Things have been a little quiet around here during our traditional winter break. We lost our Fearless Fellowship Leader, as Anke has departed for Glasgow (Scotland, not Kentucky). So now it is up to me to carry the torch for all of our Ship of Fellows fans (you know who you are).

As I mentioned, things on board the ship have been in the doldrums for the last couple of weeks. Fellows have celebrated the holidays and birthdays (cheers to Matt & Evan!) and written dissertation chapters—the fun never stops! But now we’ll be moving full speed ahead this spring and will even say hello to a few new fellows who will be popping by to animate things on occasion. Don’t be surprised if a few of them do some guest-blogging when they are practically exploding with cool stuff to share.

We will also be abuzz owing to the impending deadline for our applications for the 2010–2011 class of Fellows, 15 February (we let them wait until after St. Valentine’s Day to apply; no sense in totally ruining their romantic efforts). That day is also the day when yours truly begins ruminating on the (expected) pile of applications for our new Fearless Fellows Leader! Yes, no doubt dozens of you are chomping at the bit wanting to have a job at CHF herding cats (I mean Fellows), so I expect to be hearing from you, what with the state of job opportunities out there in the humanities.

So for the coming year you can look forward to hearing from new voices and meeting our new Fearless Leader. I will also be taking a hard look at the state of fellowship programs in the history of science, technology, and medicine so that the Beckman Center at CHF can maybe play a more positive role in encouraging bright people to enter and stay in the field. Things have been harder with the passing of the Dibner Institute, but there are some positive signs on the horizon. I look forward to hearing from any and all of you about your take on history of sci-tech-med fellowships in the coming year.

Float on!

The second installment of Answering Your Questions—The Fellow Way:

Dear Ship of Fellows,

“Baking is vital to the long-term success of chemistry as a discipline.” How would the CHF fellows investigate this claim? Any chance of more cupcakes?

Yours, Peckish in Seattle*

Well, dear Peckish, baking is indeed a part of every CHF fellow’s life, not only because of the baked goods noshed at the weekly T&B (see my previous post on CHF acronyms). Consider, for instance, the convenient location of several bakeries and delis in relation to the fellows’ offices: they have easy access to bread, and thus ample opportunities to not suffer from hunger pangs (which, contrary to popular belief, are not conducive to good scholarship). In fact, studies have shown that CHF fellows are surrounded by more baked goods and food than any other fellow in the country (international comparison pending).

Consider also the fact that some of the current fellows are avid bakers themselves—a trait they share with the Fearless Fellowship Leader. We may even prove (sic) that writing a thesis or book while baking breads is just plain ingenious. Here’s how it works: mix the dough according to a recipe of your choice, and knead it while thinking about your subject; write while it rises; knead all your research frustration into the dough, and let it rise again as more words and ideas bubble up in your mind; give the dough a final punch, shape it and bake it while crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s. And voila: you have a new piece of your chapter and a tasty loaf of bread. Repeat as needed.

As for the cupcakes: I certainly hope so! Jennifer McCafferty’s baking skills make not only fellows’ lives magical. And what else would you need during the holiday season?

— 

*Ok, I made that up—it was actually fellow alumna Jenny who asked this astute question.

Chemical Bonding (photo by Rich Dunoff, courtesy CHF's Flickr page)

The “commentition” we started two weeks ago had all of two entries, one better than the other. We shall discuss them in order. Today’s question:

Between all the various fellows you have, we hear a lot about chemistry, but this avid reader wants to know whether there is any chemistry between the fellows. Are there any sparks a-flying these days, ready to catalyze some interesting interactions?

Well, dear reader, your question is a bit difficult to answer for this year’s flock of fellows, seeing as their gender division (at least for those currently in residence) is 6:1 (male:female), and of the former, two-thirds are married (and, let me add, quite apparently very happily).

If we open up the question to fellows in general—a demographic best known for its almost monklike studiousness, which does not immediately appear compatible with chemistry on an interpersonal level—it must be said that some rather attractive types of fellows can be constructed from the qualities of individuals who have lived through the current Fellowship Leader’s reign tenure. To mention but a few, there are:

Miss Bond, Jane Bond: A leggy blonde with a secret weapon (razor-sharp wit), this predoctoral scholar turns just as many heads as she turns pages. Her specialty: post-war chemistry (especially the history of chemical bonds) and pre-dinner conversation.

Al Chemical: With his Ph.D. in Paracelsian theory and his penchant for ancient languages, this fellow is a quiet guest at social occasions. Yet once you get to know him, it is clear that his heart is not made of the philosophers’ stone.

N. Y. Lon: An international fellow from faraway lands, this specialist on artificial fibers fascinates men with his intricate knowledge of the dye industry and women with his insights into the world of fashion.

Ree Cycle: A fellow who gives an environmental twist to chemical history, oblivious to the yearning glances of her admirers. She is passionate about local delicacies and turning off the lights, so a date with her always sounds promising!

Who should be among next year’s batch? Nominate your favorite fellow below! And, reader, I have to admit that I made up those listed above. Nevertheless, here’s to interpersonal chemistry and fabulous fellows, in whatever combination.

Listen to their exciting research here. What will you find there?

“What do Isaac Newton, yeast, and Harold Urey have in common? They all come under the research microscope of Chemical Heritage Foundation Fellows. In today’s episode of Distillations, we invited a few of our friendly fellows to discuss their work. John Ceccatti talks about yeast, vital to beer and biotech, and about why the question of whether yeast is alive took such a long time to answer. Evan Ragland takes us back to Newton’s time and to a suburban backyard in his recreation of Newton’s alchemical experiments. And no, he didn’t manage to turn lead into gold (at least, not this time), but he did create some powerful chemicals still in common use today. Finally, Matthew Shindell gives us a glimpse of one of the 20th century’s most fascinating scientists, Harold Urey, and his transformation from Manhattan Project scientist to commentator on humanity’s place in the universe. Chemical Agent: Yeast” (from the podcast Web page).

Happy listening!

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving and, always, good fellowship,

the Fearless Fellowship Leader and her merry crew of fellows

PS: Do not forget about the commentition (see previous post). Deadline: this Monday, 30th November!

The Ship of Fellows is turning 20 (weeks) today. Huzzah! Yet I cannot help but wonder: is anyone else cheering out there?

Happy birthday, Ship! Photo by Rosanne Cook.

The Ship’s birthday wish is to learn more about its readers. Are you reading this blog? And what would you like to read about in future entries? Let us know in the comments—and the winner of this commentition (see? The Ship comes up with bad, bad puns if uninspired . . . help!) will see his or her idea take shape in the post of 7 December. Deadline: 30 November. Dazzle us!

Ship of Fools (1506), from the Othmer Library

Man overboard! Alexis Smets left the Ship of Fellows after finishing his short-term fellowship at the end of October. Otherwise, however, the Ship is sailing along smoothly, and the crew is busy scrubbing the decks (i.e., reading everything in sight at the Othmer Library), scouting the horizon (applying for jobs for next year), and walking the plank (presenting conference papers).

Now that it is getting cooler outside and tea and coffee taste ever so slightly better than in the summer, and now that the days are getting shorter and it is so cozy to snuggle up with a book, the Fearless Fellowship Leader has had fellowship-related books and movies on her mind. Here are some of her favorites:

David Lodge, Changing Places (1975). An exchange of professors between the English red-brick university of Rummidge (eerily reminiscent of Birmingham) and the University of Euphoria, aka “Euphoric State” (cp. Berkeley [California], on oh so many levels), which uses humor to point out the cultural differences between British and American academia. In a way this is The Office for academics—and quite appropriately, in book form.

Tom Sharpe, Porterhouse Blue (1974). A satire that takes the University of Cambridge by its gowns and runs with it. The fictional Porterhouse college abounds with foppish fellows, a heated debate about the admission of women to the college, and balloons of a, ahem, different nature. If you have never been to Cambridge, do check out the TV series of the same name, which features the fabulous Ian Richardson: taken with a large grain of salt, it makes for good academic entertainment.

Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim (1954). Another satire that was made into a movie. It tells the story of a young lecturer, Jim, who tries (and fails, again and again) to impress his professor in the hopes of saving his job at an English university. Why should you read (or see) this one? For many reasons, but above all for the anti-hero’s rather alcohol-fueled lecture on “Merrie England”: instead of just calming his nerves, Jim mocks academia, England, and his professor. Borrow and adapt his rant and lecturing techniques for private performances as needed.

Alexander McCall Smith, The 2 ½ Pillars of Wisdom (2003). This time, a satirical look at German academia and the disillusionment of German academics. It comprises three novels: Portugese Irregular Verbs (the title of one character’s monumental book), The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs (supposedly something German academics ponder every once in a while), and At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances. Like the other novels mentioned above, this one hits rather close to home for anyone who has experienced German professors and their universities . . .

All of the above are to be enjoyed with a hot chocolate—and with a fellow of your choice.

What is your favorite campus novel? Feel free to add to the list in the comments!

The art of bending oneself into unbelievable and sometimes even unmentionable shapes, also known as yoga, seems to be everywhere these days. Correction: it is everywhere, including the Chemical Heritage Foundation! For our fellows, young minds striving to untangle the chaos of chemical history, the practice of yoga is particularly useful: it teaches the mind to look at things from a different angle.

Many fellows and travel scholars arrive with a perfect technique when it comes to their asanas. And we can all learn from them! Today’s pose: 

The Writer - in action at the Othmer Library

The writer (scriptasana).

Props (compulsory): 1 chair, 1 desk, 1 researcher, 1 book/pen & paper/laptop

Props (optional): desk lamp, book pillow

Step by Step:

1. Sit on the chair in front of the desk. Feet parallel and hips distance apart, knees and hips at a right angle, back straight, then rest your forearms on the desk beside your reading or writing material. Imagine the spirit of your most revered historian floating up your spine and swirling around your brain.

2. Exhale and slump your torso forward. Broaden the small of your back and narrow your hip points toward the navel so that they get closer to your thighs. Shuffle feet underneath the chair. Option: wrap ankles around the legs of the chair. Breathe unevenly yet steadily.

3. Twist your neck into the direction of your reading material and round your shoulders. Adjust arm position to accommodate the forward position of the torso. Feel how the weight of your thoughts pulls you deeper.

4. Apply pen to paper/fingertips to keyboard and write smoothly.

Scriptasana is a working pose. Stay anywhere from 8 to 15 hours. Beginners may break to shake out thoughts and wrists as needed. To come out of the pose, submit an article or other piece of writing to a journal, publisher, or supervisor.

The Writer - with props

Watch a video of the Othmer Library and researchers in action on our new Research and Fellowships Web page!

And in case the irony of this pose is just too painful to behold, rest assured: yoga of the traditional kind happens at CHF at regular intervals and counteracts the effects of the pose demonstrated here quite well, if I may say so myself.

Like any institution worth its sodium chloride, →CHF is awash with acronyms and backronyms* that confuse outsiders and insiders alike. In order to add to the confusion and unlock hitherto unsourced potential for further puzzlement, here is a short glossary to terms our fellows encounter and master in their everyday lives.

CHF: Contrary to Google results and general public knowledge, this is not just Congestive Heart Failure, the Swiss Franc or the Children’s Hunger Fund, but also the Chemical Heritage Foundation: Library · Museum · Center for Scholars; aka Home of the Fellows.

CHF: Center for Scholars

BBL: Brown Bag Lunch or Brown Bag Lecture. A well-established forum for munching one’s way through another researcher’s work in progress. At →CHF in particular, BBLs are opportunities for our fellows and invited speakers to present their work to a wonderfully eclectic audience (CHF staff members, →PACHS fellows, →Penn students and the odd museum visitor). And while the audience’s brown bags do not contain anything more exciting than sandwiches and yoghurts, our speakers always have a bag of tricks to amaze their listeners. Every Tuesday during term time, 12 noon.

Penn: The University of Pennsylvania, one of the educational facilities whence we may source our fellows. Hosts of the HSS (History and Sociology of Science) Monday Workshops, which are a welcome opportunity for CHF fellows to mingle with other fellowy folk and get out of Old City.

