Category Archives: Group 3

Impressions of a Poster Session

After a hellish commute, I arrived at the Macaulay Seminar 3 Poster Session this morning (Sunday, December 6th 10:00-12:00) with excitement to learn more about science in New York. As I was walking the length of both poster galleries, one poster in particular caught my eye.

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“Why the Wealthy Aren’t Healthy” had a color scheme that demanded attention. I was intrigued by the title and by the variety of data that was presented, so I began to ask the presenters some questions. That map that is shown there details all of the locations one can buy food in on the Upper East Side as categorized and observed first-hand by the presenters. They came to the conclusion that wealthier people are more likely to be obese because there are more funds for food so wealthier people choose to eat out more often. The most shocking piece of information I saw to corroborate their conclusions was that of all of the places to purchase food in this zipcode, only 1% were fruit and vegetable and 37% were restaurants.

I was very impressed by the energy this team had while presenting their poster, as well as by the overall oral presentation. This poster was in good company, as many of the posters from this morning deserve attention, but there was something about this group’s work that stayed with me throughout the day.

 

“Get Acclimatised”

Climate change deniers, I know you’re out there. I get it. (No, I don’t, I’m just saying that). A favorite line of mine is, “But it’s cold!” Sure, it used to be called “global warming.” Scientists make up silly names for things sometimes, don’t they? For example: the carpet shark, tasselled wobbegong. What even is a carpet shark, by the way

It’s November and it’s 70 degrees outside. I get it. It’s weird. I’m upset I can’t use my flannel sheets yet, but maybe tomorrow I’ll need one of those awful balloon coats instead of a cute sweater. What odd weather. What a crazy climate! Deniers, this isn’t an attack on you, oh no. But you will feel like it might be. Please enjoy this broadcast.

You’re welcome.

Kristen

Home Plastic Audits: Can You Spot the Difference?

If you’re a person with a uterus, you’ll know that menstruation is an absolute mess.

I know I don’t need to go into the amount of struggles that we uterians endure: inhaling chocolate like the Noo Noo from Teletubbies,crying over pictures of Tom Hiddleston, and becoming an erupting volcano every time you sneeze.

noonoo
Dear Lord Noo Noo, how similar we are

My period came right on time for the Home Plastic Audit and added nearly 30 pieces of plastic to my week’s total. Both tampons and pads produce two pieces of plastic per tampon and pad. Three women synced up at one time (it happens) in one household could produce up to 100 pieces of plastic within a week.

In light of these issues, some forward-thinking (and most likely exasperated) women have created the underwear of the future!

They’re called Thinx.These pieces of underwear (which come in four different styles and levels of absorbency) were created to replace pads, tampons, and any other disposable period apparatus. They’re meant to be worn throughout an entire day and washed. Sound gross? Thinx has already anticipated an understandable level of revulsion, and makes a fairly convincing sanitary argument: each pair has four layers that absorb, fight bacteria, and maintain dryness (so no, you won’t be swimming in your own blood for 12 or more hours). As of now, they come in two colors–beige and black, and sizes from XS to XXXL.

Me when I receive my order

Giving up the changeable extra layer of plastic waste seems weird at first, but after you…thinx…about it, this really seems like an awesomely sustainable way to transform the experience of menstruation.

Do you appreciate the title now

Semper ubi sub ubi guys,

Alex