Science. Lenovo. Science and Lenovo. Sure each seems reasonable to blog on its own, but you may be wondering why I would start a blog about both. Simply, Lenovo is a company that shapes and is shaped by science. Consider, for instance, that Lenovo ThinkPads are used by every major space agency in the world; for instance, since 1995, a ThinkPad has been on every NASA space shuttle and there are more than 60 aboard the International Space Station. Demonstrating their commitment to science, Lenovo has joined with TWAS, awarding $100,000 to scientists in developing countries. In 2013, the presigious honor was awarded to a Chilean physicist and in 2014, the prize will be awarded to a winner in the biological science. As far as a company shaped by science, if you own a Lenovo ThinkPad, put your ear to the fan. Nearly silent, right? That's because the blades of their fan were modeled after the feathers of an owl, a bird that is nearly silent in flight. The rubber feet of the ThinkPad? They were modeled after the paws of a cat.
While it makes sense to associate Lenovo with science, much like Macs and video editing/hipsters go hand-in-hand, I will admit the idea came from my own experiences; through the years as a biology student and analytical science, I have observed that IBM/Lenovo equipment is ubiquitous in the field. I have seen ThinkPad T420's further ruggadized to aid in thresher shark studies, ThinkCentres linked to capillary electrophoresis equipment to analyze molecules in the pharmaceutical industry, and professors equipped with ThinkPad T430's for myriad uses, from creating classroom presentations to working on the latest publication. My first ThinkPad, a T400, was a great companion when, as a grad student, I studied the rainbow trout immune system; to this day, he remains my primary home computer.
Unfortunately, we often don't appreciate the ubiquitous tools in our lab--from the lowly pipette to the vortexer--even though they are used most likely more than any other instrument in the lab. They are overshadowed by the more technical and expensive (understatement) like the HPLC/PCR/mass spec equipment. As for the lab computers--well, even though we depend on them for electronic notebooks, data analysis, conference calls, etc., we often think more about the software that we can put on a résumé than the hardware (think of how many X1 Carbons my $10,000 Empower license could purchase).
Unfortunately, we often don't appreciate the ubiquitous tools in our lab--from the lowly pipette to the vortexer--even though they are used most likely more than any other instrument in the lab. They are overshadowed by the more technical and expensive (understatement) like the HPLC/PCR/mass spec equipment. As for the lab computers--well, even though we depend on them for electronic notebooks, data analysis, conference calls, etc., we often think more about the software that we can put on a résumé than the hardware (think of how many X1 Carbons my $10,000 Empower license could purchase).
Where would we be without racks & pipets?
Okay, so why the blog? The answer is simple. I'm a Lenovo enthusiast and ThinkPad collector. In my free time in the lab, I want a distraction. Some posts will be related to science; others will be devoted completely to my hobbies. Some posts will feature guest writers, who hopefully can describe how Lenovo helps them get their work done (this is an invite to anyone who would like to display her or his work!)
I want to hear what work anyone in any scientific field is doing, and I want to know how Lenovo helps them do it.I hope to engage and inspire an audience and make them realize, "Wow, some really cool stuff is being done out there!" and, of course, showcase some products. If you have a story to tell and want an outlet, write to me! Share your story, your photos (and a photo of yourself), and a short biography with me in your writing style (the main guideline is that the writing is directed towards an educated, but not necessarily scientific, audience).
I want to hear what work anyone in any scientific field is doing, and I want to know how Lenovo helps them do it.I hope to engage and inspire an audience and make them realize, "Wow, some really cool stuff is being done out there!" and, of course, showcase some products. If you have a story to tell and want an outlet, write to me! Share your story, your photos (and a photo of yourself), and a short biography with me in your writing style (the main guideline is that the writing is directed towards an educated, but not necessarily scientific, audience).
And if I should fail, let's make sure I do it fashionably, knowing Timber will still love me
I should mention that in no way am I getting paid by Lenovo to promote their products. I work full-time as an analytical scientist for Eurofins-Lancaster Labs, and I'm not looking for a second job; my family....errrr....cat....needs me. I will also mention that I will never personally promote a product unless I've used it.