2013 Essays

Prepping for the field as a PI – no longer just equipment

Drew, Joshua Adam

Despite what some people at Forbes may think (and no, I’m not going to link to that particular article), summer time for professors is not all margaritas and six-week vacations*. Rather, for many of us who have primarily teaching appointments summer is the time to get research done. Case in point, the Drew lab (well most of us anyway) are headed to Fiji in just under a month and there is a LOT of work to get done. Preparing for an expedition has always been one of my favorite parts of the trip. I love buying equipment, packing it up, and perhaps making internal references to that scene from Commando (except you know, with less automatic weapons). My office is getting crowded with dive gear, duffle bags, plug adaptors, and label makers.