The Art and Science of Luggage

Hello World!

I have been thinking a lot about luggage lately. I am fortunate to travel and in my last big trip, found that I had used all 9 lives of my luggage (if it were a cat). It had served me well, but years (decades) of overstuffing and traveling over 100,000 miles had brought it to its last days (my dainties on display on the conveyer belt also contributed to the decision to find new luggage). So new luggage I sought, and so much more did I find!

my pretty new luggage 

The decision to get new luggage of course made me think about the science of luggage, the difference between luggage and baggage, and many other topics that came up as I pursued this concept and product. To start, baggage indeed has the emotional component of something that weighs one down, where as luggage, while no different in definition, does not have this association. Luggage contains more concepts of freedom, luxury, and adventure.

I learned some of the history of luggage in this process, finding that it has reflected society and the people in it throughout the ages, mirroring advancements in transportation, often because of advancements in transportation. Trunks were the first form of luggage, used on steamships, and usually by the wealthy. As times changed and more people could travel, luggage did too. The first wheeled luggage to catch on was patented in 1970 (the concept was presented in 1887 and 1945, it is believed the Knights Templar first made use of wheeled luggage long before. See the below links for more history!)

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-humble-suitcase-180951376/

https://www.travelandleisure.com/style/travel-bags/history-of-suitcase

Luggage holds more than our clothes and our toiletries, it holds our dreams, our hopes, our memories. To me, I wanted luggage that would be modern in utility but classic in design, something like Audrey Hepburn would use, but with out the need for staff to carry it for me. I am certain I've mentioned my love of all things functional art before, and I found that in Steamline Luggage https://www.steamlineluggage.com (it is amazing what you can find when you look. Dog friendly Red carpet walking classes? Yes that too).

I love that the company is run by women, women working together and creating something beautiful and useful. I was very impressed by the customer service, the useful modern touches, such as straps to attach the smaller pieces, the whimsical patterns inside the luggage, and importantly, the environmentally conscious way in which it was created. I imagine how much delight I will take in opening up the luggage to find treasures from my travels (and knowing that no animals were harmed in the process of making it). I admit, I feel glamorous carrying this around. Science has always been glamorous to me. It was nice to find something that marries art, science, beauty, and engineering (my favorite things).

Shirt, shoes, a book, and some lipstick, let's go!

I wanted to know more about the science of suitcases and of course, I found physics! Specifically,

"a rolling suitcase couples two kinds of motion -- when the wheels of the suitcase rotate, the bulk of the suitcase "translates," or moves in the same direction without rotating. The unstable way in which a rolling suitcase can behave represents an intersection of rotational and translational motion".

What was exciting to me is:

"It is a very extensive study, covering experiments and theory, on a problem experienced daily by anyone who carried a luggage," said physicist François Petrelis at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, who did not take part in this research. "It shows that many problems, even of daily interest, are still waiting for a solution. Young students sometimes have the feeling that most progress was made a long time ago. This may be true in some domains of physics, but in most domains there are many problems that are still unsolved." 

This illustrates why I started this blog to an extent- Science really is in everything, and students are the future problem solvers who will bring these ideas to life. 

 https://www.insidescience.org/news/solving-riddle-why-rolling-luggage-wobbles

The future holds even more innovations for luggage as GPS, autonomy, charging and more are embedded into its creation. There is so much opportunity, to look to the past for inspiration, while incorporating the future for present day use. It is exciting to think about. 

 https://www.popsci.com/smart-luggage-may-check-itself-follow-you-around/

Luggage is so much more than a vessel for moving things from one point to another. It is physics, art, history, humanity. It is reflective of who we are, and where we we are going. Where will you travel? What dreams will you take? What memories will you create? How fabulous will you be on the journey?

May your adventures be fashionable, fun, and full of STEM!

:)

Phubbing

Hello World!
I hope you are well and that you are not phubbing. What is phubbing? It is essentially choosing to interact with your phone in the presence of another person, instead of that person. We have all done it. We have all had it done to us. It is not just annoying, but research (yay Science!) shows that it is harmful.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phubbing

https://time.com/5216853/what-is-phubbing/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jasp.12506

It is ironic how something meant to connect us can make us feel more isolated.

