Trick or Treatment…

Last may, when I went to Greece i picked up a few books at the book store within the airport. One of these books was the book “Salvekvick och kvacksalveri”, which is the Swedish translation of Singh & Ernst’s book “Trick or Treatment”.

I liked that book a lot! I just picked it up because i found the title funny, but I did not regret reading it. The combination of the authors is a match in heaven since they both strive to give a fair and open-minded overview as well as review of the most common alternative medicine practices.

Edzard Ernst is an MD and PhD and one of the first in the world to hold a professor chair in alternative medicine. He is also well versed in alternative medicine, being a practitioner who (as i could discern from this book) he has received training in acupuncture, herbalism, acupuncture and massage therapy.

The second author, Simon Singh, is a science writer with a PhD in particle physics. Together they approach alternative medicine with an open, yet critical, mind. Evidence and science being the focus. If something works, then it can be proven to do so after all… doesn’t it?

After an introduction chapter where the scientific method is explained in detail, both its workings and the logic behind it, the authors continue into examining the 4 major alternative medicine therapies. Namely, acupuncture; homeopathy; chiropractic treatment and herbal medicine, by dedicating one chapter to each and one of them. The last chapter wraps it all up by summarizing, and by addressing the issue – “So we found out the truth, through the scientific method, but does the truth matter?”.

Also the book includes a very nice appendix, listing a big part of herbal remedies, and whether they have proven effects or not, as well as further reading suggestions.

I highly recommend reading this book to anyone who’s interested in alternative medicine!

So… I read this book in May… why am I picking it up now? I was thinking of writing about it back in may, but work and traveling kept me away from blogging, so I forgot about it untill I read my Forskarfeministens (aka modebloggarens 😉 ) post “Homeopati och Nobelpristagare“.

It’s amazing how many hoops people will jump through in order to keep their beliefs in treatments who does not work. This book included many examples of “wishful thinking” in examining scientific results. Also many examples of pure fraud… as well as people hitting below the belt. Resorting to slandering of their opposers in order to discredit their opinions. As seen also by the reactions of the homeopath society when the Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang took an extreme “overdose” of homeopathic sleeping drug (which of course did not affect him… since there is no active ingredients in those pills) the strategy of trying to discredit the opposers is commonly used…

And that’s where the final question of the authors of Trick or treatment come in:

“Does the truth matter?”

Well my answer is NO… In a battle between truth and belief – truth does not matter. Truth will always lose when faced with a firm and heavily rooted belief. I can respect that, but then let’s be honest and also admit that it is a belief. Be straight and say: I don’t care what the evidence says I BELIEVE this. It’s anyone right and a standpoint one has to respect even if he disagrees.

To have a life… or not have? (outside Science)

After a discussion over coffee the day before yesterday, I read the editorial and 2 of the articles in this months nature. All three of those talk about the balance (or lack thereof) of the life of someone doing science. Considering I just a few days ago wrote “All your life cannot and should not be your PhD.” in a post, I feel the need to comment on those articles and the editorial.

I am after all (I think…  😉 ) one of those young scientists the editorial is referring to when saying:

What might a young scientist make of these two styles, apart from the observation that it takes all sorts?

So… which are twose two ideas described in the two articles discussed in the editorial? They are the views of two PIs with very different philosophies when it comes to personnel management. The 24/7 lab led by Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa and the balanced lab Julie Overbaugh. (If you have the time its worth spending some time reading all three texts – see bottom of post.)

The style of work described in the article about the 24/7 lab, with an ominous, threatening and intimidating professor does not suit me. *period* The main framework for human interactions in my world is respect. Respect me – and I will respect you. If I don’t perform well come and tell me. But don’t try and intimidate me… not only will it not work, I will lose my respect for you as well since I find intimidating as a leadership style ridiculous. Not to mention that fear of your PI/supervisor does not create a good working environment. Stressed and fearful colleagues can not be creative and inventive…

Creativity and innovation comes through “failure”. For every good idea we actually get to apply – we’ve tested a multitude of less good or plain bad/stupid ideas. An open and respectful environment is what allows you to bounce ideas with your colleagues, sorting out good – bad – stupid – with potential ideas. Fear, constant judgement and evaluation makes you keep your mouth (and in extension your mind) shut. Thus quenching creativity and innovation.

Also, I personally find the demand to be “Working weekends. Leaving at midnight. Friday evening meetings.”, too much to handle. Seriously… Who can maintain such a pace indefinitely? When I think of a work pace like that, in my mind the picture of a firework, or a signalling flare, pops up. Burning brightly, intensely and beautifully… but gone almost as fast as it lighted up.

