Best products from r/LadiesofScience

Hey guys!

I'm really sorry that I forgot to reply, but I just wanted to thank you all for your wonderful insight. I'm tagging everyone in the thread as a thank you. I was doing some reading in regards to believing in yourself and positive psychology. A lot of how we think really translates to our reality (I believe). I found an article that best summarizes what I've been reading lately https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201610/how-build-your-belief-in-yourself
I would also like to recommend a book if anyone has time to read it. It's called Growth Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck. https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322
My sister is starting a pre-med program at WSU and we are both reading this book together as a way to help our mindsets.
Although I wish I had a very indestructible mindset, sometimes it helps to hear from others though, and I'm grateful that this is a very supportive community.

/u/Khem_kid, /u/Pimms_and_Patellas, /u/samariam, /u/skleats, /u/fourcolortheorem, /u/FederalReserveNote, /u/chefsarecursed.

Also /u/prematurealzheimers and /u/knowuow, I was at the one at UCLA :). We might have crossed paths via that web broadcast thing haha

I had a friend in high school in a similar situation. She ended up majoring in medical illustration and now works generating graphics for companies, patents, and trials. She gets to work with scientists and constantly learn new science while still doing graphic design and illustration. My other friends who went with pure graphic design are not really working within their fields (this is >10 years after BFA or MFAs).

When I studied anatomy & physiology I aced every exam thanks to an anatomy coloring book (they have a ton of options now). A nice set of colored pencils and one of these books might be a way to introduce her to the possibility of melding her interests and gifts :)

Maybe you can encourage her to get a science minor and join an engineering/science club. Building things in engineering is so much like creating things in art. College interns in my lab who had crafty hobbies growing up (mostly girls) far outshine those who didn't. Since she's already tutoring she might enjoy getting involved in science outreach to elementary/middle schoolers. Most STEM clubs have a component of outreach. Once she's spending some time with science majors things might click for her, or maybe she'll see that science is more of a hobby interest. If nothing else a minor will help her get graphic design jobs her peers can't.

Since you are in STEM yourself, you could try doing a project together for something like Intel Science Talent Search. The winners generally intern in ridiculous university programs, but even having entered a project is a huge huge accomplishment. She could research the question of science in art history, make a display for a local museum, make her own polarized light art, etc.

The important thing, I think, is that she knows she is capable in STEM, so she can always return to it after whatever other career paths she explores.

Hope that all helps a bit and good luck :)

If they drink coffee or tea, a mug that would be in their taste can be a cool gift and useful, especially along with some nice tea or coffee. Etsy is a good place to start looking for more unusual or handmade mugs. (Here's the results for "science mug"). Teavana is usually a good store to look for fancy tea ideas.

Or a basket of nicer snacks to keep at the office (or not), like gourmet popcorn, dried fruit, nuts, chocolates, candies, etc. along with maybe some tea or coffee. So long as you're aware of any allergy/dietary restriction, I like consumables as gifts because you don't have to worry about the gift being in their style, etc.

On the more practical side of gift-giving, if any of them travel to a lot of conferences, then something related to making air travel/hotel stays more comfortable - like a fun sleeping mask or neck pillow - or even a colorful poster tube might be good.

If they are also ladies and wear scarves in the office (my office is cold!) that's another good choice, and you can find quirky and science-themed ones on Etsy as well.

Stop second-guessing your choice of major. Keep your eyes on what you actually want, and remember that the steps along the way will all build there eventually. Check in on your plans when you're picking classes each semester, to make sure you're still on course and still want that ultimate goal. The REU and some lab time will all help.

Try reading some science-related books, not actual science but stuff about scientists themselves or stories about specific scientific discoveries. Like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Double Helix, Eighth Day of Creation, The Disappearing Spoon, and Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman. Your school should have copies of most of them, and they aren't textbook-heavy (though not quite as light as fiction novels).

Don't forget to stay at least a little rounded. Someone on just about every recruitment weekend for grad school will ask about your hobbies. I'm pretty sure they're required to do so :) Or you'll discover you and your interviewer both do ceramics and can chat about that, leaving a stronger impression than if you were yet another person talking about science. It's good to be done with the requirements, but make sure you keep up something outside your major, even if it's just ultimate frisbee.

