Announcing: The Chem Coach Carnival

Do you work in chemistry?

Want to help folks interested in chemistry do what you do?

I like to think about chemistry
during timeouts.

In celebration of the 25th National Chemistry Week (Oct 21-27, 2012), I've decided to host a blog carnival called the Chem Coach Carnival. (Unfamiliar with the carnival format? Check out the "Favorite Reactions," "Toxic," and "Science Writer" carnivals)

Why the theme? After writing a tongue-in-cheek post last week, I received several comments through email, Twitter, and on the blog about an actual online repository of chemistry job success stories. Wouldn't it be nice to ask professionals questions like these?

What do you do all day? What chemistry skills do you use in your line of work? How do you move up the ladder in chemistry? What do I need to do to be in your shoes?

Here's the specifics: To keep the carnival timely - and since I didn't give a lot of advance notice (sorry!) - we'll keep posts short, about 300-500 words. If you'd like to toss in a (small) picture that helps the reader, go ahead. The general structure will be:

Your current job.

What you do in a standard "work day."

What kind of schooling / training / experience helped you get there?

How does chemistry inform your work?

Finally, a unique, interesting, or funny anecdote about your career*

The most important question to ask yourself - If I were just coming into the field, would I learn something useful from your story?

Whaddaya mean these mechanisms
aren't right?

I also want to stress that you don't have to be a blogger or writer to participate. I'd love to hear from every kind of chemist: professors, bench chemists, formulators, artists, Wall Street advisors, authors, Editors, engineers, grad students, historians, Olympiad participants, forensic scientists, safety officers, advertisers, biochemists, Nobel laureates, you name it.

Everyone is welcome.

As far as posting, you can either post on your blog and I'll link to it (preferred), or I can take your entry by email (seearroh_AT_gmail_DOT_com) and post them on Just Like Cooking. If you've posted something, send me a line at @seearroh or use the hashtag #ChemCoach.

I look forward to celebrating National Chemistry Week by reading about all your employment adventures. Thanks in advance!

*Bonus motivator - I'll be writing a post, too, but I'll only post mine after I receive at least ten entries from around the campfire. Happy writing!