Erin Gibbons, PhD 🚀

Last year, I launched a scholarship to help Grade 12 students from my hometown pursue college or university. The applications left me hopeful & proud for the next generation of students. My heart is full. If you can, I highly recommend doing something like this, it’s worth it!

The check-in nurse told me that persistent chest pain is never a big deal, and I’m probably just reacting to an electromagnetic storm because "we're all electromagnetic beings" and doctors just don’t get it. I no longer have much confidence in this clinic.

Research papers are full of surprises, like this gem. A little nod to sci-fi in the middle of serious science? Delightful. Thanks Benner et al., 2004 🖖

Just came across a great opportunity for undergrads (wish I were eligible...) NASA is offering a paid internship to train the next generation of scientists to lead the Europa Clipper mission. Students will be paired with mission team members and be hosted at their institutions!

I'm reading about the 3D structure of biomolecules and just learned we have enough DNA to reach from Earth to the Sun and back, 300+ times🤯 And all that DNA is squeezed into a tiny nucleus...insane! This is why I study astrobiology. Like how the heck did life happen??

@KenAstro Trust me, I'm thrilled to have an unremarkable chest wall! It was definitely the result I wanted

@ErinSpaceCase "Unremarkable" is nearly universally a good thing when heard in conjunction with a medical evaluation or test. As you get older, you may not believe how happy a phrase that can be... :)

My doctor told me my chest wall was 'unremarkable.' Glad I'm not having a heart attack, but now I'm spiraling over being mid-tier even in my anatomy D:

@KevZag @drcrater Oh no, he's overworked

@drcrater @ErinSpaceCase Ivan looks in much better shape than he does now

A year ago, the ANSMET team flew to the bottom of the world! When the aircraft doors opened, the brightness hit first, then the shock of icy air that stole my breath, and then - Ivan the Terrabus rolled up to take us on the slowest, bumpiest, most unforgettable ride to McMurdo.

@drcrater Ah I'm so glad to see that Ivan is a long standing character at McMurdo!

@ErinSpaceCase Your post brought back fond memories @ErinSpaceCase 😀 Just don’t ask me how long ago I was there 😜

My gym has a cafe at the front. They're baking cookies. All I smell is freshly baked deliciousness and melty chocolate and it is NOT productive for this workout motivation.

@RonnyRomeroDJ About 2 months total. 5 weeks at McMurdo and 3 weeks in the "deep field". I loved all of it!

@ErinSpaceCase Yes, it's going to be an incredible adventure. How much time did you spend in Antarctica?

I've been AWOL for a bit 😅 After I defended my PhD (over a year ago!), I went to Antarctica to search for meteorites, hiked around New Zealand, and then spent 6 months in France learning to speak the language and exploring the countryside. But I'm ready to come back to space.

@RonnyRomeroDJ I never visited that area, but I'm sure it will be amazing. I heard there are more penguins over there :D

@ErinSpaceCase I'm going to a scientific base in Hope Bay, on the antarctic peninsula.

If you're at the other place, find me at erinspacecase.bsky.social

When I visited France, I went for a hike and spotted the European Synchrotron (a giant circular particle accelerator) under some lovely light! It's the brightest synchrotron in the world, producing x-rays 10 trillion times brighter than those used for routine medical images 🤯

The worst part of my day is when I convert USD expenses back to CAD 🇨🇦

@jhouse678 It's been a highlight of my life! I'm glad you got to go as well, it's such an incredible continent

@ErinSpaceCase Wow! That looks like fun. Thanks so much for replying. I’ve been to Antarctica but haven’t gone on a meteorite expedition yet. It is going to be great!

@jhouse678 It was amazing! They ranged from the size of a bean to that of a melon. At first I found them hard to find, but the skill builds fast! The ones sitting alone on ice are easier, but my favourite challenge was looking for meteorites within clusters of pebbles from Earth (see pic).

@ErinSpaceCase Tell us more about how you found some cool ones on the ice! Were they far and few between? Easy to spot? Any grouped together?

@RonnyRomeroDJ Oh wow!! Congrats 🎉 you're going to have the BEST time? Which base will you go to? As for survival, I'd say just fully immerse! If you're at McMurdo, join a social club, try out the skiing, do all the hiking trails, go the the craft room, try radio hosting, sign up for a run!

@ErinSpaceCase I'm going to Antarctica. Can you give me some advice on how to survive? Hahaha 😅

@SecurityCatnip Thank you! But don't be too envious... I have to pay to have it translated so my employer can verify my degree 😭

After missing convocation, I finally got my PhD diploma in the mail. Super psyched! But after 6ish years of research I would've liked it to actually include my degree title...