Field Notes on Science and Nature

So, I wanted to draw your attention to a new book called Field Notes on Science and Nature, just published by Harvard University Press.  The book is the result of several years of work by Michael Canfield, who is not only a personal friend from graduate school, but also a really smart and genuinely nice guy.

The book is an exploration of the similarities and differences in how laboratory and field scientists collect and use notes.  It includes excerpts from the notes of a range of researchers, along with essays about how they use those notes.  I haven’t seen the actual book yet, but the website promises a lot of cool eye candy, like this

and this

Although the book has already been printed, Mike is interested in continuing to explore these issues on the web. He is particularly interested in questions of how current grad students and researchers navigate between pen-and-paper notes and other types of technology.

If you or someone you know (a student, a colleague, a frenemy, etc.) might be willing to share some of your notes and experience, you (or they) should drop Mike an e-mail (canfield@fas.harvard.edu) and join in the conversation.

And finally: congratulations, Mike!  I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of the book!