It is also an example of careers in science! Love technology? Interested in Behavior? You can combine those in the study of human systems integration, human factors, or human machine interface studies. You can read a wide variety of interesting articles detailing the interaction between humans and computers- from our buying influences to our reward mechanisms to our feelings of inadequacy when we check in on social media too often.  https://www.journals.elsevier.com/computers-in-human-behavior

It isn't all bad of course, there are positive outcomes as well, from improving the physical interaction elements (making things easier and more enjoyable to use, read, comprehend, hear, etc.) to the creation of something beautiful and useful, there are plenty of things to be studied, learned, understood, and applied! https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01449290500330331

I hope you have a wonderful phub free day!

:)

the Apple of my eye

Hello World!
Today I gave a lecture on how to start STEM programs as a past mentor in the TechWomen program.  It was so much fun to reach women around the world. I am truly grateful to be apart of this group. I will share the material in future posts. Today, I will talk about apples. The other weekend I went apple picking!

It was so much fun being out in nature, connecting to the present and the past. I grew up with a tradition of going to a place called Apple Hill. Apples, ciders, pies, donuts, shakes, dumplings, you name it, Apple Hill has it all. But I never went actually apple picking. That seems to be more the thing where I live now.  I honestly wondered if my interest was due to the perfect autumn instagram pics displayed in articles all over the internet or some other reason. Was it good for the environment or was I contributing to agritourism in the worst way? And of course, what is the Science of apples??

I did a little research and found the following!

Apple Facts- such as there are 7,500 varieties of apples grown around the world (how about them apples) https://web.extension.illinois.edu/apples/facts.cfm

Apple picking is good for brain and body as you connect with others and get out in nature. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/minding-the-body/201409/five-healthy-science-y-reasons-go-apple-picking and https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/5-science-backed-reasons-go-apple-picking-weekend-ncna803591

The importance of recognizing where our apples come from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-work-is-like-for-apple-pickers-180957056/

Robots that vacuum apples off the tree, potentially upsetting the apple cart so to speak https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-an-apple-picking-robot-means-for-the-future-of-farm-workers/

Specifics about the robotics of apple picking https://www.geekwire.com/2019/apple-picking-robots-gear-u-s-debut-washington-state/ (So much STEM in this article!)

The history of apple picking https://timeline.com/apple-picking-tradition-fc6b3879bd81

And even some art!

https://usdawatercolors.nal.usda.gov/pom/home.xhtml

If you want to study apples, you'd go into pomology. which is

"Pomology (from latin pomum (fruit) + -logy) is a branch of botany that studies and cultivates fruit. The denomination fruticulture—introduced from Romance languages (from Latin fructus and cultura)—is also used. ... One involved in the science of pomology is called a pomologist."

If you went into this field, you might work on genetics, computational science, biochemistry or more.

Apples are cross bred, so that a sweet but mushy apple and a crisp but not sweet apple become a sweet and crisp apple... how crazy is that? I really had no idea that apples could be so complicated. 

So there you have it! I greatly enjoyed both apple picking and learning more about apples in general. If you are able, I encourage you to do so too!

:)

Jay Leno's Garage

Hello World!
So I love cars. I find (some of) then to be functional art. Engineering at its finest. Beautiful and useful. One of my favorite shows is Jay Leno's Garage.  https://www.nbc.com/jay-lenos-garage He showcases his collection of moving art yes, but he always highlights women, diverse people, different cultures, the science and engineering behind the cars. It is an inclusive and educational show! The latest episode was all about innovation, which is another one of my favorite topics. I hope you will check it out! The picture below is my dog, in a real race car, driven by an innovative Nigerian American Jesse Iwuji https://www.jesseiwuji.com Jesse took the picture and captioned it, it is one of my favorites! Cars are cultural, STEM, and just plain fun!

:)

You Are Invited!

Hello World!

You are invited to support girls in STEM! My colleague from the Women's Alliance for Knowledge Exchange is hosting this cool event. She is the founder of https://www.scientificadventures.org
It is a great organization and I encourage you to check it out!

:)

Inspiration from a hair salon or hair today gone tomorrow

Hello World!

I was getting my hair done the other day and saw this inspiring quote

It is true that our appearance can influence perception from others, but also perception of ourselves.

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/researchers-few-bad-hair-days-can-change-your-life


https://perception.org/goodhair/results/ and https://perception.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TheGood-HairStudyFindingsReport.pdf


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5177627/

These research articles show, from our own hair to hair that is not the norm of some societies- it makes an impact. I think hair that makes you feel like your best self is as diverse as the women who wear a given style, and I am glad we don't all look the same. I know hair is ultimately here today and gone tomorrow, but it does make an impact, whether we want to admit it or not. Straight, curly, wavy, or not there at all, I hope we can embrace our hair, our heads, and ourselves to be confident and change the world.

