future, I wanted to have a central place to collect the various projects and articles and talks I’ve done.

However, the real impetus to launch the new website right now is that this summer I’m (again) leading a virtual science program for middle school students. I needed a webpage for students and parents where I can post links and such, but felt awkward about sending them to this personal blog. You can understand why I don’t necessarily want my students learning about my elementary school nickname or the fact that I still use the term “awesome possum“. Pre-teens can be ruthless.