38th Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology

Face it, we all see a lot of incomprehensible tables and graphs projected onto the screen at SIP meetings. Not yours? Oh, OK. Just keep telling yourself that. That slide with 18 treatments has to be done just right if you want anyone to take away anything from it. And although a screen full of As, Ts, Cs, and Gs may mean something to a blob of tRNA sitting in the third row, everyone else is thinking, “wasn’t there a better way?” If Ed Tufte were available for our meeting, we could all sit back, relax, and receive data-graphing knowledge directly from the font, much in the way that Odin got his wisdom from Mimir. Maybe we wouldn’t need to give up an eye for it; but I don’t know, those Yalies don’t come cheap. Anyhow, you’re stuck with me. I’ve been using the MS Office triumvirate and assorted graphics programs since they were available for desktop computers. I’ve picked up a thing or two. Also, I do a good bit of art and science, which can be a beneficial pairing if you keep it under control. Yes, yes, I know, you got your Ph.D. at Cornell. We’re all very proud of you. But does it matter if no one can pick up the nuanced brilliance of your work? Take a few minutes and join us, won’t you?