Who Are You People?

I gave a talk today on blogs as a tool for science communication (basically the same as this one, with a few minor updates), and got asked “Aren’t the people who read science blogs mostly scientists already?” Which reminded me that it’s been a while since I did a “Who are you people?” post.

So, if you’ve got a minute, leave a comment to this post, telling me something about who you are and how you got here. And if you want to throw in something about what you particularly like to read, or would like to see more of here, that sort of feedback is always helpful.

Thanks in advance.

204 comments

  1. I’m a particle physics PhD. I think I found you via io9 (the benford’s law post analysing amazon).

    I’m interested in science in general especially oddities of maths and stats as well as my own subject… and biology…. and chemistry…. and astronomy ….. and computers and pretty much anything else.

    I guess I’m a bit of an Ur-geek. ah well, time to go and play Arkham Horror…. maybe not a ‘bit’ of an ur-geek then..

  2. I am an engineering student. I can’t remember how I found your blog but I enjoy reading things about talking dogs. Oh, radio button polls are pretty cool too.

  3. Neuroscientist, no physics background. I like the links, any teaching/education posts, and baby pics (she’s cute, and I like the little bit I’ve seen on your approach to parenting). I usually skip the physics posts, actually.

  4. I’m a physical chemistry PhD student. I don’t remember exactly how I found the blog, but it was a link from some other science blog – I was hunting for a good physical science-y blog to follow at the time and liked what I saw here.

  7. Um… I am outnumbered? In the wrong place? I am a humanities researcher, formally a (former, hopefully future) student of history and politics. I don’t really remember how I got here – probably a link in one of the other blogs I read. Probably not a science blog.

  8. I’m an 18-year-old college freshman studying electrical engineering at USC. I discovered the blog Universe (http://scienceblogs.com/universe/) because the writer, Claire Evans, is in a band I like. In the middle of last year, Universe moved to scienceblogs.com, so I looked up a couple more popular and interesting blogs on the site. Uncertain Principles was one of them.

  9. I’m an ex computer programmer, now a Ph.D. student in physics (specifically quantum information).

  10. I’m a medical writer for a website about childrens’ health, with a BSc in chemistry. I think I found you via Making Light originally. I like the posts about babies, talking dogs, radio button polls, science education and science communication. Have to admit I usually just skim the hard-core physics posts, although I did enjoy the book very much.

  12. Programmer for a local school district. I’ve always had a strong interest in science (although I consider myself more of an engineer, and my BS is in electrical and computer engineering… or you can just count me as another ur-geek, although my boardgame this week is the new BSG expansion.)

    When I started using an RSS reader (much better than compulsively refreshing slashdot) I went searching for some good science blogs, which led me to Science Blogs, and here.

  13. IT dork with a fondness for science, books, music, and cute kid photos (in no particular order), all of which keep me here. I can’t remember which brought me here first, though it was back in the Steelypips days.

    When I went back to Steelypips out of nostalgia, I noticed the “week in the lab” posts — that might be interesting to try again sometime. Also I’d suggest we’re due for some more music posts before long. Have you been listening to Mumford & Sons?

  14. I’m a computer programmer/business analyst for a manufacturing/distribution company.

    I found the blog through a link to one of your posts talking with Emmy and I’ve hung around (and gotten my teenage daughter addicted, too).

  15. Undergraduate chemistry student, headed for grad school. I got here through some link embedded within the web somewhere: I think it was a post on science education, and I enjoyed what I saw. I usually read the physics posts, especially the Q&A on recent research, to keep up on what other people are doing.

  17. I’m a PhD inorganic chemist in academia who found your blog through the ScienceBlogs blog portal. I came for the academic posts because of my interests in undergraduate science education that includes a good research component. I stayed for the constant radio button polls.

    I enjoy the posts on physics (especially when it’s accessible to science-minded non-physics types), academia, pop culture (bring back guess-the-lyric!), literature, personal, and basically everything you list under the “Catagories” on the left of your blog. I also enjoy candlelight dinners and conducting chemistry research relevant to energy issues.

  18. I’m a lawyer who works for the Federal government as a policy analyst.

    I think I found you through a link from Scalzi, many moons ago.

    K

  19. Electronics engineering PhD, working as a researcher. Popular science has always been a favourite of mine to read, and engineering education is listed among my research interests.

  20. I’m a market analyst at an accounting firm (by way of a library science degree), but a science junkie in my own time. Can’t remember how I found the blog, but pretty sure it was a link talking about physics & Emmy or something from John Scalzi’s blog.

  22. I’m a geologist, who works for my state’s survey. I like most of your post, particularly science communication and education stuff, and Steelykid photos, although I often skim over the hard-core physics posts (more for time than interest).

  25. PhD student in AMO physics. Don’t remember how I got here though — I think a friend forwarded me a link…

  26. I’m a high-school physics teacher. I found you while looking for a non-technical book for summer reading for AP Physics on quantum mechanics (review of chemistry and moving into the more interesting bits of quantum mechanics and nuclear physics). Your book is now sharing my summer reading list with Isaac Asimov’s Atom: A Journey Through the Subatomic Cosmos.

  27. High school science teacher, always searching for new/more information that can help me advance my knowledge base/ assist in my teaching.

  28. I’m a PhD Medical Physics student who came to science blogs seeking an alternative to pop sci books. Blogs are more organic – and they perfectly fit the niche in literature between specialist publications and books written as primers for the lay person.

    I’ve been reading your blog because I can relate. You often give a voice to subjects that have been on my mind. And you bring back the fun into physics. When my work gets mundane, I’ll find something here that reminds me why I became a scientist.

