CageFree Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Academia has the reputation of being the place where you learn more and more about less and less... we specialize to such a "ridiculous degree" that we become the world's living expert in <insert niche field>, seemingly to the exclusion of all other areas of knowledge. Does anyone else have an interest in some field of knowledge that is wholly unrelated to your own academic pursuits? I don't mean reading material in related fields... as a historian, I delve into anthropology, sociology, critical theory, politics, etc.., and I also read history outside my own region/period specialization. I mean something that is completely outside your area. I, for example, love watching TV shows and reading articles about astrophysics and astronomy. In fact, I am far more likely to tune into the Science channel than the History channel (mostly because I dislike military history and refuse to consider aliens as historical subjects). My partner was a physics major in college and I ask him questions about black holes, dark matter, etc. all the time. I suppose it gives me a bit of a "break" from being "all history, all the time?" Edited January 28, 2014 by CageFree Plissken and darmok 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeMyCoffeeBlack Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 My field has the potential to be rather interdisciplinary, so there are great advantages to that. Outside of what I specialize in, I love humanist philosophy, literature, opera, theology, Medieval to modern history (esp. European and early American), epistemology, and though I don't understand it much at a micro theoretical level, things like theoretical physics. The academics I know tend to be very specialized, but also very intelligent across the board. I think the idea that we become so specialized we don't learn about anything else is a stereotype of the academic class, and is silly, especially if you consider that the more synapses you develop, the quicker you learn new things - including in fields other than your own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Bee Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Criminology and Forensic Sciences Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beyondaboundary Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Yep, I just like learning in general. I want to know something about everything. Ditto Mr Bugle...but particular favorites are natural history and engineering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen of Kale Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 This post came at a perfect time for me - literally when I was taking a break from writing the front page to a new blog about trying to maintain one's well-roundedness while in grad school (specifically in science, where time outside the lab is often looked at as wasted time). I have so many interests outside of science that inform and strengthen the work I do inside the lab & often provides fresh insights I would otherwise lack. Sometimes that's not the case of course, but even when my outside interested & learning is just for my own edification - I feel comfortable with that too. Because honestly, graduate school for me is as much about self-improvement as radically changing my field. I'm never going to win a Nobel prize, but I can chip away at being a better scientist everyday (inside AND outside the lab). Some things I read about that inspired me to not ditch my side pursuits: The Myth of the Well Rounded Scientist (article) A Scientists thoughts on the above article An example of a well-rounded badass Even my hero takes a break from brains to hang out with ferns Ok, this one may seem a little light and frothy, but when I say 'well-rounded' I'm including the seemingly frivolous, because I think maintaining a sense of self is important in any field: Stylish Scientists Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VioletAyame Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I'm fascinated by the natural sciences: physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, geology, etc. Now that I'm not threatened by homework or exams anymore, I also love to learn a little bit of maths, one of my biggest enemies in high school. I think most of us entering or aspiring to enter grad schools are naturally curious and love to learn new things, so side interests would be more of a norm than an exception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pears Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Mr. Bugle about hit the nail on the head, hah! I obtained the nickname "Professor Periwinkle" at a very early age. I've always been a nerd. I'm an archaeologist (mortuary, mostly), but when I was an undergrad, I was almost a Cognitive Studies double (neuropsychology, human/robot interaction), but ended up being an Environmental Studies (focus on human ecology) double and then an Art History triple. I grew up spending a lot of time traveling, and my parents were supportive of my nerditude, so we hit up all the zoos and museums. It left me something of an art history buff, and a lover all things natural science. Also, it's not that much of a deviation, but I love the forensic sciences and emergency medicine. Almost became an M.E., and I would like to (a) continue working with human remains and ( become a W-EMT and/or a paramedic (preferably backcountry). Once I'm between MA & PhD time and slightly more financially and locationally stable, I may start getting my certs with NOLS et al; archaeologist by spring and summer, W-EMT/W-Medic by fall and winter. Badass 24/7/365. Plissken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectastic Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Yep, I just like learning in general. I want to know something about everything many things. basically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inka dreams Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Well... I love astrophysics... want to be an amateur astronomer... that said, history... military history excites me a lot. I also like the science behind... cooking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legan Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I'm applying to schools for a Masters in School Counseling, but my undergraduate degree is in art history and studio art, with only a minor in psychology. My concentration in art history is the Dutch/Northern Renaissance. I think it's fascinating, but I'm not sure of how it will help me help high school kids pick a college. Also, 20th Century literary fiction. But that's more of an intellectual interest born out of the hobby of reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darmok Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 I've always been into classic literature and philosophy... I generally agree with Mr. Bugle. My childhood dream was to be an astrophysicist, but I don't consider it unrelated to my field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOWAYNOHOW Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 (edited) This is a funny question. I used to professionally do X and my weird intellectual interest was Y. After several years it was clear that X should have stayed a passion, and I thought I'd go back to try my hand at Y. Now I do Y for a living (and am hoping for a PhD in it) and maintain a healthier interest in X. Anyway, cool story bro. Also fashion, whiskey, taxidermy, biomedical curiosities and oddities, science