A LONG Hiatus and Some Updates...
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
It has been a very long time since I have posted here---over a year!  Part of that had to do with personal issues (none of which are new; keep in mind that my loving and endlessly patient family make everything worthwhile).  But I am back, and hope to follow the rules that were given to me a long time ago:  try to post once a week.   I will wait for the laughter to die down. It's true I have never been good at that, but I intend to try harder.  I really do believe in #MicrobialPR, and though I remain a giant goofball in many ways, I aspire to be microbiology's g ..read more
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Summer Travels, Part I and My #MicrobialHeroes
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
So the #DocMartinWorld tour for Summer 2017 has begun.  Yes, I need to create a "tour" T-shirt and poster.... First I traveled to Stanford University (where I earned my PhD) to visit with my former undergraduate research student Paula Welander.  There I was able to teach a couple of first year classes, visit with Paula's lab, and walk around a campus I hadn't visited in decades. Gulp.  I couldn't get into my old building where I earned my PhD, or the new building, and that is probably a good thing.  A LOT of time has passed. Then it was #ASMicrobe in New Orleans, where I ..read more
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Microbe 2017 and Thanking Colleagues
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
Such a hectic year!  I have just come up for air, and there is so much to discuss. This summer, I will be traveling quite a bit to forge collaborations and learn new techniques.  Since I don't have a grant at present, I am paying out of my pocket for this summer soiree, but I don't mind.  It's necessary for me in order to have another try at getting a promotion to Full Professor in the coming year.  I hope to post some fun updates as the summer progresses while I travel to Stanford, Ann Arbor, Nottingham, Tampa, and Denver. And maybe Tucson! Call it the #DocMartinWorldTo ..read more
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Freshman Biology, #SciArt, and the Amoeba Sisters!
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
Yes, it has been some time since I have blogged.  Apologies.  It has been a complicated time:  trying to rethink promotion issues (you know the gist of the Sayres' quote:  the reason academic infighting is so bitter is that the stakes are so low), planning a summer where I travel to several laboratories to learn techniques and forge collaborations, trying to set up a microbiology podcast (hopefully titled Your Microbial Minute), and dealing with a large freshman biology course.   Let's be honest here:  I'm luckier than a lot of fabulous people I know in academia ..read more
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Chatting about #MattersMicrobial on the University of Puget Sound podcast
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
Given the state of our short attention span/bumper sticker mentality society, I have long been concerned with the way that microbiology is portrayed in the media.  We need far, far better #MicrobialPR. Microbes are not #DevilMicrobes, always causing disease and bad things.   Microbes are not #AngelMicrobes, who can solve all problems. So what are microbes?  First evolved.  Last extinct.  Basis of the biosphere.  When you put aside the natural human-centric narcissism from which we all suffer, you can see that ours is truly a microbial planet. So I was delighte ..read more
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Student Created Science Artwork in My Laboratory
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
I have been feeling a little low recently, so I wanted to write about something positive.  Care to tag along with me? The other day on Twitter, the subject of #SciArt came up:  art influenced by science.  I have long encouraged students in my first year introduction to cell and molecular biology course (Biology 111, "The Unity of Life"), as well as my junior/senior level microbiology course, to explore their creativity as it relates to topics in class.  I contend that this approach allows students to "see" topics in a new light, which can help with their understanding of c ..read more
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Happy Microbial Valentines' Day!
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
How about that January?  I know.  I do my best to just focus on my students and my research thoughts. Today is Valentines' Day, and I would like to share some "bioluminescent art"---#LuxArt---for that occasion.  Again, I use Photobacterium leignothi strain KNH6, which I find to be very bright.   First up, a salute to my beautiful and brilliant wife Dr. Jennifer Quinn.  Truly, she deserves every good thing (particularly based on her full time job putting up with my veering approach to reality!). Love you, Jennigirl. Next,  there is nothing wrong with a bit of ..read more
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The First Day of 2017
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
I have been blogging, irregularly, for several years here.  Some folks read what I write, most people do not. I am grateful for the former, but understand the latter. This post is going to be different.  The first thing I want to say at the outset is that I am very lucky, and many people have far greater difficulties than I do.  That needs emphasis. The past several years have been challenging for me both personally and professionally.  The death of my mother.  The death of my father. A fight to earn tenure at my current institution. A lack of research progress, and ..read more
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Happy Luxmas to All!
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
It has been quite a year, rich with ups and downs.  I'm not alone in that evaluation, I realize. The death of my father in April gave me quite a bit to think about. Having my promotion file to full professor tabled early on was disappointing, but I think I need to be philosophical:  I will always have a, um, nonlinear path in academia.   I'm a bit unconventional.  Okay, I'm an oddball and don't fit in very well.  But at least I'm true to myself!  And I truly do care about science and my students.  Besides, lots of great people in the microbiology community ..read more
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Microbiology, Student Learning, and Creative Extra Credit
All Creatures Great AND Small: Preaching Microbial Supremacy!
by Mark O. Martin
3y ago
For a number of years now, I have been interested in exploring unusual strategies to promote ownership from my students in the classes I teach.  I find that lists of facts, conceptual maps, frequent assessment, group work...all of these have positives and negatives. But the real spark, I believe, is getting the students to become engaged in topics because of the choices they make---to "own" their work. One approach I have tried is via the time-honored inducement of "extra credit." Students always pay attention to those words as well they should. But I add to it "creative projects."   ..read more
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