:)

Museum of Design

Hello World,
For this post I am excited to share some images I took at the Museum of Design in New York City.
What makes these images so exciting? Simply put, I saw the future. I saw where we are headed next. And I saw that women are leading the way. Creating new fabric out of algae, 3D printing dresses, explaining color and pattern (my favorite), using environmentally conscious dyes (bacteria!) for clothing, mimicking biology, and more. You can learn more here http://www.cooperhewitt.org
and here https://www.cooperhewitt.org/events/current-exhibitions/

I think our future looks pretty bright (figuratively And literally)!

:)

Queens of Egypt

Hello World,
I was at the very cool National Geographic Museum the other day visiting the Queens of Egypt Exhibit. http://www.nationalgeographic.org/events/exhibition/queens-egypt/

I learned about the many Queens that reigned and what their influence was, from peace and prosperity to education and equity. It was very encouraging and enlightening to see that women, though we may not always get the credit initially, changed the world positively and made a difference. You can learn more here about the triumph, challenges, and the impact on past, present, and future
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2018/12/queens-egypt-pharaohs-nefertiti-cleopatra-book-talk/

It isn't just the past however, women are making their impact today too, there are SO many places to find out about women who are doing amazing things- one of them for STEM women is https://wogrammer.org

You might also like this organization (highlighting one of my friends!)
http://www.greatmindsinstem.org/role-model-of-the-week/erika-d-rodgriguez-ph-d


It is exciting to think about where we will go next, whether it be the past history of an ancient society, or the future colony on Mars, women belong and we are leading the way.

:)

Happy (belated) Anniversary Apollo!

Hello World,
I did not miss the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, but I have been busy not blogging. My apologies! Here are some links that reference this historic event, and a picture of the Washington Monument projected with related images.

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/apollo50th/index.html
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/apollo50th/events.html
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-celebrates-50th-anniversary-of-historic-moon-landing-with-live-tv-broadcast

https://www.nisenet.org/moon50

You may wonder, why make such a fuss about this event? This event ushered in the era of exploring other worlds, advanced science and engineering, enabled practical Earth bound inventions and more! It is a reminder that we can reach for the stars and achieve our moonshot, that goal that seems impossible, yet, it tempts us until we achieve it. Thanks to a diverse group of people, this moonshot was met many times. I believe celebrating this past helps people, all over the world, strive for their moonshot, whether it is on the moon, beyond Mars, or here on Earth. What is your moonshot?

:)

Learn to Earn

Hello World,
Greetings from innovation class, again. This is quite a unique course, having us come up with ideas, work in teams, and pitch a product in just a few short days. My team decided on helping women increase confidence, and their salaries, by connecting them to coaches, community, knowledge and practice. Hence, Learn to Earn. It is crazy how many people don't negotiate salaries, and how many people miss out on gobs of money ($750,000 to be more exact) because they are afraid to ask or don't know how to ask. I hope you will consider joining us in this journey by checking out the website (in progress) and signing up to coach, be coached, connect to the community, or leverage the network!

https://www.learn2earn.online

:)

Getaway and Forest Bath

Hello World!
The other weekend I left the city and went forest bathing. Research has shown that walking in the forest, lowers blood pressure and stress hormones. The same level of walking in an urban environment does not have these same health effects.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/07/17/536676954/forest-bathing-a-retreat-to-nature-can-boost-immunity-and-mood

Here is a picture of my getaway cabin (I admit, I've become a bit of glamper (glamour camping) as I've gotten older). It was all the beauty without the bugs. 

It was truly wonderful and I am missing the tall trees, soothing green palettes and connection with the universe. If you want to book your own getaway check out the link below!

https://getaway.house 

 :)

PS I was not paid to promote this, I just wanted to share this lovely experience and a little of the science. Sometimes STEM is soothing, and sometimes its good to leave it all and embrace the great outdoors.

Negotiation for innovation school

Hello World,
Greetings from innovation school. As part of our HW, we are reaching out to people to gather thoughts and develop ideas. 

If you are inclined, I'd love to have your thoughts on the following;

When it comes to negotiation (salary for example) did you feel prepared, confident etc? 

What would you change about negotiation if you could? 

Would you participate in something to increase your negotiation skills? 

Would you pay? 

What format would you want?