  29. I’m an elderly, retired land and water resources planner, interested and educated primarily in earth sciences, but essentially, like most people, not a `scientist’. Enamored immediately by the concept of `critical thinking’, which I only heard phrased about 10 years ago, I began to seek other questioners, and as blogs became more and more available, took to my computer daily to read and sometimes (rarely) to comment. But, if serious blogs cater only to scientific subjects as written in only purely scientific language, that tends to leave out the majority of lay persons. As do the highly detailed, (picky and argumentative) philosophical ones, which can only consistently appeal to an `in-crowd’. There is a middle ground between `A Brief History of Time’ and a comic book, and I’d like to see more professionals, and others, find it and use it, as this website seems to try to do.
    .

  31. Computer hardware tech. Sometimes human resources director, graphic designer, and advertising coordinator. I suppose I have an associates degree in computer science from a shitty degree-mill college, though I view it more like a

    Found you through the Last 24 Hours thingy, I think, though I’m not really sure. Been lurking for easily a year and I don’t think I’ve ever commented.

  32. Computer hardware tech. Sometimes human resources director, graphic designer, and advertising coordinator. I suppose I have a shitty associates degree in computer science from a shitty degree-mill college, though I view it more like how a ex-sorority girl views her embarrassing inclusion on a Girls Gone Wild tape from 10 years ago than an actual accomplishment. I wouldn’t have brought it up if you hadn’t asked.

    Found you through the Last 24 Hours thingy, I think, though I’m not really sure. Been lurking for easily a year and I don’t think I’ve ever commented.

  33. Physics PhD, found you when I was an AMO grad student, through a link from the Making Light sidebar.

    I like all your content, especially the cute baby pictures.

  34. I am an Architectural Engineer (Professional Engineer & Registered Architect) who has been interested in science (including physics) for over five decades. Frankly I cannot remember how I found your site. I am glad I did though.

  36. I am an Architectural Engineer (Professional Engineer & Registered Architect) who has been interested in science (including physics) for over five decades. Frankly I cannot remember how I found your site. I am glad I did though.

  37. Ph.D. student in biological anthropology, don’t remember how I came across your blog – must have googled something fantastically scientific that you blogged about at some point. Regular reader for at least a few months, but don’t think I’ve ever commented.

  38. I am an Architectural Engineer (Professional Engineer & Registered Architect) who has been interested in science (including physics) for over five decades. Frankly I cannot remember how I found your site. I am glad I did though.

  39. Not a scientist.

    Avid reader

    Atheist

    Motorcyclist

    Lesbian

    Oh my, I guess I fall into the ‘abominiation’ catagory, eh?

    Oh yeah, Canadian!

  40. Curmudgeonly retired/disabled chef and autodidactic smartypants. Originally I found you via a link, perhaps from io9… now I occasionally stroll in and loiter in your library. I have a bit of a passion for physics and astronomy, and have been thoroughly addicted to hard-science SF since childhood. I tend to subscribe to the electric model of the universe. Normally I’m a lurker, but I couldn’t resist your roll call.

  41. I’m a captive of a mildly deranged penguin, trapped in a lair with a bunch of peas, and… no, wait, sorry, wrong thread!

    I work as Unix and now Linux kernel engineer, and was educated as mathematician (and as an engineer). I’m currently living in the south of France, but in the past have lived in Ireland, England, and California, plus various other places as a child.

    I have no recollection at all how I found your blog, but assume it’s the result of simply being at Teh SciBorg (which I found simply by following Orac when he moved).

  43. Okay sure,

    Well, I probably don’t count as a scientist because I am an Archaeology doctoral student but I enjoy reading about all sorts of different areas of science.

    I got to your blog because I started reading some of the blogs on scienceblogs and then found yours was very well written, entertaining and was able to help a non physicist engage with some very complicated stuff.

  44. I’m a 24-y/o college-educated male who has his own personal blog on random things – mostly government and cultural stuff, but cool science, also, when I find it.

    I think I stumbled upon your blog through a few iterations of atheist blogs, like “Pharyngula,” which are often written by empirically minded, scientific types. I wasn’t immediately bored or confused – the two main problems with science blogging, imo – and so you’ve been on my blogroll ever since. Keep up the good work and feel free to drop by The Daily Taylor sometime!

  45. Computer science professor working in scientific computing, and an avid reader of pop science writing. I came across your blog a couple years ago, but don’t remember how.

  46. I have been reading Science Blogs blogs for at least 2 years now. My comments have also been rather sparse.

    I love science, although I’m not a scientist. I didn’t finish college (computer science major), but I like to often share that if I win the lottery I’m going back and get a degree in mathematics. It was without a doubt my strongest subject. (Physics was next, and I never understood why chemistry was such a pain for me.)

    I’m not sure if psychology fits in, but I also took 9 credits in psych during my 2 years because it is another subject that fascinates me.

    I’ve been doing the computer science stuff anyway. Although, I’m currently more involved in electronics (controls systems).

    I got the Kindle version of your book (and read it too.) My dad was disappointed that he couldn’t easily borrow it.

    Thanks for being a great read these last couple of years.

  47. I’m a 24-y/o college-educated male who has his own personal blog on random things – mostly government and cultural stuff, but cool science, also, when I find it. I’m a transcriptionist by trade.

    I think I stumbled upon your blog through a few iterations of atheist blogs, like “Pharyngula,” which are often written by empirically minded, scientific types. I wasn’t immediately bored or confused – the two main problems with science blogging, imo – and so you’ve been on my blogroll ever since. Keep up the good work and feel free to drop by The Daily Taylor sometime!

  48. I’m an software engineer too. Rails webapp development mostly, which is more of an art then a science really.

  49. I’m a Pi Tau Sigma Rutgers graduated Mechanical Engineer. “9” is not my favorite prime number. I have twice as many dogs as you do so there, however neither know Quantum Physics like yours. Certainly not the walnut-brained dachshund.

  50. YASE (Yet Another Software Engineer) here. Absolute absence of any scientific training in my background: my degrees are in French and Music.

