An unimaginably long time ago I had just finished my dissertation and the internet was barely up and running. In my wonder at it’s arrival I happened across a website called “Dissertation as Haiku” and I thought it was the coolest. cleverest thing I had ever seen. It was the brain child of one “Drew Steen” who was stunned to see its success and even drew a mention in the New Yorker! Like the famous revolving ship the “dred Pirate roberts” it has gone through many captains since his original idea. It seemed every discipline was represented. from soil science to molecular biology to neuroimaging. Vastly different complicated original research expressed in a pithy 17 syllablles.

Of course I couldn’t wait to try mine. And of course I waited breathlessly until it was accepted.

This looks like a bat
But “people cooking dinner”
Will get you discharged.

Ahhh I was so proud! Recently I mentioned the challenge to our grad student beaver friend Emily Fairfax that she should do one. Apparently the world has much digitized and fancified since my long ago grad days. There was recently a “twitter” contest along the same lines specifically for the sciences. Emily’s entry about beavers got published! Here let me show you.

Can You Express Your Science in 17 Syllables?

Researchers are taking to Twitter to tell the world about their research through the lines of haiku. Now it’s your turn!

Lines of lyrical lucidity and true confessions of experiments gone awry: what else would a scientific haiku contest bring?

Last week, the AGU Hydrology Section Student Subcommittee challenged scientists traveling to the Fall Meeting this December to explain their research in a single haiku. The format of a haiku—a poem split between three lines, with the first line having five syllables, the second seven, and the third five—dares poets to be brief, descriptive, and profound.

The site lists of several good entries with sound science underpinings. Of course Emily’s is the best, but we’re biased.

Cute Mammals to the Rescue!

Isn’t that wonderful? Congratulations Emily on your successful poetic paraphrase. We should all do beaver Haiku. Right now. Email it to me or put it in the comments and I’ll post them just because. I solicited one from author Ben Goldfarb yesterday in support. He quickly offered this, which is very appropriate for our approaching midterms.

Semiaquatic
Rodents should run the country
They couldn’t do worse!

Ahhh! Nicely done Ben! You are right about that! Now dear reader, what is your beaver haiku? I know you have one.  I was trying to think of mine last night, and this will do for now.

Water-savers all
Nitrogen removal too
They are Worth A Dam.

Speaking of the author, I came across this film of Ben’s talk last month at the West Linn Library. It’s a nice recording of some of Ben’s best writing. And groundhog photo not withstanding – you know who you are –  the filmmaker did a good job putting it together. Enjoy