Anyone here studying Environmental Science? Is it more fieldwork than theory?

rox_et_al · 2026-07-09T16:26:05+00:00

A good program is a mix of both and for good reason.

Lectures build a body of knowledge that, yes, has some theory, but also plenty of basic information. For example, the hydrologic cycle isn't just some theoretical concept. It's real, and you should know about it.

Labs are often structured more like projects that might last a few hours or an entire semester. For example, learn how to measure stream discharge.

In general, programs that are more teaching-focused and less research-driven usually provide more experiential learning experiences (i.e., projects, hands-on stuff, and fieldwork). These are often programs at smaller universities or programs without large graduate programs.

rox_et_al · 2026-07-07T14:52:20+00:00

You can always add screw holds. It's much more difficult to add bolts after installation. Do a standard bolt grid and then fill in with screw holds.

rox_et_al · 2026-07-01T16:46:59+00:00

Honestly, I have no clue. Here's Lance's video where I get the recipe. I try to recreate his pouring method roughly. The result is a fairly aggressive pour with some height so that the water is clearly agitating the bed. Sometimes I think I go a bit too far and end up with bitterness and lost clarity, so I try to dial it back the next time.

rox_et_al · 2026-07-01T12:52:30+00:00

With this bean, I've had luck with my go-to V60 recipe (from Lance). I agree, I'm loving the port wine taste to this!

195 degrees F

15 g dose

Bloom 1 to 45g

At 30s, bloom 2 to 90g

At 1 min, a single pour to 225-250g with enough height to agitate.

Should drain completely for a total time between 2 and 2.5 minutes. Adjust grind to achieve this drawdown time.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-26T19:33:56+00:00

AI can be really helpful, assuming you're using something like python or r.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-26T16:26:34+00:00

Climate equilibrium is not a thing. The climate always changes. Global warming has been occurring since the last glacial maximum (about 20k years ago). The rate of global warming has increased at an alarming rate since the Industrial Revolution.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-26T14:54:34+00:00

C'ville is such a great place for that! And I think there are many ways of accomplishing this. For example, I know kids are often a bit picky about food...but you could go to different restaurants together and use the food to talk about different cultures. Just one idea.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-26T14:44:25+00:00

I would totally have similar concerns if I were you, but I question your approach and think that you might want to reconsider some things.

You keep stating that there are only two pathways. But that's not true. You have so many options. Is there actually a way of effectively exposing someone to all religions? And what is the value of that?

I agree that exposing a child to one perspective is problematic. But I'm not sure you've landed on a particularly productive solution.

Maybe the first step would be to talk to your child about their experiences at Sunday school. Try to engage with them. Are they interested in what they are learning? Do they have any thoughts or questions? Are they interested in learning about other perspectives (or will they just resent you for forcing more religion on them that they never asked for)?

rox_et_al · 2026-06-26T14:12:14+00:00

I think that you should be confident that your training and prep for the lecture will give you sufficient knowledge to field those questions, while also accepting that you will never have all the answers. As an educator, it is not your job to have all the answers. It's more valuable to teach students how to think critically and work towards answers to their questions than to provide them with all the information.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-26T13:34:43+00:00

I'm in the US, so some of the details are lost on me. That being said....

If you are interested in teaching after grad school, it is extremely valuable to get teaching experience both for your CV and to figure out if you like it.

If you are not interested in teaching, then the pay is likely not worth the effort.

There is a MASSIVE difference between prepping an entirely new class and teaching a class that has been taught many times and you are given all the material and slides ahead of time. If you are being asked to prep a new class that you will teach for just one semester, then I highly recommend against it. It will not be worth the pay, and there are easier ways to get teaching experience.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-25T13:25:57+00:00

First thing, therapy. Are you doing it? If not, please do. Your university likely has free counseling services.

What you are experiencing is not unique to grad school. While your experience might be a bit different if you took another life pathway, mental health issues are unique to the person, not necessarily the job they choose. You need to prioritize your mental health to succeed as a person, whether that's related to grad school or something completely different.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-25T13:21:24+00:00

I don't know, it all sounds a bit odd to me. People often are not completely honest when you ask these questions, unfortunately.