  51. Re: Richard D., Indiana Jones (archaeologist) referred to himself as a scientist, so I think you can too. In fact, I have some sympathy for the idea of extending the social sciences to include historians as well. It’s not like they’re making artistic statements about humanity’s past, it’s all about facts, right?

    I’m a science teacher, with physics as my primary subject — or at least I want to be. In reality I’ve been paying the bills primarily with pure and applied mathematics instruction for the last few years (sell-out!). I hope to get back on the empirical horse, as soon as the right position opens up.

  53. retired lawyer/CPA

    mother of three

    love your blog, your book, your dog, your toddler (not necessarily in that order)

    why do I read your stuff? because I live in this universe and would like to understand it, duh

    found you via scienceblogs.com

  54. I’m a condensed matter theory PhD student. I enjoy reading the mostly physics things like your research blogging posts (I once asked you to post about how AMO experiments are actually done). I can’t remember how I first got to your site (it was a long time ago) but I’m glad I did; it’s probably my favourite science blog.

  55. I’m a recently retired (35 years with time off for good behavior) high school math/physics teacher. I found Scienceblogs from a link with Bad Astronomy. I have been keeping up for the last three years, and it’s been an interesting place to get news and opinion.

  56. I’m a physics/materials PhD, actually wandering in a chemical engineering post-doc…
    I’m curious about all area science (although especially physics) but also research/teaching/life-in-the-(american)-lab stuff…

  57. Retired industrial chemist, 35 years with one of the biggies. Now Chair of the local science fair and freelance science writer in eastern Ontario.
    Science blogs has been a favourite haunt for a couple of years, it is good to see what other people are saying, thinking, and doing.
    Plus… I have done several science demos in my granddaughters’ classrooms.

  59. I’m not a scientist. I originally went to school for astrophysics, left before my degree and went into xerographic technology as a tech in Xerox’s research department. From there I went on to get an education degree… in English/ Language Arts. I’ve always had an interest in science, and raised my first child to be a scientist. My other children, sadly, have thwarted my plans to make scientists out of them.

    I currently am a docent in our BioPark, teaching about conservation, various zoo animals, and the habitats along the Rio Grande, as well as being a touchtank volunteer at the Aquarium and a horticulture volunteer at the Botanical Gardens.

    I don’t remember which of the marine biology blogs I’d been reading that linked to you for some reason, but I’ve been subscribed ever since.

  60. Postdoc in Biophysics. Graduated from UMD, too. We met when you gave your talk at College Park last year. (hi!)
    I found your blog when a fellow grad student asked me “have you read about the guy who talks about physics to his dog?” I’ve been reading ever since.
    I like everything you write, and the cute toddler pictures. What I like the most is what you don’t write about. Whenever some politician does/says something more stupid than normal, I know all the blogs I read (science blogs, gardening blogs, parenting blogs, etc) will have some comment on that. Except here. Thanks!

  61. @#51

    Thank your for saying I can join the club! I actually do wonder to what extent I am a scientist and to what extent I am an archaeologist who uses the scientific method (if that isn’t too small a distinction).

    I personally am all about the facts yes (as are most people studying the archaeology of human evolution) but there is a lot of post-modernism in the archaeology of later periods. Which always annoys me since they have so much more actual data than we do and are wasting it by talking about damned ‘narratives’.

  62. I’m a grad student in astronomy, and I got here via John Scalzi’s blog when he mentioned your book. Or maybe re-enacting things with puppets.

  63. Social scientist doing academic administration at a community college. I think I followed you here from the Library of Babel, since I remember you and Kate from rasfw. The really serious physics posts lead to eye glazing, but I learn a lot too.

  64. I’m a Ph.D. analytical chemist who masquerades as an optical physicist and materials scientist at work.

    I’m also 36, a dog and cat owner, a Neville Chamberlain atheist, and an avid photographer.

    I am always particularly interested in posts explaining basic physical principles, and I’ll read the posts about peer-reviewed research if the topic interests me. I also like the posts about teaching, the kid, the dog, etc., and your “Links Dump” posts have proven to be a remarkably good source of reading material. I like the music and sports posts less, since our tastes in music are nearly disjoint and I don’t give a fig about athletics.

    I’ve been a reader of this site for a very long time, so I don’t remember exactly how I got here. Scalzi?

  65. I’m not a scientist, and I’m not really interested in science all that much. But I still enjoy reading your blog regularly. I generally skip your physics-heavy and research blogging posts, but you write enough about other stuff that I find interesting to keep me coming back.

    I’m second-year law student, and I have been reading your blog since before the move to ScienceBlogs. I’m not entirely sure how I first discovered your blog, but I think it came about because I used to lurk rasfw-rj back in the late 90s early 2000s. At some point I came across a link to your steelypips.org domain and followed all the links, eventually becoming a regular reader of your blog.

  66. I’m a PhD student in Computer Science. I haven’t a clue how I originally found your blog, but it was probably a link from another blog I read.

  67. I’m an archaeologist. I’m a big fan of science and feel under informed about physics. I enjoy your blog for both the information and humor. I’m not sure how found your blog; it was probably sometime after starting to view the science blogs site about three years ago. I started as mainly a fan of Aetiology.

  68. I’m a high school physical sciences teacher- earth science, chemistry, & physics. My bachelors is in ecology & evolutionary biology but I took enough physics and chemistry to be dangerous.
    I found Science Blogs via an article about top science web-sites in Popular Science some years ago. I was wondering if your dog does guest speaking engagements?

  69. Skeptical atheist hiking civil engineer who subscribes to science blogs to learn more about this universe.

  70. Physics PhD student (General Relativity). I took a look here and started following after you gave a colloquium at my university.

  72. Undergraduate physics and computer science major, intending to eventually get a PhD in physics.

    I think I found the blog from a link from another blog but it was a long time ago.

  74. I’m a 23 year-old Mechanical Engineering student with interests in physics and chemistry. I think I first linked over from the nytimes science page but have been reading here for quite a while now. Work is boring.

  75. Unknown SF writer and autodidact, erstwhile IT admin with disused geology degree. Not sure how I stumbled on your blog, but I enjoy your link roundups.

  76. I’m a junior in high school interested in engineering, physics, and math. My mother read here before I did, and after she showed me several posts (some physics-y, some not), I added your blog to my Google Reader.

  77. Physics PhD student. Cornell University. You gave a talk here last spring, and it inspired me and a few others to create THe Virtuosi. I’ve been following your blog since then.

  78. Stagehand. Sorry, Performing Arts Technician. I got here from In The Pipeline which I was visiting because they had an article about exploding liquid nitrogen dewars which was linked to by some theater thing I was reading (we use those big bastards for some very large scale fog effects).

  81. I’m a 37yo integration engineer at Intel but I’m very interested in science in general, physics and math in special.

  82. Mathematics undergraduate… currently taking a break from official studying though, until summer. Probably going to switch university in the process. Eventually planning on going into bioinformatics, maybe.

    What I’d like more of here? Emmy, of course. Not sure what I like to read most, it depends on my mood at the time.

  83. I’m a senior at Williams who picks up your blog through the EphBlog feed. My last physics class was AP Physics, but I’m an Environmental Studies and Art History student aiming for graduate work in architecture & environmental management. Or maybe something in the maritime world, given that my best and happiest times have been at Williams-Mystic and in other adventures on the coast.

    I have a good mind for practical physics, and I enjoy reading your blog to learn a little something on the side (or stare at your adorable child).

  84. Retired 70 year old office worker. No college, no degree, no problem hanging out with all the brains here! Arrived here via being subscribed to ScienceBlogs:all feeds.

  85. University chemistry dropout, working as self taught sysadmin/programmer the whole millenium so far.

  86. I’m a physics grad student. I think I found this site from the Built on Facts blog a year or so ago. I like the physics, teaching, and random links posts but usually skip the baby pictures. I think you have a knack for explaining physics in an accessible way; I remember reading a post of yours on topological insulators and getting a better understanding of it than from an hour-long colloquium I sat through.

  87. Systems engineer. 68 years old. Lifelong interest in physics, astronomy and dogs. BS mathematics.

  88. Farmer, BSc., age mid-50s. I’m interested in lots of sciences (cosmology, physics, biological sciences, medicine) and would rather read about science than hurt my brain watching television. I wish they’d stayed lost, don’t care if you can dance, and would have kicked them all off the island and made em swim for it.

  89. 34-year-old male, Psychology-degreed Database Analyst; I’m here because you got sick of putting “JORDAN:” in front of all your posts.

  90. Former cryptanalysis tech, now electrical engineering student. Read Orac, PZ Myers, and Ed Brayton a lot. Started reading your blog about a year ago when something you wrote caught my eye.

  91. Planetary Scientist. I haven’t a clue how I ended up here, but I’ve been reading for a few years.

  92. I work on the admin side at a large research-oriented med school, so I especially enjoy the academia posts. It’s interesting to hear a faculty perspective from a different science discipline and different type of school. Some of the physics posts are over my head but I do usually find them interesting. Other than that, I may or may not read posts on other topics depending on how much of a given day I’m devoting to procrastination (though I pretty consistently ignore science fiction topics).

  93. I’m a motor engineer. I’ve been an amateur astronomer as long as I can remember and majored in physics. I’ve been reading your blog since well before the SB collective.

  94. I’m a game programmer and have always been interested in science. Loved it growing up. I took a lot in college a good amount in college. Mostly physics. I don’t recall where I ran into you. I think it was a link to some post from Dispatches, and I started looking at all the other bloggers here. The interesting ones – like yours – went onto my RSS feed.

  95. I think I’m the freak here – career U.S. Army, 30 years.
    Enlisted (NCO), no degree, just a lifelong addiction to science. I found my way here via the “Eruptions” blog, which has moved on.
    I always felt like a freak in the military too.
    Liberal, atheist, critical thinking individuals are rare among the troops.

  96. Non-scientist here. I’m an English instructor at a community college. I’ve been reading Science Blogs for at least a couple of years. I probably originally found the Science Blogs site through a link to Pharyngula on some other site, but I’m not sure. I read many of the blogs here every day.

    About “blogs as a tool for science communication”: Yes. Absolutely yes. I’m grateful to all the bloggers here for their work and the clarity with which they explain science to bewildered, ignorant humanities types like me. Plus, the stuff is just so damned interesting. I love science, but, thanks largely to my own crappy attitude when I was a kid, I had a poor education in it after middle school. I’ve been trying to catch up in middle age. Thanks for helping.

    Blogs and other venues for informal and popular science writing also help people like me help students who know even less than we do. I teach composition and literature, but even in English classes one runs into a lot of anti-science feeling, scientific ignorance, and belief in pseudoscientific twaddle. I do what I can to help students see that, yes, scientists do know what they’re talking about, and, yes, science does indeed work. I refer many students to the blogs here.

    Y’all are doing important work.

  97. Physics undergrad at a midwestern, middle-of-nowhere liberal arts college. I’m not quite sure what it is I enjoy about your blog, but it’s the highlight of my feed reader.

    I read (science) blogs primarily to get a feel for what it’s like to be a physics PhD. I recognize the sampling problems inherent to this, but the truth is there’s not a whole lot of ways of doing this and I’ll be damned if I’m going to commit 4+ years pursuing something if I don’t have a solid idea of what lies at the end of it.

  98. High energy theorist, I think one of my comments on Cosmic Variance irked you enough to generate a response here, which is how I found this place. I learned quite a bit about AMO physics since then, especially from those posts which generate no comments or traffic.

