Saturday, July 27, 2019
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My glacier bulletin is published! I am really proud of the work I've done this summer, and this article brings together everything I've learned. It was HEAVILY edited by the FYI team and my writing still has a long way to go, but it feels good to have worked on a writing piece myself from start to finish. If you're interested in giving it a read, here it is:
https://www.aip.org/fyi/2019/geoscientists-call-reinforcing-glacier-and-ice-sheet-research
With only three real workdays left before our final presentations, I've been reflecting a lot on the summer. I have learned so much about science policy and science writing, but also about myself.
1) Science policy is complex and interesting- I came into this internship knowing nothing about science policy and I'm leaving with way more knowledge than I started with, but I still have so much to learn. On the surface, I have a much better understanding of how bills are passed, how science gets funded, who makes decisions, etc., but every topic and situation has so many layers that it's challenging to get all the pieces at once. It's amazing to hear the way the FYI team talks to each other about different happenings, and how well-versed they are on everything going on.
2) The editing processes is never truly done- The amount of revisions that my writing went through this summer is crazy, and I still feel like there are always ways of making it better. When something is finalized, it more or less means that the writer drew the line on the editing process and had to stop somewhere. If not, it would keep going forever. However, every individual on the FYI team has their own unique contributions, and I'm grateful to have recieved so many perspectives and opinions on my writing.
3) Desk work/travelling is a nice combination- Travelling to events is fun, but it can also get exhausting. Working in a cubicle is relaxing, but it can also get boring. The type of work I did this summer was the perfect mix, it kept me on my toes, and it made me excited to go to work every day.
4) Time flies- How did 9 weeks go by already? I just can't believe it. 2020 interns, make the most out of your summer in DC. Don't take a single weekend or adventure for granted. Do as much as you can!
5) Physicists are a really unique group of people-I never thought that I would get this close to all the people I met this summer. Terry has always told me that he thinks all physics majors have a special bond, and I now believe him. My REU last summer had a mix of majors, and everyone was super nice. But all of Terry's REU cohort were physics majors, and he said he felt a connection with them that was rare. I now understand what he means, because I have made friendships and connections with the interns here in DC that are incredibly special and different than any other group of people I've known.
Samantha Staskiewicz