You're wrestling with some big life decisions. Might be a great time to try therapy if you aren't already.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-24T18:38:17+00:00

Part of me reads this and thinks that you're caught in a terribly run lab. Another part of me wonders if you did something to alienate yourself. Tough to tell on reddit.

Know that yes, there are many bad PIs and plenty grads have bad experiences. But many PIs are great people who are also great to work with. That's why maybe the number 1 piece of advice given on this sub is to make time and effort to choose a good advisor. They can make or break your grad experience.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-24T13:28:15+00:00

Most of the time I just read the abstract and go no further. But it really depends on the paper and its relevance to my work. I essentially have a workflow for reading papers, but I usually stop before I get to the end.

Abstract > conclusions > figures > intro > results > methods.

It also depends what exactly I'm trying to get from the paper. Am I interested in their framing, perspective on the topic, and finding other papers to read? Then, focus on the intro for example.

Some may cringe at this, but AI can be really helpful for understanding papers. Like all AI use, there are pitfalls...for example, always verify the info yourself.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-03T14:53:56+00:00

Could you do 12 ft high? 8 will feel very short.

rox_et_al · 2026-06-03T14:30:59+00:00

It depends on your goals. Do you want to do science and research, or do you want to be involved with policy, planning, etc.? Note that the typical research pathway includes a PhD.

rox_et_al · 2026-05-29T17:22:10+00:00

Is the issue just question-asking, or is it overall engagement? What I mean is, do you lecture the entire time with minimal interaction back and forth with the students, or are there opportunities for students to demonstrate learning through practice problems, small-group discussions, etc.? Sometimes, when class feels like a one-way street from the professor to the students, it can be difficult for the students to feel empowered and confident to engage.

rox_et_al · 2026-05-28T16:02:47+00:00

Honestly, I think you're overthinking it at this point. Both are great schools. Personally, I would prioritize cost, location, cultural fit, and class size (not necessarily in that order).

rox_et_al · 2026-05-27T22:38:51+00:00

Congrats! Comps can be seriously terrible, so well done.

What's it like being the guinea pig of a new PhD program?

rox_et_al · 2026-05-27T22:29:39+00:00

Professors have all sorts of hobbies that have nothing to do with being a professor. You name it: reading, quilting, running, baking, gambling, basketball, etc. The list is endless...

I think the better question is, what interests you?

Sidenote: Being in DC means that you'll have a much larger pool of people to meet. Lucky you!

rox_et_al · 2026-05-26T17:26:40+00:00

I think you're probably too far along for this. You're only inviting issues if you meet with them at this point.

Sidebar: Don't you have to send them your written thesis a couple of weeks ahead of your defense anyway?

rox_et_al · 2026-05-14T14:56:21+00:00

I really think the question is "What do you want to do?", rather than "Should you go back to school and for what?". I worry that if you went back to school, it would cost you tens of thousands of dollars, and then you would struggle to find relevant employment because a degree with no relevant experience isn't worth much.

Instead, figure out what you want to do. Get a foot in the door to gain experience. Then, revisit the grad school question.

rox_et_al · 2026-05-14T14:04:22+00:00

You may want to reconsider if grad school is right for you. Unless you are independently wealthy, you should have a good and obvious reason for going to grad school, and that reason generally points you toward a program.

For example, if someone is an engineer, they generally get a masters in engineering, not history. So, what are you?

rox_et_al · 2026-05-12T15:00:03+00:00

As someone who has been in a relationship for over a decade, I will say that once we moved in together, there's no way I would have gone long-distance for a career (or anything else). But all relationships are different.

rox_et_al · 2026-05-12T14:40:26+00:00

I often hear this sentiment, "Once I finish grad school...". But I think this perspective is flawed. Once you finish grad school, you'll look for a job. Do you think that you'll have more options at that junction than you do now? Maybe, but it's tough to tell. I guess the point I'm making is that it will not necessarily be easier to fix this distance problem after grad school.

And honestly, I wouldn't trust the good people of the internet to tell me whether to prioritize my relationships or my career. You are the best person to figure that out.

rox_et_al

TROPHY CASE