Therefore I frowned when I read the following concluding remark in the editorial:

“Anyone lacking the inner intellectual drive and capacity for relentless focus to get to the heart of the way the world works should stay away.”

My first reaction was feeling annoyed ans disappointed, because I interpreted this as a sign that the author supports the 24/7 aspect of work in science. But is he really?

On second thought I’m not so sure…

The fact is that the world works in the way it works. Closing our eyes and wishing things were  different than they are didn’t even work when we were kids, even less in adulthood. If you want to succeed in science you need to put in the hours. You need to get the work done. But  if you want to do a career you also need to last. Cause no matter how bright and shiny the firework is, it’s lifespan is too short.

In order to succeed you need to be more of an oil lamp than a firework. Refillable with energy (usually by hobbies and friends) but also flexible. There are times when you need to apply single minded focus and work day and night. You need to burn fast and bright, you turn the wick up. Thankfully there are also times when you can turn the wick down to a steady flame and use up your fuel at a slower pace.

So in the end I find myself agreeing with the concluding remark. You do need the focus and capacity to get to the heart of how the world works. Only if you are aware of the framework of the world around you can you work in it. Work trough it. And work around it, in order to get what you want.

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Do I make the cut? Am I one of the ones who should stay away from science? I don’t know… time will show!

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Nature texts featured in this post:

Editorial: “Reality check”

Article: “Work ethic: The 24/7 lab”

Comment: “24/7 isn’t the only way: A healthy work–life balance can enhance research”

SJ did it again!

While out for coffee yesterday I got a glimpse of the metro article saying that SJ raised their prices, but today I got it confirmed.

Uppsala – Stockholm
    Full price: 80:- (from 74:-)
    Student: 75:- (from 69:-, i think)

How can they raise prices for such a crappy service? Unbelievable!

Surviving as a PhD student…

Many before me have published Survival guides/tips about and for the life as a PhD student… but some things cannot be said too many times.

Keep your friends close.

You  need that social circle around you. All your life cannot and should not be your PhD. Especially in areas like ours, genetics, biology, biochemistry etc. where we work in the lab. Experiments get fucked up. You fail, you screw up, others in the labs screws things up for you – or just plainly – that experiment do not work.

When everything goes to hell in the lab (note: WHEN not IF) you will be grateful for your friends around you.

A wise person told me once that 90% of your experiments fail (and in my line of work I’d like to make that a whooping 97%) so you’d better get used to it…

Do not be embarrassed to bitch about your supervisor.

Attending after works, coffee meetings or some kind of social gathering where there are only fellow PhDs or understanding post-docs is crucial in maintaing your mental health and surviving your time as a PhD student. Even the sweetest and most perfect supervisor, is nothing but a human being. When we work as closely and under the pressure that this life contains we are bound to annoy eachother.

Some may feel: “Isn’t it disloyal to complain about your supervisor?”

I say “Hell no!”

Some times you just need to let out steam. To feel you are not alone in whatever tiny or big thing that annoys you. After wenting it’s ok and you can let go… and hey… Do you really think that our supervisors don’t complain about us (their PhD students) at times?

Also many times there are simple solutions to problems we have, that someone else has already figured out the hard way. Talking about small and big things may prove very valuable in solving issues and getting perspective. Maybe it’s actually just us overreacting?

And I repeat: Do not neglect your friends!!!

I have… some of them for periods… some of them for too long… sometimes I remember, I really try to… some times I get scared when I talk to some of them and realise: “It was 6 months ago since we spoke! HOW could that happen?”

Nevertheless I consider myself very very lucky. Despite all the neglect. Despite mood swings and harsh times. Despite being lost parallel universes for ages most of them are still there. I have wonderful people around me. They are all precious to me.

Motivated? Sure, But how?

The tittle of this post comes from a pedagogical lecture I attended some time ago… The lecture was about how I as a teacher can motivate my students.

Today though I find it to be meant for me… and many other PhD students out there.

Yes I’m motivated! Yes! Yes!

*silence*

I mean it! I’m quite motivated… I think… maybe? Hmmm ok I’m not today… That’s why this lecture tittle popped into my mind: “Sure, But HOW?!”

Motivation is not something you can grasp. Nor static… It’s a perishable commodity that needs renewal every day. And today i don’t seem to have acquired my daily dose. Well maybe I just need to face facts. Today is one of those day’s when i just cannot concentrate. My brain is everywhere but where it’s supposed to be. It’s like it split into a thousand pieces and scattered all around. Those days, cause I believe we all have them – I just feel like sighing loudly. And for all I know maybe I am without noticing.

