Where did all of the chicks go?

A little controversy has been started up this week about The Scientist's vote for favorite life science blogs. The Scientist asked some of the most popular bloggers to give their opinion on the best science blogs and as many people have pointed out, including Chris at Highly Allochthonous, Julia at The Ethical Palaeontologist, and Brian at Laelaps, there are no women on this list.

Well I am sure I would get shot down by many of my female colleagues for saying this but let’s be honest, there just aren’t as many female scientists as male scientists, especially as you climb the ‘academic ladder’. Why not? As an undergraduate I noticed that the ratio of women to men is actually greater in biology and geology was reasonable even. A quick survey of my graduate colleagues shows a ratio of 12 men to 7 women over the last four years. And as you continue, the proportion of women gets smaller, we have 10 men listed in our department as staff and postdoctoral researchers and only 4 women. And check out how many members of the Royal Society are female (5%). So where do all the women go to?

Is it true that many women still give up their careers for a life at home? Is academia still heavily weighted against them and women leave the field because they don’t feel their career advance as fast as those of their male colleagues? I don’t know to be honest. But there is no doubt there are fewer female role models in academia especially in the fields of physics, math, computing and engineering where their ratio often dwindles to less than 10%.

So anyway, back to The Scientist, I am sure they didn’t deliberately mean to exclude female science bloggers. Looking at my own blogroll I realize most of the science blogs I read are written by men, I think it is representative of the ratio of the sexes in academia, something to think about.

If you like this blog...

If you like this blog please leave a comment about it at The Scientist's vote for favorite life science blogs.

Thanks!!

Blogroll Additions

Thanks for your enthusiastic response and all of your links. Sorry if your blog had fallen off the roll; I may have lost a few when I upgraded to Goggle’s new blogger. The blogroll is still open so if you would like to be added, leave a comment. Enjoy the new additions…

Jon Swift is a reasonable conservative who likes to write about politics and culture. This week he asks "Are We Tasering People Enough?"

Check out Andrew's new blog, The Naked Galaxy, about everything and anything science.

Zach Miller writes When Pigs Fly Returns!, a blog from Anchorage, Alaska on all things palaeo related.

And finally, Jacob Haqq-Misra muses on spirituality and science in Reflections, Ideas, and Dreams.

Announcement: Blogroll Enrollment

Well I haven't been very diligent in keeping up my blogroll. If you would like a link to your site from Fish Feet, please leave a comment on this post with your blog’s name and URL and I will add your link to my blogroll (probably – no spam please). I appreciate links back also.

Oekologie #9

Welcome to Fish Feet, host of 9th Oekologie blog carnival!

Population & Extinction
• GrrlScientist of Living the Scientific Life talks about Bluefin Tuna, will they soon be the Dodos of the sea?

• Jeremy at The Voltage Gate writes about the decline of antelopes in African national parks.

• John at A DC Birding Blog reviews the IUCN Red List 2007 and its implications.

• James at Direction not Destination researches ‘The Tyranny of Power’ phenomenon in white-tailed deer distributions.

Species Interaction
• Corey at 10,000 Birds explains why a blight on conifers can be a boon for certain birds.

• Jenn at Invasive Species Weblog describes the impact of invasive plants in Massachusetts.

• Kevin at The Other 95% explores the fascinating world of jumping spiders and wolf spiders.

• Madhusudan at Reconciliation Ecology contributes a riveting article on the annual commute of the Bar Tailed Godwit, 11,570 km from Alaska to New Zealand.

Microbial Ecology
• Tara at Aetiology imagines the possibility of using E. coli as a cavity fighter.

• Christina at Deep Sea News considers the importance of studying deep-sea coral microbial ecology.

Disease & Disaster
• Christian of Med Journal Watch shares new research on malaria pest control 45 years after Silent Spring.

• Greg at Evolution ... not "just a theory" anymore examines different cultural perspectives on building homes in disaster prone areas.

Humans & Environment
• Eric at the The Primate Diaries investigates the downstream effects of biopiracy.

• Devon at Ask the CareerCounselor gives readers invaluable advice on switching to a career in environmentalism.

• Shaheen at GNIF Brain Blogger relates the biochemistry of genetics and stress.

I’m glad to have hosted the carnival and have enjoyed reading all of the great submissions! Next month visit Oekologie at Laelaps.

Tangled Bank #86

Welcome to Fish Feet, host of the 86th Tangled Bank blog carnival!

The Scientific Process
• Kevin of The Other 95% discusses metrics of scientific advancement and their impact on progress.

• Sunil at Balancing Life gives readers invaluable advice on writing grant proposals.

• Christian of Med Journal Watch writes about the artificial settings of diet trials and the value of their findings.

Evolution
• Shalini at Scientia Natura debates the impact of a recent palaeoanthropological discovery on the theory of evolution?

• CAD of VWXYNot? describes how the progression of tumorigenesis mirrors the process of evolution by natural selection.

• Eric of The Primate Diaries discusses offspring abandonment in the ancient and natural world.

Ecology
• Jeremy at The Voltage Gate contributes a riveting article on the ecology of fear in Yellowstone National Park.

