Outreach
I decided to climb Mount Moos today.
After five years of toiling in the shadow of the Moos tower, I figured it was finally time that I assert my dominance over it, Stepan Style (Actually, this was the other Irish Gopher's idea, but I went with it). It turns out that the view is spectacular. From the 15th floor, the entire West Bank vista can be seen, including downtown, the Metrodome, the Mill District, and the Stone Arch Bridge. It is startling just how huge the University is in this panorama, with three (soon to be four) distinct campuses making up the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 90% of all government-funded research in the state is done here.
It makes sense, then, that this is where the state turns to for "human capital," as well as for exposure to the fruits of higher education. I played a part in this role last week when our lab held a tour that was open to the public. Here's me enlightening the masses:
It is interesting to see how the public responds to the work you've invested several years into. It certainly makes you feel like you know what you're talking about. I guess that's what the degree is for.
Also, I recently ended up writing a letter of recommendation for a staff member that was received very well. Apparently I am now the go-getter of the department. I've been called on to serve on a Q&A panel for new students and am now officially the department's rep to a Graduate School committee. It seems a bit laughable, in my mind, to be put in these situations, but hopefully I can beef up the old resume a little as a result.
With all that in mind, I gazed out at the horizon from the top of the tower. I wonder what is over there.
After five years of toiling in the shadow of the Moos tower, I figured it was finally time that I assert my dominance over it, Stepan Style (Actually, this was the other Irish Gopher's idea, but I went with it). It turns out that the view is spectacular. From the 15th floor, the entire West Bank vista can be seen, including downtown, the Metrodome, the Mill District, and the Stone Arch Bridge. It is startling just how huge the University is in this panorama, with three (soon to be four) distinct campuses making up the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 90% of all government-funded research in the state is done here.
It makes sense, then, that this is where the state turns to for "human capital," as well as for exposure to the fruits of higher education. I played a part in this role last week when our lab held a tour that was open to the public. Here's me enlightening the masses:
You see, this is "Heterogeneous Integration"
It is interesting to see how the public responds to the work you've invested several years into. It certainly makes you feel like you know what you're talking about. I guess that's what the degree is for.
Also, I recently ended up writing a letter of recommendation for a staff member that was received very well. Apparently I am now the go-getter of the department. I've been called on to serve on a Q&A panel for new students and am now officially the department's rep to a Graduate School committee. It seems a bit laughable, in my mind, to be put in these situations, but hopefully I can beef up the old resume a little as a result.
With all that in mind, I gazed out at the horizon from the top of the tower. I wonder what is over there.
Post a Comment