  99. I’m a 61 yr. old retired banker. BS Psych/Business, MBA Management, Masters in Commercial Banking. Always interested in science and math…though, obviouxly not a scientist. Found you through/with some cosmology links as I was researching on the web. Massive fan of logic (Suduko, chess, etc.)

  100. I am a librarian in a public library. When I started reading your blog, I was a children’s librarian; now I am the head cataloger. Yes, my eyes glaze a bit at some of the more technical entries, but it was the entries about Emmy before the publication of How to Teach Physics to Your Dog that hooked me (well, that and the Thursday Baby/Toddler Blogging.

  101. IT administrator at a state university. I followed PZ Myers to Science Blogs and have been scanning the various offerings here, since.

  102. I’m a 2nd year Med Student, and Union grad (Class of ’06). I had you for that freshman physics seminar (Physics 014, I think. We spent a lot of time talking like pirates.), and for E&M (Where I nearly booted in class after a particularly rowdy wednesday night. Ah, college). I found the blog when slashdot linked you on its front page a few years back.

  103. Math postdoc and huge fan. Yours is my favorite blog on the internet! I found it by following random links.

  104. Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering PhD student at a major research university in California. Found Scienceblogs.com in general first (can’t remember how), subscribed to the All Posts feed on Google Reader, and started noticing your posts on it as being always very interesting. (It helps that I nearly majored in physics, and still keep up with some of it).

    Love the posts, would like to see more core-physics/academia centric posts, though I understand why you sometimes veer into more easily tractable areas.

  105. I consider myself a (mostly) reformed former notorious person, a gadfly of various blogs including here. No need for details in comments, but I got into some heated arguments and snarky posts of my own which irritated some folks including (for some cause) this OP. The key thorn itself was an interesting and muddled issue about the measurement problem, see name link for details. Seriously, I proposed what I think is a significant experimental test of a certain interpretation of quantum measurement. I still think I had a point as per the argument and my point got misunderstood (my presentation wasn’t ideal either), but I see the benefit of chilling down and not being so bugged out by what I consider bad lines of reasoning.

    My dragging various others into the argument and getting linked to did propel me high in Google rankings, as I intended and as noted at my blog FWIW. Of course, that isn’t being a good netizen and I adjusted my approach accordingly. I’ve published some stuff in relativity but have a mixed up and incomplete background is best I can say.

    One thing I can say for Chad is, despite the buzzings he believes in free speech even for sharp critics unlike some others around. Another is, clever little pieces like the prime number quiz. And although I sometimes disagree over those deep issues that no one understands or agrees on anyway, Chad writes well and explains issues in a rather clear and fun way. The commenters are fun, stimulating, and informative too. Hence I still drop in, and try to be a nice visitor.

  106. 75 year old housewife who likes smart people. Yes, I bought your book but still do not understand quantum physics. So sue me.

  107. Freelance copywriter for the Scientific American Book Club. Found your site by exploring the links on Peter Woit’s blog.

  108. Neuroscience PhD student with a large case of physics envy. Also a former student. Yup it’s me, the traitor.

    Found your blog when fellow students were poking fun at it in the physics lounge. That form of entertainment has worn off (mostly) but I’ve been reading on and off ever since.

    I usually come for the high quality links to procrastinate but I also really enjoy the commentary. Your opinions are usually well thought out and reasonable and you give great insights on how science is (or at least should be) done. Or maybe hearing a former prof do a voiceover for his dog makes me happy inside. One of those.

  109. Writer.

    Been reading since this site’s former incarnation, but I can’t remember when specifically I started reading that one or where it was I found out about it. If I had to guess I’d say I probably first met your online acquaintance on Making Light.

  111. I’m an office specialist (receptionist, actually). I’ve been following your blog for about 3 years. I read everything, even the physics stuff which I struggle to understand.

  113. Immigrant to Canada, from the Philippines. Merchandiser for a chain drug store. I’ve been reading Science Blogs for 2 years and change.

  114. Physics Ph.D. student. Complex systems/Condensed Matter theory.

    I don’t recall how I came across the blog. That was so long ago! It’s been a couple of years, at least. Definitely before you got tenure.

    I usually don’t reply to posts much, but I like the blog, and along with cosmic variance it’s probably the only physics blog I read on a consistent basis. Good work! Keep it coming!

  115. Advertising writer (and former failed physics major). Path here was slashdot —> cosmicvariance —-> you.

    My favorite things to read here are critiques of specific papers/theories and your incredibly awesome link dumps. Your surfing skills alone are at least equal to your scholarship.

  116. Ah, yes, buried down here in the 110’s, where no one will read it:

    Defense engineer with fifteen years experience in microwave design and radio architecture. To my perpetual amazement, I also seem to be a PhD student in computer science/AI. I may end up building SkyNet.

    I’m here because we’ve known each other since before “blog” was a word.

  117. Ph.D. in English literature, though I did start undergrad as a science major. Here via LiveJournal and Kate, sort of; I knew of both of you on r.a.sf.w and r.a.sf.w.r-j, though I posted there (very infrequently) under my legal name, not this nym.

  118. Pension analyst and random dilettante. From NYTimes/Science to Science Blogs to you. Thanks Chad. I like your book too.

  119. I’m a first year college student, studying microbiology. I came to science blogs occassionally by the end of high school, and regularly now, at the recommendation of my good friend (also a first year bio major, sadly at different university).

  120. I’m a first year college student, studying microbiology. I came to science blogs occassionally by the end of high school, and regularly now, at the recommendation of my good friend (also a first year bio major, sadly at different university).

  121. I’m a former high school physics and math teacher, now doing after-school tutoring and part-time work as an “engineer/technician” for a research lab associated w/ university while waffling about whether to enter a physics phd program at my (sadly more advanced than I’d like) age. I have no memory of how I found your blog. I’ve been enjoying all the content. At first I thought the toddler blogging was a little lame, but over time I’ve noticed that I miss it when Thursday toddler blogging does not appear on schedule, and I perk up whenever I see there’s a new one up.

  122. I was a General Manager at a large international IT company in India. I am now working on my own in the area of Competency Development in Storage Technologies, Network Programming and Linux. Trying to setup a company of my own.

    Been extremely interested in Maths and study many Math textbooks. Also interested in Physics. Follow many physics math related blogs.

  123. Taught physics and physical science at a selective college-prep high school for two years after getting a bachelors in physics and math (Go Terps!) Then went to grad school in physics, earned a masters and then got badly screwed by the SSC cancellation. Now many years self-employed as a magician/juggler/photographer/writer/inventor, in decreasing order of how much money I earn from the activity.

    Found Dispatches from the Culture Wars first, then became a regular ScienceBlogs reader by checking the “Last 24 Hours” listings almost every day.

    For this blog, I like the even mix of physics, links, and personal/cultural musings.

    Pay us a visit in Tuscaloosa again sometime.

  124. I am a speech and language pathologist, and I work with children with disabilities. I do not recall how I originally discovered your blog, but I think I stumbled onto a youtube video that had you and Simmons arguing on some talk show. I thought you were brilliant, so I did a search of your name, and sure enough Pharyngula came up!

    I like all of your posts, even the random links to silly youtube videos, but I think my favorite entries are the ones about anti-vaccination groups. You always seem to do a great job at eviscerating those kooks, and I love that. Countless times I have had worried parents ask me if it was their fault their children have autism (because they gave them the shot), and I always have to inform them that there is absolutely zero debate that the MMR shot causes autism. Just telling them is never enough though, and so I always provide some research papers to those parents to really clarify that it was not their fault their children have autism, that there is no link and Dr. Wakefield was a fraud. At times I have even used some of the research articles you’ve linked to, so thanks for the help!

  125. I’m a theatrical artist -slash- jewelry designer -slash- biology/physics hobbyist. It’s the latter that brings me here. Despite having pursued a career in the arts, I still enjoy science and like reading all about what’s new and interesting in the world.

  126. I’m a returning student finishing off some undergrad classes before I head off to grad school. I’m in our schools conservation/environmental science program focusing on hydrogeology or maybe raptor biology.
    I can’t remember how I stumbled onto the ScienceBlogs, but I really like the level of discourse and humor in the posts themselves and the comments. In our cities newspaper the comments are horrific…so then I come here and breath a sigh of relief. There ARE smart, reasonable people on teh intertubes! 😉
    Thanks for all your hard work providing us with good articles.

  127. Physics postdoc *waves to Joseph* who found the old steelypips.org site when it mirrored the WoTFAQ. Probably a good four or five Jordan/Sanderson books ago, now. Mainly I remember that F11/Internet Explorer thing from the old site.

  129. i’m a 20years old Italian physics student. I enjoy your approach to the subject and your way of writing.

  131. I’m an IT specialist with no formal higher education degrees.

    Science is just something I’ve been interested in for most of my life. Attempting to understand the world around us is simply fun. At times humbling and awe-inspiring, other times silly and weird.

  132. I’m an Assyriology PhD student, so I study Akkadian and Sumerian. I subscribe to ScienceBlogs. That was how I found your blog and your book, which finally introduced me to some quantum physics in a way that I understood.

  134. Full professor of mathematics at a research university in western Europe. I speak four languages fluently but with a funny accent and understand a couple more. Got here via scienceblogs, now you’re the only one I read (everyone else has moved to scientopia).
    I am fascinated by experimental physics just as by poisonous snakes – wouldn’t want to go near either.
    I do appreciate the mixture of science and kids’ photos. I wish I had time to read SF as well.

  135. Technology market researcher (MBA, rather than a science degree, humanities undergrad). I have a lifelong interest in science and technology and am an aspiring (secular) homeschooling parent, so I read a lot of science news.

    I found scienceblogs via Orac’s commentary on the anti-vaccination movement, which drives me insane and has sucked in so many otherwise rational people I know, and then stuck around. I read scienceblogs on a regular basis, but usually still start with the politics section.

  136. Statistical programmer – not a scientist but science-y. Worked in university science and now government statistics. The cook it is my personal interest, not a job.

    I come in via the “last 24 hours”, when I see an interesting title.

  137. Particle Physics PhD, myself. I originally subscribed because of the combination of physics and pop culture (especially science fiction). I very much enjoy your link dumps, which often contain things I find very interesting and occasionally even useful.

  138. Atheist registered nurse with a lust for knowledge about everything from quantum to astrophysics, with a smattering of random stuff between the two.

  139. Mid-50s high school math teacher (9th year teaching), formerly a business consultant, and before that exploration seismologist (MS in Geophysics).

  140. Author of science fiction and fantasy. Atheist. Lover of science, and fan of science writing.

    Former computer programmer who found herself stranded when she took time off to write a couple of books and came back to find that her skills were out of date. Now doing low-level dog-work (I beg your pardon, Emmy!) in an accounting department.

    I find that I can’t recall how I came across this blog. Was it through having seen or met Dr.Orzel at a convention and then searching for his stuff online? It might have been that.

    Or it might have been through one or another atheist link…

    One of the (many) things I like about this blog is its range. One moment, it’s Bose-Einstein condensate; the next, see Steelykid in the cute headband she made at pre-school. Okay, now — Huygen’s principle! Next up: YouTube. Then: Discussion on the fuss about taking the n-word out of Huckleberry Finn…

    One question: How do you manage to blog so often? Three posts a day sometimes? I am jealous.

  141. I discovered science blogs when I was too sick from asthma to do much of anything active. I’ve moved to the coast and had medicine adjustments; now I’m back in college–

    the combination of science and feminist/progressive blogs helped me decide my calling in life is to teach science to teenagers. I won’t ever be a proper scientist with a PhD and publications, but I hope my enthusiasm for the sciences will both inspire some kids to go farther with it, and that I can get my students who choose different paths to take scientific literacy with them.

