Bookshelf Notes: Lab Girl from a researcher's point of view
Any scientist who has worked in a laboratory with research assistants and eager students will identify with many a familiar scene in Lab Girl. They will have flashbacks to days when the discovery of a lifetime occurs, and they know that they know something that no one else does—at least until their discovery is published. Jahren writes, “I was the only person in an infinitely exploding universe who knew that this powder (the mineral that fortified each seed on each hackberry tree) was made of opal. In a wide, wide world I was—in addition to being small and insignificant—special.”
This autobiographical story of a contemporary geobiologist from Minnesota includes detailed mini chapters that inform the reader about how particular plants or particular plant parts thrive and evolve.
Hope Jahren became a scientist by accompanying her father to his lab in the evenings where he allowed her free rein to explore. Although she had never seen a female scientist, she felt at home as one and was, eventually, totally at home in her own Jahren Laboratory—wherever it may be located.
Jahren is an observational biologist who looks for researchable questions by observing nature. Later in her career she meets and marries Clint Conrad, a scientist who conducts all research by computer modeling. Though they are compatible with their complementary styles of scientific inquiry, it was Bill, her lifetime, faithful lab assistant who was her real soulmate. Even as she and Bill each battled various forms of mental illness and insecurities, their tenacity for building labs from spare parts and adventures in digging mosses in Ireland led to impressive grant funds and top awards.
The thrills of scientific discovery and of passing knowledge on to generations of students that vibrate through this book will resonate with faculty and staff. Likewise, the personal struggles with getting published and funded and promoted will be familiar.
Jahren was “driven to discovery.” UMRA members should find this a heartening and humorous book.
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren was published in 2016 by Alfred A. Knopf. This review is written by UMRA member and Past President Jean Kinsey.
News
Make your own discoveries in Portugal in 2025 on this journey to medieval monasteries, fertile vineyards and cities that are equal parts history and modern energy. Deadline to express an interest is Friday June 7, 2024.
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The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2024–25 will be conducted via an online poll from May 13 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 21. Look for the ballot in your email inbox on May 13. Diane Young has been nominated to be president-elect.
“I convinced myself I could handle this problem without support groups or doing additional research, but that’s only because I didn’t want to make it any more real than it already was. Denial comes in many forms, and one is to avoid thinking about the problem any more than need be.” —Alice A. Larson
Meet UMRA member Peter Moe. He retired in 2023 after a career that spanned nearly half a century at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and is credited with developing the “Arb” into one of the few in the U.S. with world-class fruit and landscape breeding programs.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) has welcomed two new members with valuable skills and experience to the URVC Leadership Council: Lynn Slifer and Jeanne Jacobson.
The University plans to remove retirees from the @umn.edu internet identity domain on December 7. UMRA has advocated for ensuring continued access to this identity (including email, Google Workspace, and associated services), citing University retirees’ enduring contributions to and engagement with the University. Thus far, our efforts have not prompted any change of plans.
Leading the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has been a labor of love for Kris Bettin. Alas, a change in family needs has necessitated her retirement. So, JOIE is seeking a new leader to join a savvy editorial committee of five and bring fresh ideas for continued development of the UMRA-sponsored journal.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore your photographic interests, hone your photographic skills, and hear what other retirees are up to, the UMRA Photo Club is a great place to be. We have fun! And whatever your skill level, there is room for everybody.
Soon you will receive an email or letter inviting you to renew your UMRA membership for the 2024–25 year. Please renew before you get busy with your summer activities. Your support helps to make our programs and many other member benefits possible!
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details: