Phil's two cents on blogging

Phil Baran, battling a bottle (Feb. 2013).

        One of my colleagues had this to say about blogs: "Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few…"  I think there are probably only a few exceptions to that in chemistry (Derek Lowe's blog being an example). Over the years I have vaguely followed some of them, mostly through my students or through being occasionally contacted by someone that runs a blog. Practically all of my colleagues roll their eyes the minute the word "blog" is uttered for a variety of largely justified reasons.  But times are clearly changing. I'm not on Facebook, linked in, I don't tweet or chirp, and I don't have time for blogs. I truly don't think I am interesting enough or important that people would care what I think or do every day. And, I barely have time to breathe these days with commitments piling up and a young family.  But, I find my students and postdocs to be incredibly interesting and talented. They are brilliant artists, comedians, and wonderful human beings. On top of that they are deeply passionate about chemistry. And they generally have a lot of free time :) I think the world should know them and their inspiring stories - scientific or otherwise - without having to hide behind a cloak of anonymity with the fear that I might find out they are "one of those bloggers".

        Last year I was at a dinner symposium where EJ Corey gave a brilliant impromptu talk before a toast. It was a captivating speech all about how things have rapidly changed over the span of his 80+ years. The take home message was that change is natural and you can either embrace it and adapt or be left behind. I'm no fortune teller but it is clear to me that blogging is here to stay and is gathering momentum.  The purpose of this blog is to give you a no holds barred, behind the scenes look into our science.

        This blog will, hopefully, be like an open flask.

--Phil