Tag Archives: reviewing

December 5, 2011, 5:44 pm

Academia vs. Roller Derby

Thanks, http://fuckyeahrollerderbyotter.tumblr.com/!

Roller derby! It seems to be everywhere these days, and I couldn’t be happier. Derby 101 has begun at my local league, and I am learning to skate (in between all the times I fall down). I’ve started noticing some important ways in which academia and roller derby are similar — and ways in which they are really, really, different.

SIMILAR:

1. You’ll fall on your ass. A lot. And you just have to keep getting up over and over again. In academia, it’s metaphorical, but it still hurts.

2. Perseverance is much more important than innate talent. In academia, it’s been noted by many people that finishing your Ph.D. is more a reflection of your ability to keep at something until you finish it, and less a reflection of your intelligence. In roller derby,…

November 8, 2010, 3:25 pm

Grant-reviewing peeve

By Minerva Cheevy

Every year I review grant proposals for a private foundation which once gave me money. Aside from the usual writing problems, there is one particular problem I see over and over and it drives me crazy. Dear grant proposers, here is a little rule of thumb that I hope you will find helpful:

DON’T CALL YOUR RESEARCH METHOD “CUTTING EDGE” OR “NEW” IF IT IS OVER 10 YEARS OLD.

Seriously.