[ECOLOG-L] Petition: no cuts on research - EU

[Carlos Navarro]

A Petition for the attention of the EU Heads of State or Government:


*A top priority for Europe: secure the EU research and innovation budget!*


We* are convinced that

   - Europe's future depends on making optimal use of its scientific talent
   for the benefit of science and society;
   - creative environments and research infrastructures are needed in which
   talent can flourish and innovations emerge;


   - reliable financial support must be provided for long-term, often
   risky, fundamental research. Only then will the grand challenges be
   addressed in a sustainable way.


Therefore, we strongly support the letter signed by Nobel Prize and Fields
Medal winners and urge you to act:

   - cuts in the EU budget for research, innovation and education are
   counter-productive as they will aggravate the problems Europe faces instead
   of finding solutions;
   - the European Research Council, ERC, is an undeniable success story for
   Europe. The ERC has demonstrated its ability to find, fund and empower the
   best researchers and has changed the future outlook of the younger
   generation. It needs to be strengthened to achieve more
   scientific-technological breakthroughs leading to future innovation.
   - We urge you to provide a clear signal that investment in research,
   innovation and education is a top political priority, especially in times
   of crisis. Europe has been the cradle of modern science and the role
   accorded to science will shape Europe's future.

http://www.no-cuts-on-research.eu/index.php?file=petition.htm

Re: [ECOLOG-L] USA jobs: CV vs. Resume

[Carlos Navarro]

Hi
My personal experience. I do not know if it'll help you. At least I hope to
encourage you.



 I'm a doctor. I have worked in various fields, particularly in sexual
selection in birds. Since I finished my PhD I have applied for over 50 jobs
in the U.S. but also in Europe, Australia, Canada... In Spain now is almost
impossible to get work in research. But also I like to travel and I have
lived in several countries. Most of my applications in the U.S. were
postdoctoral positions but also I have asked dozens of applications for
work as a technician and assistant. For me the most important is work in
science seeking the answer for good questions. I sent requests to very
competitive labs and some others more modest. Some of the positions that I
have applied were for work under the supervision of PhD students,
postdoc or assistants professor with much lower CV than me (in papers and
experience). Always I contact with the principal investigator and I don’t
send the application until he answers and tells me that I have chances of
getting the job.



In U.S., except one time that I contacted with an investigator in whose lab
I had been already working during my PhD studies (unfortunately some
personal reasons mine made me miss this opportunity), I have never gotten a
job, even personal or skype interview.



I don’t know where is my problem since nobody tells me where is the error,
my CV, the referees, error in the application, age (I´m 40 years old).
Either way I will continue insisting. The only thing that prevents me for
send more job applications is that it is mandatory to put two or three
references and some people write to the references automatically. So, after
two years sending tens of requests without getting a post, some of my
contacts and referees are tired of sending letters of references and I have
fear to boring then.



All the best



Carlos


2013/5/16 Brent Bellinger 

> I am looking for some advice to improve my odds of getting past the
> initial applicant screenings in USA Jobs. As a research scientist, I've put
> together a pretty standard CV, which I've uploaded onto USA jobs and is
> used when applying for research positions. I was told recently by a
> non-scientist (a helicopter mechanic), the key when applying to positions
> through USA jobs is to make sure your resume utilizes key words which helps
> it rise to the top of the applicant list. A CV obviously does not have the
> depth of detail in terms of outlining skills, abilities, knowledge, etc.
> that a resume usually does. I'm wondering if I need to augment my profile
> and compliment my CV with a descriptive resume to help my odds of getting
> an interview? Is a key-word heavy resume a real and necessary thing in USA
> jobs, or have I just had bad luck with the past few positions I've applied
> to (i.e., they were not good fits with my skill set)?
>
> Thanks much for the insight on this matter.
>
>
> Brent Bellinger, Ph.D.
> post doctoral scientist
> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
> Duluth, MN
>

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Calculus for Biology Majors

[Carlos Navarro]