LIST INCOMING:

I'm so in love with this range of books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Botanicum-Welcome-Museum-Kathy-Willis/dp/1783703946

I guess they're kids books but the illustrations are just beautiful and I actually got the postcard set for the botanical illustrations, and I'm going to have them framed for my house. I adore plant illustrations in this style.

Another one I love is: https://www.amazon.com/Resurrectionist-Lost-Work-Spencer-Black/dp/1594746168

The story is a bit average but the illustrations are so cool, I love anatomical illustrations and mythical beasts.

These two are also amazing: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Why-How-Illustrate-Mysteries/dp/1452108226 and https://www.amazon.com/Who-What-When-Illustrate-Sidekicks/dp/1452128278/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1452128278&pd_rd_r=RRYE5GWH9BWS2TPVV31X&pd_rd_w=K7qR6&pd_rd_wg=Mxunj&psc=1&refRID=RRYE5GWH9BWS2TPVV31X

I totally cried my eyes out over this one: https://www.amazon.com/Radioactive-Marie-Pierre-Curie-Fallout/dp/0061351326

And the illustrations are just so beautiful. Her story is just tragic and she was so brilliant.

If you wanna cry for a couple of years, this one: https://www.amazon.com/Laika-Nick-Abadzis/dp/1596431016

I guess not strictly about the science but there's a good amount of space related information and science tangential stuff, and its just such a beautiful book that I couldn't not recommend it. The final page is basically seared onto my memory forever :c

I'm utterly obsessed with this book: https://www.amazon.com/Sick-Rose-Disease-Medical-Illustration/dp/1938922409

ITS SO INTERESTING, its mostly medical diagrams and descriptions (I obviously have an aesthetic).

I highly recommend reading this book as it talks extensively about this very question thoroughly in a way I cannot
http://www.amazon.com/Lean-In-Women-Work-Will/dp/0385349947

I listened to the audiobook since I'm such a multitasker these days but however you can ingest it, I think it may help to get advise from someone who did the work/raising kids balance (very) successfully. IMO, don't put your career on the backburner since research shows this will help with long term happiness and even marriage success. This goes without saying, but your career is just as important as his

By the way, employers are not allowed to hold it against you for being a mother, this is a form of discrimination you are (legally) protected from (but may still encounter). Look up Family Responsibilities Descrimination

Since you've got a math flair, I'd recommend Things to make and do in the fourth dimension by Matt Parker. I thought it was very funny and it it's great at explaining maths concepts I didn't even knew existed.

I also enjoyed Marcus Du Sautoy's Music of the Primes. I've got exponentially more excited about prime numbers since reading this! He's also done a BBC documentary on prime numbers (I think by the same title) if you really want to nerd out.

Simon Singh's books (already mentioned) are great as well. He made made a 50 minute documentary on Fermat's last theorem (non-UK link) for the BBC in '96 when Andrew Wiles finally proved it. As he writes on his website, this documentary led him to write the book. I'd definitely recommend watching it together if you're going to give this book!

I'm in the humanities so it's a whole different ball game in many ways, but you might look at 'The Academic Job Search Handbook,' it's got examples and advice for all the various things you have to write for your dossier (research plan, teaching statement, cover letter etc etc etc, with examples from multiple fields including social and hard sciences) and I've found it invaluable. Also, do not underestimate your school's career services office - my school did a practice interview with me and went over my dossier with a fine-toothed comb.

PS I finished my PhD in May and am now happily employed in academe, so it can be done, good luck! :)

Edit: might as well give you a link to the book ;)

Not sure if you need goggles or glasses, but these are my absolutely favorite safety glasses:

3M Virtua Protective Eyewear, Clear Frame, Clear Anti-Fog Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00166OALC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UfUvyb8NW5PB6

Lightweight, very comfortable, never pinch my head, antifog.

Almost anything by Oliver Sacks is fantastic. On The Move was great. I listened to it as an audiobook in lab. Very motivating!

Not a new release, and I know there is some controversy, but I loved The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

Middlesex. Fiction, not a new release, but a great story with some science mixed in (I may be biased because I happened to be reading this while taking developmental biology and learning about sex determination).