There is nothing wrong with being a Hermione!

A friend of mine posted this article from aftonbladet on facebook – “There is nothing wrong with being a Hermiony”. I smiled when I saw it… cause I both agree and disagree…

For those who do not know swedish – the article is written by a swedish female debater, Katrine Kielos. She describes an incident where an older debater points out (as something negative) that her problem is that she can not engage in a debate about a subject unless she’s read 5 books about it. Her first reaction was to be taken aback, and be embarrassed, but she soon turns into being angry. “There is nothing wrong with being a Hermione” she rages. Using the parallel between the heroes in the Harry Potter books, Hermione, Harry and Ron (especially Harry) to illustrate female vs male attitudes. The studying girl… and the boy that relies on luck, talent and contacts.

That is all well…  But the black and white attitude annoys me: The “female” way is good, the “male” one is not.

No… There is nothing wrong with reading up before you form an opinion in order to discuss. But there is also nothing wrong with having the confidence and generall knowledge to discuss something a bit unprepared, relying on your gut feeling.

But at the same time I cannot help wonder… isn’t it a female drawback that we tend to rely more on others opinions – especially printed aforementioned ones – and aspiring for perfection, instead of forming our own good enough opinion and actually standing for it?

The problem lies not in being a Hermione…  The problem begins when you believe you need to be perfect.

There is an infinite ocean of knowledge out there… knowing all is impossible. Only the big thinkers of the renaissance had a sporting chance to cover the biggest part of available knowledge.

Being a Hermione is good… but you need enough of Harry in you to say – That’s what I think based on what I know. Prove me wrong, add to my knowledge, and I’ll gladly revise my opinion.

That’s MY opinion… 😉

Heart of Stone

Some days you just wish for a heart of stone and the bliss of ignorance…

Am I a coward for longing for that?
Am I a coward for wishing I could choose ignorance?
Then so be it!!!
For the pain of seeing and not being able to do anything tears me apart.

Syntagma… some loose thoughts and rambling…

Sadness and helplessness fills my soul today… The Greek parliament is voting for the new austerity measures. I wish I was there… having been there only the first day of the movement of the “αγανακτισμένοι” really isn’t enough.

People are trying to demonstrate… The police are closing in the parliament in an iron cocoon. Iron fences and rows upon rows of riot police. Tear-gas is flowing upon the people. It’s almost like a was zone… like the latest dictature has already been established, but instead of the army they use the police.

And when I opened the live streaming from the demonstration, the slogans I hear being yelled by the handful of people that’s on the top of the syntagma square are the same 3 words being repeated over and over during the time of the dictature.

“Ψωμί, παιδία, ελευθερία” = ”Food, education, freedom”

On being inbetween…

On being in between is the title I’ve chosen for this blogpost… because that is what I inherently am.

Half-greek… half-swedish… that’s the common terms for describing people like me who move on a sliding scale between cultures. Part of both yet just a tiny bit stranger to both.

I’ve always disliked those terms though… because you can’t be half-something as abstract as a cultural identity or nationality. I’ve always felt that I’m Greek (or more correctly that I’m Cretan). But I’ve also always been Swedish as well. 100% of both…

“But… but… 100% + 100% = 200%, don’t you really mean 50% each?” (I’ve gotten as a reaction)

“No I really mean 100%.”

That’s the treasure of being bilingual and a child of two cultures. Being both, at the same time… often seamlessly switching between. If your lucky picking up the best of both… more commonly though the worst of both! 😀

On that subject… Some time ago I read this in a newspaper article and felt such a sting of recognition. The girl who wrote it is Italian, but it’s equally true for me as a Greek. Just exchange the word Italy with Greece

Svenskar är ofta väldigt praktiska, naturliga och artiga. De är ordningsamma i sitt sätt att tänka och leva. I Italien har man den här sköna, otroligt starka och barnsliga livslusten och livsglädjen. Naivismen; allt löser sig, inga problem.

Jag tror att jag är en bra kombination. Jag lever dagen fullt ut, men tar lite ansvar.

Translated to english:

Swedes are often very practical, natural and polite. They are orderly in their ways of thinking and living. In Italy you have this beautiful, incredibly strong and childlike zest for life and love of life. A naive liberalism, everything will work out, no problem.

I think I’m a good combination. I live day in full, but also take some responsibility.