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Natterings of a Woman in STEM
Category: Engineering
Inflammatory Language
Scientific language is a fickle beast. If you’ve been around for a few decades (and have been exposed to changing language) your experience can be a liability. Take, for instance, the word flammable. It pretends to be an uncomplicated word. In fact, the OED… Continue Reading “Inflammatory Language”
The hardest part of starting a business is…
I’ve been absent from The Numerate Ninny for a while. But there was a reason. After nineteen years with my former employer, I decided to ‘go it alone’ and form my own consultancy. Fussy bureaucracy is expected when establishing a new organization, and my… Continue Reading “The hardest part of starting a business is…”
How to lose a sale in one easy move
Back in the 1970s, our feminist aunties promised sexism would be eradicated from the business world once a certain generation of men retired. Well, maybe they didn’t explicitly promise that piece of perfection, but the notion was implicit in their vocal crusades for equal… Continue Reading “How to lose a sale in one easy move”
Not his mother’s education…
College chemistry in pandemic times! Our student of engineering re-purposes the kitchen for one of his few labs. No white lab coat for him; his dad’s old black t-shirt will do the trick. Paper cups have replaced flasks, and chopsticks work as stirrers. His… Continue Reading “Not his mother’s education…”
Fireboat! Ahoy!
Serendipity! I spent a dinner hour staring out at a fireboat. This naturally led to speculation about the unfamiliar piece of equipment. Where are the water intakes? How is the water pressurized? What’s its range? How often is it deployed? How fast can it… Continue Reading “Fireboat! Ahoy!”
On the Art of Writing for Business
Excellence in business writing is sometimes pursued, often neglected, and seldom achieved. Improving the quality of our technical and business writing is a career-long pursuit. However, our pursuit is not a solitary one. We can learn from our predecessors. Philip Stanhope, Lord Chesterfield, was… Continue Reading “On the Art of Writing for Business”
Why I will never say ‘I’m not a racist’
I will never say ‘I’m not a racist’. Like other human oddities, the reason for this can be found in my formative years. Let me tell you the story… Once upon a time, there was a young engineer who lived in Britain. She traveled… Continue Reading “Why I will never say ‘I’m not a racist’”
Inessential
It’s humbling to be in self-quarantine for a number of weeks. You quickly realize how dispensable you are. Your family does not starve. Your home does not crumble. The desert does not swallow your garden. In fact, the sun – perplexing star that it… Continue Reading “Inessential”
Choose Your Hobbies Well
Choose your pleasures for yourself, and do not let them be imposed upon you. Follow nature and not fashion: weigh the present enjoyment of your pleasures against the necessary consequences of them, and then let your own common sense determine your choice. – Philip… Continue Reading “Choose Your Hobbies Well”
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