PACHS: The Philadelphia Area Center for the History of Science, better explained as the organization that brings all history of science institutions in the greater Philadelphia** area together on one handy Web site. IRL (“in real life”), PACHS also organizes colloquia, offers fellowships, and does many good deeds to keep the conversation between member institutions going. PACHS fellows like to attend CHF →Yoga and →CALCIUM.

The American Philosophical Society, home of the PACHS fellows. Photo courtesy of the APS website.

Yoga: Not the Yukon Oil and Gas Act in this context, but a reference to a practice that keeps us Young, Original, Graceful & Awesome! An exercise of bending mind and body into new shapes, practiced weekly at →CHF.

CALCIUM: Conversations And Literature about Chemistry (Including Unusual Materials): the work-in-progress seminar we offer for our fellows every other week. It has been proven to be good for the brains. We recommend taking CALCIUM with a cup of coffee and a cookie.

T&B: Tea & Biscuits, CHF’s weekly “tea party” with sweets and conversation for and by CHF staff. Every week, someone brings homemade cookies or goodies otherwise procured; most of the time, there is no tea provided. But we are always happy to catch up with our real and imaginary colleagues in this popular social hour! Curiously, “TNB” otherwise refers to Trinitrobenzene in the chemical world.

T&B at CHF

Do you have unique acronyms to share? That’s why the creator of this Web site invented the comment box below. Good-bye!***

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* A backronym, as my old friend Wiki Pedia informs me, “is a phrase that is constructed ‘after the fact’ from a previously existing word. For example, the novelist and critic Anthony Burgess once proposed that the word ‘book’ ought to stand for ‘Box Of Organised Knowledge.’”

** PACHS currently includes the Academy of Natural Sciences; American Philosophical Society; CHF; the College of Physicians of Philadelphia; the Franklin Institute; Hagley Museum and Library; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Library Company of Philadelphia; Princeton University; University of Pennsylvania; and the Wagner Free Institute of Science.

*** Getting Out Our Dreams, Between Your Ears. QED, not all short words are acronyms . . .

Once upon a time, a Fearless Fellowship Leader and her 7 merry long-term fellows went, hi-ho, off to work. They wrote, thought, cogitated, wrote some more, followed their minds, and then wrote even more lovely academic prose. They had almost nothing in common, except for a  passion for the history of chemistry. And thus, driven by intoxicating thoughts about all things atomic and alchemical, they led a pleasant if somewhat busy life. The days were long, and their fingers soon became sore from their tireless (yet strangely tiring) dance on the computer keyboard. But then, something wonderful happened . . .

From Lucy Rider Meyer, Real Fairy Folks: Explorations in the World of Atoms (1887). Photo by Gregory Tobias.

All right, the fellowships at CHF may be considered enchanting by some—but, my dear readers, the reality—What do you say? Continue with the story? All right then, here goes.

A long, long time ago, each of the fellows had decided to make his or her way toward Academia, a fair city in a land far, far away. In Academia, the trees brought forth prizes and medals, the rivers overflowed with peer praise, and the roads were paved with clever students. The local railroad in Academia went straight down the tenure track. So, when the fellows met at CHF, they were happy to share part of the way with fellow-fellows. Their tea parties were punctuated by laughter, chemical stories, and ever more wonderful accounts of Academia and its perks.

And it goes on like that. You know the drill: Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Revenge. Giants. Monsters. Chases. Escapes. True love. Miracles.

The fellows encountered many fabulous people and creatures on their journey: there was Goldiprof, the professor who could never find a graduate student who was smart enough but not too smart. Another time they met Hinderella, the lady professor who would not let her doctoral student finish (and somehow always wore mismatched shoes). Among the students they came across was Singrad the Sailor who traveled from conference to conference (his audience fell asleep with his 1,001st slide). And Weeping Beauty, the girl who realized she was not cut out for Academia, but married a prince who owned a house in one of its suburbs, and they lived happily ever after.

Will our fellows make it to Academia?

Time will tell. And if time is out, I will. Or maybe not: there is a time for bad puns, and a time to be serious. Seriously: if you would like to live happily ever after, and to be a CHF fellow, then check out our fellowship competition. Deadline: 15 February. Sprinkling fairy dust or eating fairy cakes will not influence the outcome of the competition.