• Scott of Dammit Jim! I’m a biologist not a… posts a cool youtube video and explores the curious mating rituals of jumping spiders.

• Mike at 10,000 Birds explores the diversity of Waxwings.

Agriculture and Environment
• Matthew of Behavioral Ecology muses about how even parasite-resistant sheep avoid eating shit!

• Jeremy of Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog discusses variation in the glycaemic index of various crops.

• Emmett from The Natural Patriot shares his perspective on the writing and philosophy of author and environmentalist, Richard Louv.

• Martin of Aardvarchaeology reviews Alan Weisman’s book, the The World Without Us

Human Biology, Diet and Medicine
• Paddy of Swedish Extravaganza writes a balanced discussion on the ethical aspects of vegetarianism.

• Cathy of Lab Cat talks about pre and probiotics.

• GrrlScientist of Living the Scientific Life talks about a bone hormone, which is linked to obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

• Alvaro of Sharp Brains has submitted a podcast interview with neuropsychologist Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg who talks about brain improvement research.

• FitBuff of Total Mind and Body Fitness reports on a recent study which examines the unconscious signals we use to find Mr. or Mrs. Right!

Genetics
• Hsien of Eye on DNA imagines the possibility of genome sequencing being available to the public.

• Lev at Ouroboros writes an article about protein abundance in long-lived worm mutants.

• Jeremy at Another Blasted Weblog discusses restriction endonucleases, the molecular scissors that allow biologists to cut DNA.

I’m glad to have hosted the carnival and have enjoyed reading all of the great submissions! Two weeks from now on August 29, visit Tangled Bank again at Balancing Life.

Long Absence

Sorry I have been absent for so long. Life has been getting pretty busy, with grad school and a new baby on the way. But I hope to be back to blogging (at least once a week, if not more often) and Tangled Bank has given me the kick in the pants I need to get back to it! Visit us on August 15 to check Tangled Bank #86!

Blogroll Additions

Last week’s call for blogs has resulted in some great additions! Check out:

A California Nature Photographers Journal
Find out where, what, and how to photograph nature in California.

Interrogating Nature
A sensible and critical approach to all sorts of biology related topics.

Secret Sex Lives of Animals
A weekly column on the bizarre, wonderful, colourful and sometimes shocking world of animal mating habits.

The Domestic Minx
A deliciously dysfunctional diary about domestic living.

The Dragon's Tales
A great mix of science and current events from all over the globe.

Announcement: Blogroll Enrollment

Well I haven't been very diligent in keeping up my blogroll. If you would like a link to your site from Fish Feet, please leave a comment on this post with your blog’s name and URL and I will add your link to my blogroll (probably – no spam please). I appreciate links back also:)

Oekologie #4

I have recently discovered blog carnivals (truth be told, my initiation to the blogosphere is recent as well). Blog carnivals and circuses are a great way to get to know your neighbours in the blogosphere and so I have requested to host Oekologie, one of the best travelling blog carnivals around. Oekologie reviews the best ecology and environmental science posts of the month from all across the blogosphere. My turn comes in September so is a way off, but I am looking forward to it! In the mean time check out the happening at the fourth edition of Oekologie, which inlcudes my article on Bears Who Hunt Belugas.

Weekend Break

Sorry I'm not posting today or tomorrow as I'm at a conference and field trip. I will be back on Sunday and tell you all about it! Sarda

Hello and "Guess the volcano"

Hello! So this is Janine taking over Sarda's blog for a few days. Things may prove to be a little different to what you're used to... But to ease you in I thought we could play a game... You're all experienced I know with Sarda's "mystery fossil" feature, but see how you do with guessing which volcano this is:


Given Sarda's usual blog themes I can imagine a lot of you are either palaeontologists or biologists, and consequently may be unfamiliar with looking at volcanoes. So here is a hint: this is the second tallest active volcano in the world (bit controversial, some would say it is the tallest), and it's my favourite by the way...

Meet Janine...

As I mentioned last week, I will be travelling to India for two weeks, during which time my colleague, Janine Kavanagh, has graciously agreed to fill-in. Janine is a PhD student at the University of Bristol working in the field of volcanology. Her interests include studying the dynamics of kimberlite eruptions, these are ancient volcanoes that can erupt diamonds. Unfortunately there have been no kimberlite eruptions in recorded history, which makes this magma relatively rare, but economically important, a bit tricky to understand.

Some things she will be blogging on include recent volcanic activity in New Zealand, some bizarre festivals that you might like to attend this year, an "ode to purple", and there will even be a "mystery volcano" of which you can try and guess the name and location. Who could resist?

Hello Carlos!

My colleague, Carlos Grau has started write a humorous column for the PalArch newsletter. Check out his first column and grinning face on page one
.

Gateway to India

Next week I will be travelling to India. The primary purpose of my 10 day trip is to see family, but I will also find time to do a few other things: see the spectacular Taj Mahal (again:), ride an elephant, explore ruined forts, visit bazaars and hopefully spot a tiger or two.

However, despite my absence, you can look forward to regular postings on this blog since my colleague, Janine Kavanagh, has graciously agreed to fill-in while I am away.