genegeek

Me: in front of high school class

Hello. I love DNA and molecular genetics. This is my first blog so please be patient while I work out the kinks.

I’m not a good bench scientist – or cook. I’m the one who would spill phenol (yep, on a Sat night) or set my hair on fire (did that too). I think the scientific world breathed a collective sigh of relief when I hung up my labcoat.

Now, I spend my time teaching in academia and the ‘real world’. I explain genetics & biological mechanisms to medical students in BC but most of my time is spent with other audiences. I run an outreach program to help people understand the concepts but also to get excited about science. My purpose is not to make others think like me but I want us to have the same starting point for discussion (mutation means X, theory means Y, etc.). When I create new activities, I want the participant to explore and think about the ideas, not just find the right answer. I believe that science is a process not a test of memorization.

I’ve started this blog to continue the goals of communication, popularization and education of science (as BoraZ so nicely described here).

Science Information

My name is Catherine Anderson and I finished my PhD in 2002. I studied epigenetic marks on the inactive X chromosome. For my PostDoc, I looked at connections between confined placenta mosaicism and pre-eclampsia. I have recently been studying pedometers in the classroom and aspects of online discussion in medical school and whether informal science programs impact attitudes towards science.

Contact me

Please comment on this blog or email me at genegeek.ca at gmail. You can also follow me on twitter: @genegeek.

One more thing: The opinions on this blog are mine and do not represent the views or opinions of my employers or collaborators.