Category Archives: academia

Excavations – Americans at a summer dig in Greece

Posted on August 18, 2023 by tkflor

“There was no evidence though. Archaeology alone was where the facts lived; this is why she respected it. No smoke, all fire. Speculations about that far back was just theoretical, and the only real truth – the only realness you … Continue reading →

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Book review: The Tenth Muse

Posted on October 30, 2021 by tkflor

This is a review of The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung, that I posted on Goodreads. The notion of the tenth muse, who is reborn in every generation as a mortal gifted woman drew me to read this book. The … Continue reading →

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Easy, breezy, accessible science

Posted on May 28, 2016 by tkflor

Guest post by mèþru: I found this video about the misreporting of science in order to make it interesting for wide audiences. Comedian John Oliver discusses how reporters do not fact check the studies they report, make sweeping conclusions that … Continue reading →

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Talking cosmology at a party

Posted on May 12, 2016 by tkflor

“…I barely know her, but if I were you, I would not mention cosmology.” Jon’s advice was not surprising. Danielle did not mention what she was studying when the likely responses were astonished stares, ill-fitted jokes, and awkward silences before … Continue reading →

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Perceptions of brilliance

Posted on April 2, 2016 by tkflor

“On the little prince’s planet the flowers had always been simple. They had only one ring of petals; they took up no room at all; they were trouble to nobody. One morning they would appear in the grass, and by … Continue reading →

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Greek Revival buildings in universities

Posted on March 18, 2016 by tkflor

Greek Revival, architectural style, based on 5th-century-bc Greek temples, which spread throughout Europe and the United States during the first half of the 19th century. The main reasons for the style’s popularity seem to have been the general intellectual preoccupation … Continue reading →

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Celebrating first anniversary

Posted on February 18, 2016 by tkflor

I am celebrating the first anniversary of Initial Conditions, with a promotion and a giveaway. After ten years of writing and rewriting, I published my first novel, Initial Conditions, in early 2015. I watched it take tiny steps and nervously … Continue reading →

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Nothing is going to change

Posted on January 13, 2016 by tkflor

It’s an issue I was determined to avoid in this blog and for a good reason. A lot has been written (and blogged, tweeted…) about sexual harassment of female students in STEM. Reading Sean Carroll‘s blog-post, “We Suck (But We … Continue reading →

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Publish or Perish – academia and self-publishing

Posted on October 13, 2015 by tkflor

“He published frantically while he was a post-doc and junior faculty…” From Initial Conditions When Danielle, the protagonist of Initial Conditions, wants to work on the recently-discovered dark energy, her new boss dissuades her, noting that “in a post-doctorate, you … Continue reading →

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Initial Conditions in the library

Posted on September 5, 2015 by tkflor

Initial Conditions finds a place on the library shelf. Thanks to Princeton Public Library!

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