Scientific tourism

Pembroke College, Oxford

During the last little while, I have become aware of a group called the Earthwatch Institute which has an interesting approach to participating in environmental research and the promotion of sustainability. Since 1971, they have linked more than 80,000 volunteers to more than 2,500 different research projects. The volunteers contribute both financially and through their labour, in exchange for which they get to see some amazing places, meet and work with scientists, and generally gain a better understanding of the world. While you have to wonder how helpful non-specialists could actually be during such a project, it does sound like it would be fascinating.

If you have always envied the people zipping around on helicopters or piloting ships through Antarctic waters, this might be your only opportunity, short of becoming a research scientist. Right now, they are organizing expeditions to Alaskan glaciers, the Amazon river basin, coral reefs in the Bahamas, and a number of other places besides. They seem to cost about $2000-3000, not including travel to the location in question.

For those without scientific training to go on such expeditions may be a bit touristic, but I can see how it could contribute valuable resources to projects – particularly those involving scenic places and photogenic animals.

Separate not a man from his techie tools

I have a request for intelligent people around the world. Can we please agree that tiny little multi-tools like my SOG Crusscut are in no way dangerous weapons? Certainly, they are no more so than all manner of items (from pens to umbrellas) that are legitimately carried into all manner of places.

As one of the items that I carry around virtually everywhere, I am quite reliant upon it: particularly the scissors, screwdriver, bottle opener, and ruler. When I am forced to not carry it, usually because of travel, I frequently find myself frustrated and annoyed. The same should go for the Leatherman Micra and similar tools. Gram for gram, these little things are up there with LED headlamps, in terms of usefulness in varied circumstances.

PS. This minor tirade was prompted by this lengthy article on survival equipment, written by Neil Andrews. Judging by his ‘modules,’ he is the fellow to know in the event of a massive natural disaster or zombie attack.

Worcester College

Worcester College

As part of an ongoing initiative to expand the parts of Oxford I have explored, I ventured into the Worcester College gardens today. Open to all students between 2:00pm and 5:00pm, they are really worthy of a wander. I plan to revisit the courtyards and waterside paths once spring has begun to assert itself. Trying to frame photos to exclude the ash-gray sky was challenging.

The college is located at the end of the street that runs west from the martyr’s memorial past the Randolf Hotel and the Ashmolean. Altogether, the grounds are very extensive; they also have a pleasing intricacy to them, unlike the open vastness of the Port Meadow, Christ Church Meadow, or the University Parks.

I may well need to add the gardens to my rotation of places to read and wander, once the cold and dampness of these recent weeks begins to recede. Even with the threat of exams and joblessness at the end, I expect that Trinity Term will be a dream – with the thesis safely behind, and Oxford going through its most attractive season.

Briefly out of Oxford

Fields north of Oxford

The light this afternoon and evening was just gorgeous: beginning as the kind of sharp afternoon that contrasts so markedly with the gray days of rain before, then softening with the return of clouds and the approach of sunset. It offered a good chance to head out of Oxford northwards, in the first expedition for the simple purpose of cycling that I can recall having undertaken in many weeks. As the longer, warmer days of spring arrive, I should try to get back into the habit of visiting Woodstock, 13.2km north by northeast of here, through Yarnton. Otherwise, I spent all my time in an area that runs south from our flat to Carfax, sometimes extending eastwards some way along the High Street and Cowley Road: Milan’s Oxford. On this little map, the red line above ‘University of Oxford’ denotes 1km. The blue polygon denotes the zone in which I spend more than 95% of my time.

The most notable thing about this ride was the empty space between towns. During the fading light of the late afternoon, they provided a sense of immensity in one’s surroundings that cannot be attained when there are ugly pinkish-orange streetlights overhead. On the way back, they provided ample demonstration that six volts and 5.2 amps behind a single halogen bulb is hardly sufficient to cut through a rainy English night.

PS. Privately to Maddie and Meaghan: thanks.

Final precipitous post

Snow covered bicycle

Walking around Oxford at night, in the snow, is the first time I have ever felt at all sensible wearing robes. I think it is a combination of the practical concerns of temperature and the suspension of normal rules of operation that always accompanies a Vancouverite after a snowfall.

I have always loved ‘extreme’ weather events, precisely because of the way they allow the subversion of normal modes of operating. Because of what I mean by weather, things like blackouts also count. Anything of a sufficiently super-human magnitude to let us legitimately question the rhythms of normal life tells us a lot about people; personally, the people who respond primarily with annoyance are the same sort who do not like Studio Ghibli films. That is to say, people with no imagination.

Halfway through Hilary term

Staircase in the Oxford Union

The idea that I will be climbing Welsh mountains in just over a month is quite an appealing one. Between the weather and the need to do academic work, I have barely been cycling in any capacity beyond getting from my flat to the centre of town. As such, I have been feeling somewhat lumpish.

I am hoping to have virtually all of the critical reading for the thesis done by the time I am heading west with the Walking Club, giving the information the chance to consolidate with each bootstep upwards. I just hope it doesn’t treat my knees quite as cruelly as the Scotland trip did. I was walking strangely for the better part of a week, afterwards.

PS. This interactive page on orbital debris is really interesting. It includes information on the consequences of the Chinese anti-satellite test.

Excellent BBC nature series

Landscape near Goreme, Turkey

Anyone interested in nature or geography should have a look at the spectacular television series “Planet Earth.” I watched a couple of episodes on Antonia’s very large television and was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the videography and the lengths they went to in order to get amazing imagery. I saw the episode featuring Lechuguilla Cave and another on mountains. Without a doubt, it is the best nature documentary series I have seen since The Blue Planet. Both were made by the BBC, and may constitute the strongest endorsement I have seen for that broadcaster.

I have been tempted many times to buy the DVD set of The Blue Planet, but don’t think it would be wise to buy the European version, which will not play on most North American devices. Both The Blue Planet and Planet Earth also have rather good websites. If you are in the UK, you can even download high resolution video clips. Unfortunately, they are only available as Windows-only DRM-protected Windows Media Player clips: hardly what you would want from a public broadcaster. Mac users will have to be satisfied with an excellent new background image.

Critical mass

Critical Mass ride in Gloucester Green

On the way back from my meeting with Dr. Hurrell, I found myself in the middle of a Critical Mass bike ride: a social gathering where a group of cyclists assemble and ride together through an urban area. A recent dinosaur comic discussed it. There is much about the movement to recommend it: it fosters a sense of community and it raises the visibility of a healthy and sustainable form of transport. It also allowed me the opportunity to try bicycle polo, a somewhat precarious game that was played in Gloucester Green, following the conclusion of the ride.

As an advocacy act, critical mass rides involve some of the same questions as other attempts at altering the behaviour of others. Examples would also include those who tout the merits of a religion or lifestyle choice. While nobody appreciates an overzealous approach to acquiring converts, you can hardly feel strongly about the moral superiority of something and not at least gently prod others towards thinking as you do. Excessive deference to pre-existing beliefs – whether political, ethical, or religious – risks fostering a bland and unthinking society.

Mountains on the horizon?

Provided I win one of two ballots, I will be going hiking either in the Lake District or Snowdonia before the term is out. This is with the same excellent student group that arranged the trip to Scotland in July (photos).

I will know how my bid fared by Tuesday. On the off chance that neither was successful, perhaps I will go to Morocco during the Easter break, after all, though probably not by hitchhiking. While the thesis is daunting, there are simply too many excellent travel opportunities here for me to stay cooped up in the few square kilometres of Oxford.