Learning from our myrmecological brethren

This morning, my thoughts turned to one of my earlier posts as I read the following passage in today's New York Times:

And scientists, if you wonder why the public doesn't like you, read one of your papers. Scientific language is necessary. But so is speaking plainly. And if you have something funny, or human, to tell, that won't undermine your work. But it may bring it to a wider audience.

The author, James Gorman, uses the article to rejoice in the lighthearted way myrmecologist Walter Tschinkel sprinkles personal and sometimes humorous asides through his recently publish book, The Fire Ants, bringing a more human touch to the world of research.

Having spent my share of time speciating mosquitoes and identifying microscopic crustaceans in my research days, I can relate to how mindnumbing the grunt work of science can sometimes be...but that's part of the personal side of science, along moments of lab humor/silliness, celebration of "Eureka!" moments, lamentations over experiments that just refuse to work, and personal interactions with other scientists that sometimes leave us all scratching our heads. And while I hope that Gorman is being a little flip with his call for scientific journals to include interludes or asides with their articles (there is a proper time and place after all), it is worth remembering that there are ways we science writers can build humanity into our stories without watering them down, filling them with mush, or resorting to sensationalism.

(Oh, and in case you're wondering what the heck myrmecology is...)