I still remember with vivd clarity the day many years ago that a senior graduate student asked me the question "Do you know how to use awk?". My embarrassed response, identical to what felt like a thousand previous questions concerning my knowledge of the scientific world during that first semester of graduate school, was a heavy-hearted "No". Luckily for me, I've managed to put several thousands of miles between myself and that naive, unknowing version of myself and can know happily shout from the rooftops - "Yes! And I LOVE it!".
Read MoreTwo words - ACTIVE SOURCE! I have (temporarily) fled the realm of passive source seismology for the exciting land of active source seismology. What's active source seismology you ask? Good question - let's get into it.
Read MoreSo you want to make a map ... a pretty map, a useful map, a map that helps people understand your data. Where do you go? Matlab? Python? ArcGIS? All of these platforms have pros and cons (ok, Matlab's plotting pros are pretty slim but it'll get the job done) but for me there is no comparison with the hardcore, no frills utility aptly named "Generic Mapping Tools".
Read MoreInspired by the Art of Data Visualization workshop hosted by Columbia University I decided to take another stab at preparing videos of data rather than just stationary figures. Previous attempts at making figures natively within Matlab had gotten nowhere (vague instructions can be found here and meandering forums on the topic here). Nevertheless, rejuvenated by the first warm days of Spring in NYC and two large coffees before 9am I set out on another attempt. And this time it worked!
Read MoreIn the last month I have been captivated by the new OBS data we received! In case you haven't been paying attention (or more likely I have been lapse in my blog updates), we have been patiently waiting to receive the data from our enigmatic, unique, miraculous "lake" bottom seismometers that were bravely retrieved from the depths of Lake Malawi in November of 2015.
Read MoreEvery year scientists and students alike come together to show off their finest scientific figures at the annual Research as Art (RaA) event. This event DEMANDS that you dig back into the archives and drag out your most beautiful, amazing, jaw-dropping figures or, at least in my case, the stumbled upon beauty hiding in your closet of routinely generated quality control figures.
Read MoreWhat song's inspire you during times of stress or change? For me, in the wee hours of the morning in the middle of Lake Malawi, there was only one answer : BEYONCE.
Read MoreI first heard about the linux screen command from my amazing friend who is an all together linux genius and she sent me this site (what an amazing name!). I used the screen command a few times before completely forgetting about it as we only tend to master skills when we use them repeatedly.
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