In 2011, one of my dogs was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, a condition I was going to have to learn about. I also needed a capstone for my Masters of Technical Communication program. Like any good grad student, I decided to turn one research project into two (and get credit for one).
For a class at the University of Minnesota, I was asked to copy the style of Nicholas Bakalar’s Vital Signs columns from the Science section of The New York Times. I analyzed them for length, reading level and style. I also compared the items to the original studies or press releases on which they were based to see how much detail Bakalar included and how much he left out.
A family member required emergency medical attention while she was away from home, but important time was lost due to lack of information about what conditions, tests, and procedures she had undergone and when. I consulted with EMTs, nurses and doctors to create an accurate, accessible way for this person and her carers to have vital information with her at all times on a USB bracelet.
For this example, I researched what medications Frankenstein’s monster would likely be on and adjusted the dosages for size and weight.
Itinerant Curiosity 