  142. Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. I do research in acoustics, so I guess that makes me a scientist. I’ve been reading you for a long time, so I’m not sure how I found you. Probably heard about scienceblogs and poked around for ones I found worth reading regularly. I like most of your posts. The ones that center around your students and what goes on in the classroom are particularly interesting.

  143. Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. I do research in acoustics, so I guess that makes me a scientist. I’ve been reading you for a long time, so I’m not sure how I found you. Probably heard about scienceblogs and poked around for ones I found worth reading regularly. I like most of your posts. The ones that center around your students and what goes on in the classroom are particularly interesting.

  144. Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. I do research in acoustics, so I guess that makes me a scientist. I’ve been reading you for a long time, so I’m not sure how I found you. Probably heard about scienceblogs and poked around for ones I found worth reading regularly. I like most of your posts. The ones that center around your students and what goes on in the classroom are particularly interesting.

  145. Inorganic Physical Chemistry PhD student from Australia with a background in physics and mathematics. Currently procrastinating to avoid writing my thesis – due in 2 months! Been lurking at scienceblogs for, oh, a year now?

  146. What the heck — time for an update! Ph.D. in Biological Sciences (earned at age 46!) with specializations in entomology and molecular ecology. I’m now a campaign manager for the Barcode of Life project at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (U. of Guelph.) I’ve been a ScienceBlogs reader since there were only a dozen or so bloggers involved. I also like to read nonfiction — science, history, politics, and the like.

  147. My degree says “Computer Science” . . . which I know isn’t a “science” at all . . . and I do computer chip design to make a living.
    I hang out at ScienceBlogs so I can try to sort out what is real in the sciences — especially medical things — because there is SO much misinformation out there . . . .
    I think I found ScienceBlogs when I was reading Orac’s explanation of homeopathy (Yeah right; it gets stronger when you dilute it!!) in Respectful Insolence.

  148. High school dropout with some college and currently doing accounts payable for an environmental non-profit advocacy group. Also a former massage therapist and one-time advocate for “alternative” medicine who has seen the light of science-based medicine.

  149. I’m a writer of fiction (sf/fantasy/slipstream) and nonfiction; some of the nonfiction books are about science, including the one I’m trying to finish at the moment . . .

    I can’t remember how I found ScienceBlogs.

  150. Particle physics Ph.D. student (2nd year). Hoping to be a governmental science advisor someday.

  151. Historian, former faculty at university and 2-year college, currently more-or-less practicing law… Got here via links from other ScienceBlogs…

  153. IT tech support, formerly a TEFL teacher, by way of a lot of other jobs/careers, with a B. Agr Sci(Forestry).

    Sci-fi fan, bagpipe music freak [particluarly Celtic stuff].

    Reasons for coming here; science and facts.

  154. Theoretical chemist PhD at Boston area r&d firm. Long-time reader, at least 7 years, I can’t even remember how I got here. Besides your science posts, I do enjoy your links dump everyday as an easy way to find interesting news for the mildly lazy like myself.

  155. I think I answered this last time you asked. Anyway, I’m an economist, found my way here by some long-forgotten link, and am idly interested in physics, academia and responding to polls, the dorkier the better.

  156. Biologist, with but a year of undergrad physics. Taught for many years at all levels from elementary school to university. Currently work in agricultural research. I like ScienceBlogs so long as the emphasis remains on Science. Can’t stand the hateful likes of PZ Myers or Greg Laden, et al, even though I generally agree with them politically. Just can’t stand their personalities, tone and the pathetic sycophancy of their commentors. Please stick to the science, Chad.

  158. Mathematician. (VAP at a SLAC.) Got here from Ephblog, but don’t read that much anymore. Have taken no science courses since high school. I tend not to read the really physics-y entries here, but everything else is interesting.

  159. I’m an instructional technologist at a midwestern state university. My physics career died when I had to beg for a D in Calculus my freshman year. But I’ve been an avid physics (and science generally) fan ever since.

  160. Evo/Devo biologist by training, work in the area of human genetics for my profession, got here via ScienceBlogs for sure (and to SB via Pharyngula, which I love). I enjoy the variety of your posts, but am especially fond of the ones that feature your adorable daughter.

  161. I edit magazines and occasionally dip into freelance writing. The magazines are not scientific journals. They’re business-to-business.

  162. Well, you know who I am. I don’t even remember how I found the blog – probably shortly after Pharyngula moved to Sciencblogs. I like reading your physics posts, but also the dorky polls! I especially liked the experiment to determine whether a car gets hot faster with a window open or closed. I don’t think Rhett will mind to much if you wander onto his turf occasionally…

    -mark.

  163. I’m an animator and artist/illustrator. Started receiving science illustration jobs several years ago and re-discovered my seriously geeky interest in all things scientific. Discovered your blog scrolling thru SB.

  166. Biologist from Argentina. I specialized in plant physiology first, then biotechnology. Left a PhD interrupted and became an editor. I am subscribed to scienceblogs feed and I think I have labels for articles from all of them…

  168. BS in Earth Science

    Currently a science content specialist for Pearson. I write, design, and research those hated standardized tests that all the kids take now days.

  169. I’m a Software Engineer. I found my way here after getting your book as a Christmas gift.

  170. Chemistry PhD, currently a postdoc in a physics department. Also very interested in outreach aimed at increasing the number of women in science. New reader as of ~ 1 week ago. I think I found your blog on someone else’s blogroll.

  172. BS Math, MS Computer Science. Mother, part-time programmer, part-time homeschool teacher. I probably ended up here from Kate’s blog, which I probably found after following a link elsewhere based on remembering her name from rasfw. As a person who never quite got physics in school, I like the chance to be exposed to things I never had a chance to see then.