Thank you!

:)

The Action Shot

Hello World!
I hope this finds you well. Today I will write about the action shot. What is it you ask? As part of WAKE and the #Tech2Empower Rwanda trip, we had to submit a picture of ourselves they called the action shot. This shot should be reflective of ourselves, spark curiosity, and have a bit of a story to it. Some women chose a welcoming picture of themselves with their children, others were bold portraits, others still were quirky images in Bolivian deserts that defied ordinary optics, some highlighted impressive feats of yoga. I chose a picture of myself and famous astrophysicist Dr. Neil De Grass Tyson, in the middle of highlighting each other's space themed outfits. (Another blog entry on the details of that interaction!).

It got me thinking however, about the action shot.

I initially did not think I had very many cool action shots (recent ones anyway). For a long time, I did not have any pictures of myself, and then I realized, I should probably be in the record of my own life. (I now force myself to take photos here and there, trying to appreciate the reality of my world with me in it). I much prefer taking pictures (I have several cameras and several bazillion photos), but pictures do speak 1,000 words, as they say.

What did I want those 1,000 words to be? I admit as the trip grew near, I found myself planning ahead to actions that had not yet happened in anticipation for the action shot that could result. It is an interesting concept that I am still thinking about- what do I want my action shot(s) to be? What do I want the record of my existence to convey?

Fun? Glamour? Academics? Friendship? Community? Education? Engineering? Fashion? A little bit of all of that and more, honestly. I do not know if it is possible, as many people viewing the same image can see many different images out of one. It remains an interesting idea to me though.

In a world where people showcase a perfect image that may or may not be true, where depression rises with screen time, where it is very easy to create a false image of fake fabulousness, what is our authentic action shot?

That is the fun of science, oftentimes, there are more questions than answers!

:)

WAKE and #Tech2Empower

Hello World!
I have been traveling the world. Quite literally. I am finally able to start blogging again about some amazing experiences. I must first start with the Women's Alliance for Knowledge Exchange (WAKE) and the Tech2Empower program I was a part of in Rwanda. http://www.wakeinternational.org

This began when two female friends said- what can we do to encourage women around the world to learn from each other in meaningful ways on issues that matter? And so they started WAKE (I paraphrase). It is an amazing organization that brings talented women together to engage in entrepreneurship, mentorship, education, and true exchange of knowledge and care. It is an amazing opportunity for all involved.

I had been fortunate to have already been a part of a similarly wonderful program, TechWomen. Not living in the Bay Area anymore though, I could not participate in delegation trips. I applied for a WAKE delegation trip last year but was not accepted (I'm sharing to encourage you to never give up! No is just an opportunity to better prepare for Yes). I applied this year and was part of the team!

We, a diverse group of women from google, small start ups, and the like- all around the world, convened in Kigali for a truly amazing experience.

We started with learning more about the city, experiencing the genocide museum,  and learning more about the economy and the women who drive much of it. We continued with an incubator program where we learned about specific companies and were paired to work with the founders in their pursuits sharing what we know and learning from them  whether they be menstrual equality, sports, playgrounds, STEM education (and more!). I was paired with the Starlight Rwanda team. (I got to do some data! Which is always fun). Wow! Ariane and Alice are two friends that are changing the world through science. You can read more here
https://www.equals.org/single-post/2018/05/11/Meet-Ariane-A-Daring-Innovator-Bridging-the-Gender-Digital-Divide-in-Rwanda

We continued with visits to schools (teaching and learning), networking events, and cultural education (I learned how to make banana wine, baskets, made my first cocktail ever, learned about local art, dance, etc). It was AMAZING.

A few highlights/moments of emotional impacts (in no particular order):
-Going to a country with more women in government than anywhere else, and meeting one of them!
- Seeing animals in the wild, beautiful, wild, and free. It was just very moving.
- Going through the genocide memorial, seeing how people can be socially engineered for cruelty, and the sadness of a present state of the world in general that still harbors hate of all kinds.
- Experiencing the purposeful social engineering for forgiveness, recovery, peace, and success. Rwanda is a place I'd go back to on my own in a heartbeat- lush, green, beautiful, clean and kind.
- Meeting sisters in STEM, meeting women, who like, me believe it to be fun, exciting, glamorous, and have a mission to share. We really do have more in common than not!
-Meeting diverse women from all walks of life, learning their stories, and what makes all of us remarkable (an exercise in which we share why we are personally and professionally remarkable).

