I鈥檝e recently returned from a one-week workshop in Patagonian Argentina, and it鈥檚 been a source of reflection on what it is we do in SERS that seemed well suited to a 鈥淪ERS Story鈥.
The most rewarding and impactful research of my career has been of this kind. When I鈥檓 lucky, I have the privilege to witness moments of transformative transdisciplinarity.
I joined SERS just over two years ago and before I had students to supervise, an office with a window, or a group of co-conspirators with (occasional) late-afternoon thirst, my office was overflowing with waterlogged鈥攑otentially mold-steeped鈥攁ncient wood.
SERS brings together a diverse group of people focused on tackling the profound ecological and social issues confronting humanity. We鈥檙e interested in different kinds of problems, but we all seem to like rolling up our sleeves and getting involved. As a result, we often find ourselves working with or alongside the people experiencing the problems we study, or implementing solutions.
Living beside a cemetery is never boring and, contrary to popular belief, it isn鈥檛 quiet. There are kids taking shortcuts on the walk to school, old married couples strolling and bickering, yappy dogs harassing squirrels, and teenagers 鈥 on dark summer nights 鈥 daring each other to do silly things.