Dra. Nicole π³οΈβπ
@jazztronomy
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Astrophysicist turned social impact entrepreneur | CEO of Movement Consulting (@wearemvmt) | She/They/Ella | #LatinaInSTEM | I have the best ideas
Catlanta
Joined October 2014
How to Decide Which Grad School to Attend. A Thread.
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STOP ππΌ TELLING ππΌ GRAD ππΌ STUDENTS ππΌ THE ππΌ AVERAGE ππΌ PHD ππΌ TAKES ππΌ FIVE ππΌ YEARS ππΌ.
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interesting how we call it a βtwo-bodyβ problem and not an βacademia doesnβt give a fuck about families and communityβ problem. placing the onus on the academic(s) for being partnered rather than the system for being individualist and inhumane.
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PhD rejections:.University of Hawaii.Harvard.UC Berkeley.UCLA.Columbia. PhD Acceptances:.Georgia State University . And now I have my doctorate π
πΌ.
I love seeing people more open about struggles along the journey. PhD rejections:.UC San Diego.Vanderbilt University.Washington University in St. Louis. PhD Acceptance:.UC Irvine. I used to be embarrassed about this but it really only takes ONE ππΎ and I am thriving β¨.
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Hey STEM academics, it's time for some mutual aid/reparations. #BlackAndSTEM students, drop your venmo/cash app/paypal below so we can support y'all financially ππΌππΌ.
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do yβall know how averages work? for 5 years to be the average it means a significant # of people need to be finishing their PhDs in <5 years. please show me who is out here finishing their PhDs in <5 years in phys/astro. Iβll wait.
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Hey academics tweeting #BLM: commit to abolishing the qualifier exam on y'all's little equity and inclusion statements. An unnecessary gatekeeping tool used to push Black students out of PhD programs in the U.S. Quals are racist, ableist, and classist AF. Get rid of them.
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TFW your husband slips an @insecurehbo quote in your lunchbox ππ.#insecuritea.@HeyFranHey @crissles
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To my irritation, I'm hearing a lot of misrepresentation of imposter phenomenon (widely known as imposter syndrome) so I'm gonna break this down for y'all (a thread).
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I need yβall to realize that there are white men and white women in this field who have passed off POCβs DEI ideas/initiatives as their own and enjoy funding, titles, and accolades while Black women struggle to get research positions for being βtoo politicalβ.
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Tip: ask POC how to pronounce their name. If you canβt get it right, ask if they can write it phonetically. Practice at home until you can do it correctly + without hesitation. POC deserve to own their names with pride, without resorting to a nickname for your convenience.
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I really wish European #astronomers would sit the fuck down when Black Americans are speaking. The "I dOnT gEt CoLoNiZaTiOn oR rAcIsM BeCaUsE I'm FrOm EuRoPe" bit, when y'all colonized half the world. Sir if you don't shut the hell up because literally no one asked you!.
The way that astronomers in these βprofessionalβ FB pages act when presented with something concerning a Black womanβs decision to leave astronomy because of its hostility is telling. Gaslighting galore. Gymnastics π€ΈββοΈ to miss her point. Yβall snitching on ya self! #BlackInAstro
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.@smrtgrls getting my PhD in astronomy and hunting for exoplanets around the world #LikeAGirl
http://t.co/RHdxr2ukoz.
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I got rejected from every grad school I applied to, so my undergrad advisor called GSU and asked them to consider my application (weeks past the deadline). I submitted my application on a Monday, Tuesday they made selections, and Wednesday I got the acceptance.
As PhD admissions start rolling in, I just wanna drop a little encouragement. I got rejected or waitlisted from every program I applied. And of the places I was waitlistedβ¦I ended up getting rejected from all, except one-the institution Iβm at now. It only takes one yes.
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Astro twitter fam: application season is upon us! Please reply to this tweet If:. - You want to volunteer to read astronomy students' applications.- You're a marginalized student in astronomy who would like to be supported. Please RT far and wide β€οΈ.
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my lyft driver is a white dude who came to Hawaii on vacation in 93 and never left, and his take on TMT is that the site does not belong to Native Hawaiian people because they βlost the war.β I hate everything.
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I was at the #AtlantaProtest (donβt yβall dare call it a riot) and I am LIVID about the way the news is reporting on this shit right now.
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Also: there are only 16 Black women in Physics faculty jobs in the US. Yes, you read that correctly. SIXTEEN. And 11 Latinas. #BlackandSTEM #WOCinSTEM.
There's less than 200 black women that hold PhD's in physics/physics related fields in the US. How can we continue to support black women that want to pursue their dreams? How can we hold people in positions of power accountable for pushing many black women out of the field?.
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A qualitative study on Black and Brown people who have been pushed out of STEM by their PhD programs.
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Iβve heard too many faculty say that pursuing a PhD without plans for an academic career is a βwasteβ of *everyoneβs* time. Yβall crunch the numbers and let me know how they plan to give all these astro phds a tenure track position. Iβll wait.
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The Imposter cycle:.1. feelings of incompetence --> avoidance --> anxiety + rush job --> believing success can only be accomplished thru tormented process.OR.2. feelings of incompetence --> overwork/overprepare --> believing success can only be accomplished thru tormented process.
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Professors who are out here swearing up and down that some people are just βnot cut outβ for science THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES FROM YOU to ensure their success. so the question isnβt are they good enough, but are YOU.#marginsci
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no matter what your reasons are or how "illogical" they may seem to others, you are the only person who will have to live with this decision. seek counsel, talk to people, weigh your options. but what I tell all my students: no matter what you decide, I will support you.
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maybe you would secretly pass up that ivy league school so you can be closer to your family. maybe you need to go with the highest stipend so you can send part of it home every month. maybe you want to live in a coastal town because it reminds you of your home country.
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divorce day is today. itβs been a 2 year process and though Iβve grieved and built a new life itβs still hitting deep. itβs hard to explain the nuances of this experience. itβs mourning the death of my old self while ushering in a bright future. light a candle for me yβall.
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Erin Flowers: "Unless you are paying them, DON'T expect your Black students to educate you [about racism]. YOU are the paid faculty member here. You can look it up. Learn to do better on your own.". #AAS237.
Next up, we're covering Special Session 107:.The CSMA Panel: A Discussion on Anti-Blackness in Astronomy. Featuring @That_Astro_Chic @CapricePhillips @DavidZegeye and Erin Flowers, and moderated by @jazztronomy
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STOP pretending that IP can be overcome and success won with nothing but hard work and a lean-in, go-getter, can-do attitude. STOP pretending that privilege contributes nothing to success. That is WHITE NONSENSE. It is a **false meritocracy**.
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do not worry about what school looks best on paper. don't fret about what school is the most prestigious. don't listen too long to what your advisor or your parents or your mentors want for you.
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literally no one: .not a single person on earth:.my mom to the person bagging our groceries: my daughter is a trained astronaut
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whatever you decide, you will have to live with that decision for the next 5-7+ years. you will have to learn from those professors, live in that city, and work with those colleagues. you will have to earn that salary, deal with that health insurance, & pay those university fees.
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STOP telling people of marginalized identities that IP is a choice. STOP telling people of marginalized identities that their IP is their own fault. STOP ignoring that toxic and discriminatory environments play a significant role.
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itβs bittersweet knowing that Slepian and I received our PhDs in the same year, yet he is still in astro and I had to leave because of how toxic it was.
The saddest part about this story is that the said professor is so young & got his PhD only in 2016!! π²π². And apparently, a @Princeton - @Harvard education doesn't teach you How To Be a Good Human Being 101. Why am I not surprised?.
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I didnβt want to publicly announce this until I had the chance to communicate directly with the IA2 committee, but I declined the invitation to participate (I was not selected as a speaker).
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Congratulations @NSFGRFP awardees! Something to consider: the cost of education allowance (ie the extra $12k or so) can go directly to you for travel, equipment, computers, etc. Check with your uni about their policy. Faculty, advocate for students to get this instead of the uni.
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literally the biggest tragedy of the shit I lived through in grad school is that I lost my passion for astronomy.
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Students of color in Phys/Astro: Iβve gathered several volunteers to read grad school/fellowship applications. If youβd like to get feedback please reply to this thread! Big thanks to @BGG2gradschool for the inspiration. cc: @VanguardSTEM #marginsci.
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The @AAS_CSMA Micro-grants program grants $500 to BIPOC undergrads applying to grad programs in astro/physics. Applications now open until Oct 13. Please spread the word!. More info here:.
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1. if the school that has extended an offer invites you to visit, GO. being there in person is the best way to gauge the vibe. talk to other students (especially other #MarginSCI) one on one and ask them to be honest about their experiences.
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What Imposter Phenomenon IS:. 1. A lack of ability to internalize your own accomplishments.2. FULL OF CONTEXT.
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What Imposter Phenomenon (Syndrome) is NOT:. 1. Humble bragging.2. An "inexplicable" lack of confidence.3. Something that you "allow others to make you feel".4. Something you can "cure" by simply "not letting things bother you".5. Devoid of context.
