As 2017 is wrapping up, I looked back at this blog and realize that I missed a half-year of posts! This summer, I began my one-year term as Chair of the Faculty Senate at Penn State Brandywine, which has truly tested my time-management skills. Alas, some things have had to drop off my plate and not get completed. Unfortunately, blogging (at least this blog) seems to be one of the activities that took the hit. But as I enjoy blogging so much, I want this blog to rise back to a higher priority on my list of things-to-do in 2018. So keep an eye out for some posts on my work and work-life balance.

In July, I was able to get to another natural National Park that I have not visited in the past – Crater Lake National Park! The scenery was absolutely beautiful, yet the feet of snow we faced was not expected (again, we visited in July!). The 48 feet of snow in the prior winter damaged the boat dock, so the tours to Wizard Island were not running – which means I will absolutely head back to Crater Lake in the future to explore this cinder cone!

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I had a couple of trips to Washington DC for the American Geophysical Union. I serve on both the AGU Meetings Committee and Talent Pool Strategy Task Force. I thoroughly enjoy this national-level service and working with Earth and space science colleagues from across the globe.

My final meeting of the year was the AGU Fall Meeting in New Orleans. I gave a poster presentation on temperature records crocheted from Philadelphia data (others were kind enough to post on social media about my work!), helped lead a workshop, was part of a “Ask-A-Scientist Panel” for science communication – and, of course, blogged about my time at AGU on my AGU blog (you can see these posts here).

This is the coolest (warmest?) poster I’ve seen at #AGU17. Amazing creativity by @guertin pic.twitter.com/Pu6ipnoiN2

— Leonardo Uieda (@leouieda) December 14, 2017

Professionally, 2017 has had an amazing ending for me. I hope 2018 will be even better with stronger connections and collaboration with current and new scientist friends!