and speculative fiction, tattoos and some of the worst television has to offer. Nothing too exciting. Edited February 3, 2014 by NOWAYNOHOW themmases and Queen of Kale 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDarjeeling Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 My field is psychology, but I have always maintained interests in other areas like cooking, nutrition, criminology, chemistry, mythology (all kinds, not just Greek), creative writing, anthropology, medicine, and more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERR_Alpha Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Academia has the reputation of being the place where you learn more and more about less and less... we specialize to such a "ridiculous degree" that we become the world's living expert in <insert niche field>, seemingly to the exclusion of all other areas of knowledge. Does anyone else have an interest in some field of knowledge that is wholly unrelated to your own academic pursuits? I don't mean reading material in related fields... as a historian, I delve into anthropology, sociology, critical theory, politics, etc.., and I also read history outside my own region/period specialization. I mean something that is completely outside your area. I, for example, love watching TV shows and reading articles about astrophysics and astronomy. In fact, I am far more likely to tune into the Science channel than the History channel (mostly because I dislike military history and refuse to consider aliens as historical subjects). My partner was a physics major in college and I ask him questions about black holes, dark matter, etc. all the time. I suppose it gives me a bit of a "break" from being "all history, all the time?" I'm a biochemistry major with a minor in Gender and Women's Studies. I like that it gives me a break and it lets me work the other side of my brain. It has also improved my writing and critiquing skills a lot. I wish I could have a minor in graduate school, but unfortunately I'm going to have to use reading to continue my other interests. (If I even have time!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitangus Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 I minored in English during undergrad, and my favorite course was about literary theory. I was particularly interested in deconstruction and other post-structuralist approaches. I wrote a paper on Baudrillard's simulacrum for that course and ended up presenting it at an undergrad literature conference. The discussion that followed after my panel was one of the most thought-provoking academic conversations I've had. I sometimes wish I had pursued literature just so I could keep writing papers like that. But in terms of graduate school, I think the biological sciences were the best choice for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pears Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Also fashion, whiskey, taxidermy, biomedical curiosities and oddities, science and speculative fiction, tattoos and some of the worst television has to offer. Nothing too exciting. Can we be internet friends? Actually, to heck with it. Can I be internet friends with everyone who's responded? So much awesome going on. Queen of Kale 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faithfullywaiting Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 I love this...if I weren't interested in Health policy I would love to study paleoarchaeology!! So instead I just watch a lot of TED talks and the history channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legan Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 I almost forgot one! English history. At work last year I started listening to The British History Podcast (http://thebritishhistorypodcast.com/) and I've become really interested in everything pre-Tudor. (I think the Tudors are over-exposed, but that's another story for another time.) I also just finished watching Simon Schama's five-part documentary, A History of Britain, and it's amazing. I recommend both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOWAYNOHOW Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Can we be internet friends? Actually, to heck with it. Can I be internet friends with everyone who's responded? So much awesome going on. For real. Let's talk about the best bourbon the ease the waiting pains. GEEZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starofdawn Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Loving this thread! My first major in college was Archaeology (technically it was Biological Anthropology, but I wanted to be an archaeologist). I went to Archaeology field school my freshman year, and realized I although I loved it, I didn't love it enough for a PhD. I saw how hard the graduate students worked (no such thing as weekends)... and realized that I would likely be a drop-out. I decided to maintain my interests in archaeology from a distance and pursue another career path. I still LOVE learning about other cultures(current and historic), and travel as much as I can. Also, beer. I love beer. Before deciding to start graduate school in Fall 2014, I seriously considered getting a beer judge certificate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecologaia Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Ok, this one may seem a little light and frothy, but when I say 'well-rounded' I'm including the seemingly frivolous, because I think maintaining a sense of self is important in any field: Stylish Scientists made me smile. especially since i just spent far too long contemplating my luggage for a recruitment weekend. Queen of Kale 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecologaia Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Oh and I'm into yoga and surrealism, and would love to become a vintner... and i know all the lines to all three godfather movies but depending on the company, i'd rather watch avatar... Queen of Kale 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmu Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I have a number of hobby interests including beer/brewing, bourbon, rum, cycling, etc. that all involve an in-depth, technical knowledge of the subject matter. I also have academic interests that are generally outside of my area of interest but I work them into my research. I'm really interested in the work of Saul Newman and Todd May on post-anarchism, for example. I'm also interested in psychoanalytic critiques of ideology and the "real." I bring these into my very dry, usually boring research on the political ecology of drainage and irrigation and people seem to really like that. I say that, if you have an outside interest, see if you can't incorporate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boba felt Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I'm in engineering. I love drinking, watching trashy tv shows, reading trashy novels, historical novels like Austen or Bronte, painting with watercolors, WWII history, and pet rabbits. I'm a renaissance woman in my own mind, and pretty much a crazy person to everyone else. Queen of Kale, Z4Zebra, Plissken and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geographyrocks Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I'm so obsessed with Astrophysics and Neil DeGrasse Tyson I'm starting to wonder if I choose the wrong major. CageFree, VulpesZerda, darmok and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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