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the most important piece of advice I can give you is this: you know yourself better than any of us looking out for you. you have it everything you need in your spectacular hearts and minds to make the perfect decision for you.
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10. ASK ABOUT THE QUALIFIER EXAM. is the exam written? oral? is there a research component? is it based only on classes? are you required to take all the classes to prepare? how many chances do you get to pass? how is it graded? how many people have failed out of the program?.
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Just a PSA that mansplaining journalism to a Black woman whoβs been interviewed myriad times without any understanding of the situation is rooted in anti-Blackness and misogynoir ππ *Especially* bc you chose to use this as a βteachingβ moment rather than engage her directly.
Just a PSA that journalists often canβt include all the people we talked to, mostly because of space, narrative arc, and many other factors that we canβt even control. We can never guarantee we will quote you, but we will always appreciate your time and insight.
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I tell every student: keep a time stamped journal of every single incident that makes you uncomfortable (evernote is great for this). it will help you catch patterns of behavior and in the event you need/want to report, can be used as evidence.
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@astrochicana one of the students at a school I visited was like, they have all these programs for women in STEM and not one program telling men in STEM how to act.
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thank you @astrobites for covering such an important topic in a field that cowardly refuses to even acknowledge this genocide #FreePalestine.
From @astrobites: The genocide in Gaza demands our attention and our action. As astronomers and members of the global scientific community, we cannot ignore the immense suffering and devastation inflicted upon our colleagues.
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Almost exactly one year after defending my PhD, I finally get to speak publicly about my experiences in grad school (Thread).
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I'm so freaking proud of my sister @That_Astro_Chic for everything you do, everything you've accomplished, and just for who you are. By simply being yourself you have impacted SO many people. I never stop learning from you. You are a light in this world!.
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some of yβall white academics in astronomy who claim to be βalliesβ (whatever tf that means) are nothing but wolves in sheepβs clothing and WORSE. the way yβall treat Black people in this field is DISGUSTING.
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9. ask about funding! is your grad stipend guaranteed? what are the conditions? will it be tied to teaching or research? will it be tied to whether your advisor has funding for you or not? does the dept provide support for applying to outside fellowships?.
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6. pay attention to red flags. do the students seem generally happy? are you only hearing from privileged students? do some students seem more isolated?.
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5. ask students about the typical workload and faculty attitudes toward work hours and vacation time. ask professors too, but be aware that they may not be totally honest and in some cases may even outright deceive students about their expectations.
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4. ask other students about department attitudes to careers beyond the academy. are they supportive of students participating in professional development such as workshops, classes, and conferences outside the field?.
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2. ask the faculty about their equity and inclusion efforts. do they have an E&I committee? do they have a strategy for recruiting and retaining students like you? are they familiar with the literature on #MarginSci?.
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I just want to say a big hearty FU to all the astronomers showing their asses & coming out of the woodwork to drag the junior women of color who came out in support of #ProtectMaunaKea. Yβall grown ass people are just pissed that you canβt have everything u want. Iβm tired.
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attention students making decisions about grad school: @GradShopper has a list of phys/astro grad programs in the US with info about stipends, healthcare, department culture, and much more! s/o to @_scientistsarah for sharing this amazing resource ππ½.
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Many of my brilliant #MarginSci students are starting to get accepted to their top grad schools because OF COURSE. they are geniuses.
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look at what @That_Astro_Chicβs #BlackInAstro week movement has sparked! and all across #STEM fields. a LEGEND.
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Thread: In the aftermath of issues that came to light about #InclusiveAstro2, many marginalized people in the astronomy community have been having conversations about the need for a community-organized conference. Not about diversity or inclusion, but rather #astronomyforjustice.
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Yesterday I submitted my final dissertation doc. I've never felt so conflicted about anything, happy it's over, angry over my lost potential
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@letminn0w @TheRealBDabney yes but yβall do a masters separately. in the US the PhD includes a masters.
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Iβm at the Diversification In Astronomy & Astrophysics At NASA session at #AAS240 by @Dr_Gamble21. Come join!
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3. ask faculty and students about the support structure in the department. is there help available for finding housing? can the department fund you to attend conferences like SACNAS and NSBP? is there a mentoring program?.
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the qual is important, so I'm gonna stay here for a second. there are some departments that use the qualifier as a way to "weed out" students. this means they accept more students than they think will make it to the phd, then have a cutoff score for the qual.
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When it comes to measuring imposter phenomenon (IP), it turns out that **context matters.** For instance, while 70% of people experience IP at some point in their lives, being the minority in a group means you are more prone to IP.
