By Shari Graydon. Delivering presentations is one of the foundations of scholarly work. But doing so outside of the classroom invariably poses different challenges. Becoming adept at crafting compelling presentations that engage a variety of audiences increases an academic’s opportunities to get others excited about their work. More...

By Michael Newman. These are my instructions for how to read a certain way: a guide to reading as a means of gaining knowledge you intend to use in something you are going to discuss or write. Of course there are lots of ways to read. More...

By Nona Robinson. Understanding their position is one way to start problem-solving on controversial issues. More...

By Liz Koblyk. Networking still seems to be one of the best job search strategies out there. Maybe that’s bad news, since so many people hate networking. In the good news column, though, is this: the skills networking develops continue to help you when you’re employed and need to manage up. More...

By David Kent. After many months of consideration, Jonathan and I have finally decided to push forward with making the Black Hole blog entries into a book. The last six years have seen a steady stream of blog entries, reader comments and guest posts that have highlighted many of the major issues challenging the way our system currently educates and trains scientists. More...

By David Kent. One of the best peer-review processes that I have experienced is one that I didn’t get a great outcome from. I was applying for one of my first research grants with the U.K. Medical Research Council and did not get an interview based on the reviews of six experts who each had read my research proposal and submitted their comments. More...

By Jessica Riddell. When I was in graduate school, I used to joke that if academia didn’t work out, I’d become a party planner. My flippant remark elicited the expected response – laughter – largely due to the ostensible incongruity between the weighty, cerebral world of academia in contrast with the ephemeral, and seemingly superficial, pursuits of the party. More...

By Bruce A. Heyman. Abraham Lincoln said the best way to predict your future is to create it. I have found this creative spirit ingrained in the people I meet every day across our great shared continent. Canadians and Americans believe that we, as individuals and as a community, have the ability and the obligation to leave things better than we found them. As the people privileged to call these two countries home, we can and must create our own future. More...

By Thomas Klassen. Despite some concerns, a liberal arts degree is still the best preparation for a rewarding career. More...

By Jenny Green. New book describes how historians are using longitudinal analysis to shed light on our collective past. More...