  173. Still one of your anonymous college classmates, still blithely ignoring your pleas for class notes (entertaining though they are). Past PhD biologist, current patent attorney. Really enjoy how you embrace science in everyday life — the summertime car temperature post was a classic.

  174. 23, marine nco, single father, atheist, no degree yet

    Found the blog by searching for science related topics on scienceblogs.

  175. Have a BA in Psychology and Anthropology. Spent 2 years in Japan after graduating and now live back in the states working at a grocery store. Looking to go to grad school sometime in my life.

    Found Sciblogs 4 years ago via Pharyngula and sporadically viewed for the first year. With my increasing interest in science, sciblogs has acted as a companion to my obsolete method of reading numbered papers with writings of science bound in a soft or hard cover with glue. What can I say, I hate trees ever since I fell out of one when I was 7 and this is my way of payback.

  176. PhD in Statistics. Don’t recall specifically how I found this blog, but I first met you through rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan.

  177. 40 years old, female, atheist, happily married with two young kids (no, they aren’t my grandchildren!), one dog, and two cats. Studied English at University. No science degree. I’ve lived in a few interesting places and held a few interesting jobs. Currently employed as a dispatcher for police, fire, and rescue. Love the mix of science and family posts in your blog!

  179. Physics undergrad, aspiring Ph.D. candidate! I believe I found you through thinking “I need more science blogs in my reader…” and Googling “Science Blog.” Primitive, I know, but also effective!

  180. I’m a English teacher at the high school level (38 years) with an MA in Literature, an MA in Secondary Ed, and am National Board Certified in English/Language Arts. I teach primarily Shakespeare and American Lit. Age 59, female, married, own a lot of cats, am an avid reader.

    However, I like science and read various science-related and/or empirically-minded blogs (S/B: Humanities & Social Science; Pharyngula; eSkeptic, etc.) and subscribe to various science-related and critical thinking-related magazines (albeit the more humanities-friendly type) Scientific-American Mind, Skeptic, Skeptical Inquirer, CFI, American Atheist,Freedom from Religion Foundation, etc.) I believe I originally found you a few years back — on one of the atheist blogs I read: Richard Dawkins or James Randi Foundation or Michael Shermer or PZ Myers? I like the chance to be exposed to new ideas that challenge me.

  183. I am a self-employed artist/crafter who has always loved science. I found ScienceBlogs after looking for some good science oriented online magazines.

  184. I’m an IT specialist in the oil industry who teaches engineers how to use software. I have a music degree. I am a voracious reader. I like to read science and law blogs. I’m a woman in my mid 40s.

  185. I’m teaching humans and horses to get along with each other. Physics was part of my life way back. Writing about science interests me, I’m tracking newer insights into animal intelligence; how we can blend sound scientific principles into our daily life with animals; how can we get over the anecdotes, the marketing mavens self-made myths and the misguided traditions polluting human-animal interactions.

  186. I’m a high school physics teacher in PA. I don’t remember how I found your blog…maybe through other blogs like Swans on Tea or Dot Physics, or maybe through twitter (I follow you).

  187. 1. This list is so inspiring! I am proud to be a fellow reader of this blog with all you good folks.

    2. I’m a a geologist working in industry, not academia.

    3. I found this blog through scienceblogs.com, I think.

  188. I’m science junkie with a passion for connecting people through story. [Twitter @storywoman] Cannot recall how I found this blog but enjoy learning about science that is explained in an accessible, straight-forward way.

  189. I’m science junkie with a passion for connecting people through story. Follow me @storywoman. Cannot recall how I found this blog but enjoy learning about science that is explained in an accessible, straight-forward way.

  192. I’m a college student. I am not a scientist; my degrees of choice are studio art and computer animation. I guess I’m an odd duck here, yeah? I adore science, though. Astronomy especially.

    I like reading your posts on education and academia.

  193. French PhD student in Theoretical Astrophysics. The Planet Musings blog aggregator got me here. Long |live> (and |dead>) this blog!

  195. I am an atheist stay-at-home homeschooling stepmom without a college degree but with curisoity and a lust for reading 🙂

  197. Conservation Engineer. I recently got my BS in Mechanical Engineering and had an interest in Materials Science. Now I run energy savings projects in NYC. I stumbled here from Built on Facts.

    I enjoy pretty much all of the articles. Some of the AMO physics is a little above my head, but that just draws me into the wikipedia rabbit hole, which isn’t a bad thing. Your book is on my Amazon wish-list, just haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. Keep up the good work!

  198. Im a telecommunications engineering, from Spain, with high interest in phisics and mathematics beyond my field. I came to your blog for first time after knowing about Mr PZ Myers blog. I enjoy reading his blog so i decided to take a look at the Phisics blogs in this web. Since then i became a usual reader of your blog.

  199. Well, I did enviro chem in grad school and now I edit sci journal articles for ESL scientists, but mostly I am a writer of essay and memoir. I got here via scienceblogs. I keep coming back because I enjoy science and physics and dorky polls and cute toddler pictures. Plus there’s always something surprising and fun in your writing.

  200. Graduate Student, Biophysics and Philosophy

    (I just scrolled through the scienceblogs top bar and saw this poll, not a regular reader of this blog though)

  201. I’m not a scientist. I’m not a student. I’m just a cute geek who loves to read, study, learn, and write (I’m working on a novel.) I’m very interested in certain sciences and archaeology. I guess you could say this is my hobby.

  202. I am a PhD geologist who tripped over a rock and fell headfirst into your site several years ago. I haven’t been able to find my way out since.

  203. Former student of yours from Union, stumbled upon this section when looking at Scienceblog. Full time tech analyst, part time engineering graduate student.

  204. Psychologist who found a link to you on EphBlog.

    You cover a wide range of topics via the links and your posts…. I like the variety.

    And, I always enjoy your favorite child in the world.

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