It was simply special and impactful and something I hope I do in some capacity every year, because boundaries are meeting points, not ending points. They broaden our world and bring us face to face with ourselves, good and bad, and each other, as brothers and sisters of the human spirit (and in this case, spirits in STEM!).

:)

Phenomenal Women (happy international women’s day!)

Hello World!
Happy International Women’s Day!
I celebrated in the company of some amazing women and felt joy that we could be collaborative, not competitive, supporting each other in school, spirit, skincare, you name it, we chatted about it! It was a wonderful evening and I am grateful. I am also grateful for this poem sent to me by a male ally. I hope it reminds you to spend time with your phenomenal friends and selves, and to be proud of the women in your life :)

Phenomenal Woman

BY MAYA ANGELOU

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.   

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman” from And Still I Rise. Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou. Used by permission of Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

Source: The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (Random House Inc., 1994)

Aye aye Captain!

Hello World!
I enjoyed reading this the other day and thought you might too. This article talks about the rise of female Captains in the maritime industry. I think it shows potential careers and opportunities in avenues that may not be traditionally thought of when thinking about what to do, where to go, (or who is taking you there as you are cruising along!). I myself am not a ship captain but I have spent a little time at sea and I do enjoy the wide open horizons, salty air, fresh breeze, and many ways to engage STEM skills. Happy sailing!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/why-there-are-more-female-cruise-ship-captains-than-ever/ar-BBTUGQj?li=BBnbklE

:)

Happy Valentines & Galentines

Hello World!
Today is my favorite holiday. It is my favorite holiday because it celebrates love, and that is a wonderful thing to celebrate. To me, it is not just about romantic love, but all kinds of love- family, friends (galentines), pets, loving ourselves even or a love of STEM or other facets of life. Putting love out there is putting positive energy into the universe, I think.  I wrote a silly poem for a friend today and I received a bunch of text messages from friends today, many from a past circle of techy women, orchestrated by someone who knew it’s my favorite holiday. It is just the sort of thing that brings a smile to my face and gratitude for love of all sorts. I think perhaps it brightens others’ day too, to look at today differently- not for its commercialism but for its heart. Getting more scientific now, Our hearts are important. You might enjoy this site for its unique take on love, life, the heart, and more https://www.heartmath.org
I hope you had a happy valentines & I wish you a heart full of love and love full of heart!

:)

RIP Opportunity

Hello World!
Today we bid farewell to the Mars rover Opportunity. This rover spent 15 years exploring Mars, sending data, and showing the world horizons new and old. It was a feat of engineering, human spirit, and mechanical prowess. It did a magnificent job. If you have not read the book, Roving Mars I highly recommend it! It will take you along on the journey to Mars from the perspective of the people and to an extent, the rovers themselves. I am sad that the rover will rove no more, but grateful for everything it gave us. Godspeed Opportunity!

What’s your visual diet?

Hello World!

As a vision scientist I found this article particularly interesting and disturbing- it shows how easy it is to adjust our desired portrayal of reality (ourselves) in a way that does not allow for truth or authenticity. It is true that what we surround ourselves with matters- it makes up the mathematical baseline for which your visual system judges everything else. Diversity is important, details are important, and so is finding the beauty in our natural selves. It is a life long journey, one worth pursuing. I am glad that we have the tools of STEM, (and art and family and friends) to get to our destination! 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/a-photographer-asked-teenagers-to-edit-their-photos-until-they-thought-they-looked-social-media-ready-and-the-results-are-shocking/ar-BBTdenk?li=BBnbcA0

A more academic reference (I have this book and recommend it!) 

http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/mobile/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195333176.001.0001/acprof-9780195333176

I hope as you look around, you see a bit of you in each person, and I hope when you look in the mirror, you see your unique and honest beauty.

:)

Tips for dealing with the cold

Hello World!
If you are in the path of polar vortices, you might enjoy this article!
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/newsus/arctic-antarctic-vets-offer-warm-advice-for-surviving-the-polar-vortex/ar-BBSX9nQ?li=BBnb7Kz

:)

MLK

Hello World!
Just wanted to say happy MLK day! I know many people have suffered and the history behind this day is fraught with unhappiness; I am grateful for amazing individuals who looked beyond the pain to a better world, a world where every voice was heard and people saw themselves in each other no matter any difference. Diversity truly is beautiful and I hope we all contribute to this vision in our own unique way- it is this that I celebrate, and why I say, happy MLK day!