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7. ask the senior grad students how many other #marginsci there have been around in recent memory. are you the first? faculty will not volunteer this information and it will be extremely relevant.
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most departments with smaller cohorts don't do this, and they expect everyone to pass. but I've still seen students get pushed out of their program, by being discouraged to retake the qualifier after they did not pass the first time for example. stay away from those departments.
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as a trained astronomer I know Iβm not supposed to say this, but I actually love astrology. I think itβs one among many cool ways to understand ourselves. I donβt think itβs harmful, and a lot of our ancestral roots are in astrology, brujeria, etc.
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a serious double standard in white supremacy culture: creating a system where awards and recognition legitimize you, and then judging Black women for using those very same tools for survival.
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12. if you are 100% sure about the research you want to do, interview your potential advisors. ask them about their mentoring style, how they prefer to give and receive feedback, and what they expect from their students, including work hours and vacation time. .
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I think my biggest accidental accomplishment is becoming the voice in my studentsβ heads telling them to choose self care over work. I have many independent accounts of this! ya girl is a self care Morgan Freeman.
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13. even if you're 100% sure about your research topic, BE OPEN to changing your mind. in my opinion, your relationship with your advisor is just as if not more important than the science. it can make or break your career, and you want to be sure you'll be supported.
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one last thing: sadly, no one school will live up to all these very reasonable expectations. but these questions are tools for comparison, and it's good to know what you're getting into so you can plan accordingly.
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and no one, not even your most beloved family member or your most trusted confidante, can know what would be best for you.
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8. during your visit, speak to some affinity groups on campus such as Out in STEM, Black Student Association, and the Disability office. is there room for grad students to participate?.
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not surprised bc not only do they work hard and have unique perspectives, but they are KILLING the research game and are some of the best presenters I've ever seen. ON TOP OF THAT they wanna give back to their communities & care about equity and inclusion in STEM.
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There has NEVER been an astronomy department at an HBCU.
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The AAS CSMA will host a town hall on Wednesday to discuss how the astronomy community can support Black astronomers. Black folks will have a separate breakout room to decompress. Register with your institutional email here:Β
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11. scope out the location and determine if it's right for you. if you're naturey, is there nature? is it close enough to your loved ones? do you have/could you form a support system there? can you imagine yourself living there for half a decade or more?.
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βThere are 25 times more white women than Black women with physics bachelorβsβwhile white women hold only 6 times more bachelorβs degrees in any subject than Black women.β.
Todayβs post for #BlackInAstro week looks at the underrepresentation of Black women in astronomy and physics, and summarizes two papers on their lived experiences in the field.
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Non-Black astronomers read this allllllll the way through. And if youβre a white astronomy professor and you want to work on becoming a better advisor and mentor to marginalized astronomers, DM me .#BlackInAstro.
We at Astrobites believe that BlackLivesMatter. Come learn with us about ways to make astronomy more anti-racist!
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I should raise my rates!.
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I just wanted to get on this bird app to say that I wrote a poem to myself last night. Iβve never written to myself before, only to my lovers. This is a big deal. We can give ourselves love and romance yβall.
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my baby is defending her PhD right now and is doing a phenomenal job ππ Iβm so proud of you @GoAstroMo!!!.
My thesis defense includes a free PUBLIC TALK about my research, which tries to understand where in the Milky Way galaxy life might be most likely to form π½π«. That talk starts next Tuesday, April 6th at 1:30pm ET and you can watch it at this link: !
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my sincerest hope is that we abolish the qualifier exam.
Academic Twitter: We came for the GRE. Can we do application fees next?.
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Watch this video and like this tweet if you think @jimmyfallon should invite me, an actual astrophysicist, onto @FallonTonight to teach him about space
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sending everyone a lot of love and light today. hug your friends tight and let them know how much you love them.
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My #EWASS2019 talk Collective Counterspaces: Reimagining Mentoring Mentoring and Pedagogy in Astronomy was very well received! We had an important discussion about how European astronomy must be decolonized.
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. is there a nearby airport? are flights to your home city affordable? do they have your favorite things (hiking/surfing/rock climbing/underwater hockey)? do you have access to food or restaurants from your country of origin? do u have access to people from your place of origin?.
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is there a committee of faculty that will review your qual? do you get to choose it? if there is an oral exam, how do the students who have taken it recall feeling about it? i.e. did it feel like a humiliating experience? did the questions seem fair?.
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the date of the exam is also important! does it happen in the middle of a semester when you're also expected to take a full load of classes, teach, and do research? if so, that shows poor regard for students' well being and mental health.
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