Forgive me if I'm a bit simple but as I don’t have educational
responsibilities allows me to be reckless (Unfortunately I have not any
responsibility in science now too). Broadly speaking, I understand that
biology is not physics or chemistry. Many physics study plays with the
infinite term since its field of action is the universe, "infinites
universes". So if something happens and it is shown mathematically, based
on statistical probabilities, has to happen. The infinity has a very
limited application in biology since their field is the life on earth. So
if something happens and it is shown mathematically don´t have to occur in
biology. Here acts the common sense and empirical experimentation. This has
led, in my opinion, to some biologists and education systems to
underestimate, stupidly, to mathematics. I say stupidly because mathematics
is the language of science and the biological facts need besides common
sense be refuted mathematically. I.e. The undergraduate study of biology in
Spain mandatory had at first year with 12 credits of mathematics, 12
credits of chemistry, and 12 credits of physics (applied to biological
processes). In recent years the studies have been adapted to "european
system", seeking unification towards more practical and less theoretical.
Currently undergraduate study of biology have 4.5 credits of math, 6
credits of chemistry and 6 credits of physics applied to biological
processes. In my opinion to prioritize the practical knowledge reducing
basic theoretical knowledge in undergraduate studies of biology is a
mistake. To implement their practical knowledge the students could do a MS
and PhD. Almost in Spain we have gone from a system with few practical
knowledge to a system that prioritizes the practical over the theoretical
knowledge. We tipped the balance the other side.



Pd.-  Regarding to teachers who don’t speak good English. I can understand
to the students, but more difficult is having to explain and defend an idea
in a language that isn’t your mother language. How many scientists English
speakers have tried to defend his doctoral disertation or their results at
a congress or journal in French, German or Spanish…? This could be a
mandatory exercise in every good university UK, USA... I think that it
would make to some ones more cautious, more understanding and more polite
when listening to a non-English speaking or acting as referee.



I know that English is currently the language of science. But the fact that
science can not be done unless you have a good level of English is a huge
handicap for many scientists who studied others languages as Spanish,
French or German when they were child. I.e. for a Spanish who don’t studied
English when was child is almost impossible to speak good English. It is a
problem of brain. The Spanish language use 5 vowels and the English
language12. How many great ideas and scientific have been lost because of
that English is the only one language of science?



All the best.



Carlos


2013/4/13 malcolm McCallum 

> Something of interest to think about.  Before you can mathematically
> model a system, you must first construct a conceptual model, hence
> Wilson's comments.  Just like most sports where defense is half the
> game, and you can be a defensive specialist, a non-hitting pitcher (in
> american league) or a designated batter who never fields; in science
> you can become a conceptual or mathematical specialist.
>
> Having said this, my advice to all students is to keep taking math
> until you stop getting Cs.  If you get a C (or even lower) in an
> advanced math course, few are going to ask why you got the lower
> grade, and most will admire that you gave it a shot.
>
> On Fri, Apr 12, 2013 at 5:29 PM, Trish Hunt 
> wrote:
> > Jacksonville University offered a course in Statistics for the
> Biological Sciences.  I learned a lot from that course and desperately
> wished that there was a similar Calculus course.  I would really like to
> advance my knowledge in Calculus so that I may continue to Calc II and III,
> just to open the door for a Meteorological Masters, but I totally did NOT
> understand my required general Calc class. I worked "around" my calc test
> problems using any method I could remember from Algebra, Geometry, Trig, or
> trial and error in order to get a correct answer. I just didn't understand
> how Calc worked.  I know I will eventually retake it in order to replace
> the low C I earned in the class...but I hope to find a biological/marine
> science geared Calculus course so that I can better understand the
> materialnow that I know those specialized courses in Calc exsist!
>  Thank you for starting this thread!  I had no idea such a course existed.
> >
> > Cheers!
> > Trish
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 
> >  From: Robert Ford 
> > To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
> > Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 10:44 AM
> > Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Calculus for Biology Majors
> >
> >
> > I would love if