About


I believe that absolutely anyone can understand the universe.

That’s right. Anyone.

There are no exceptions in my book. And that’s why this blog exists.

Science at Your Doorstep is a place for absolutely anything you might want to learn about the cosmos.

This blog is about the science of the universe–astronomy. I’ll also delve into some satellite sciences that inform our understanding of astronomy, such as physics, chemistry, quantum mechanics, and cosmology.

Here and there, I’ll take a step back with some very basic posts on understanding the scientific method and how science works in general.

Now and then, I may also dabble in seemingly unrelated subjects like the life sciences–we are all part of the cosmos, after all!

So who the heck am I, you ask?

My name is Emma. On all those applications for jobs and such, I have to select the option for “some college,” as I don’t have a degree yet…personally, quite embarrassing. Mental health has stood in my way. However, I plan to return to community college as soon as financially feasible and complete my Associate’s Degree in Physics. Then I hope to transfer to a four-year institution to achieve my Bachelor’s of Science in Astrophysics.

Further down the line, I hope to finish a PhD in cosmology! I’m passionate about everything to do with the wonders of the universe–from learning about them to writing about them.

I’m 24, by no means an expert. I consider myself a science communicator. I don’t claim to be an expert in any field—yet. I do claim to be an enthusiastic lifelong learner, which is all I believe anyone interested in science really needs to start out.

My experience with astronomy includes years of personal research, roughly a decade of showing children and parents the stars through my telescopes, several high school and college courses (astronomy, chemistry, physics, and calculus), and nearly ten years of administrating this blog.

Across all my pursuits, I hope to reach everyone.

My ultimate career goal is to become a professor and researcher at a four-year institution, where my primary audience will be adults. On the other end of the spectrum, my community outreach has primarily involved children. I’ve tried to use my own story of falling in love with the universe to inspire other youth to pursue science.

And here on this blog, my audience is the layperson, whatever the age group. People who are fascinated by the night skies—or by nature in general—but maybe aren’t sure how to take the first step. People who love looking, and are looking to understand.

If that’s you, you’ve come to the right place. I promise not to bog you down in technobabble, or to send you site-hopping all over the internet to figure out what I’m talking about. This blog is designed to slowly build on itself, every science page structured much like a school course, so that everything you need to understand a particular topic can be found elsewhere on my blog.

I have done this so that people who find my writing style accessible can find all the information they need in that same accessible style. However, you are always welcome and encouraged to seek out expert information on any subject you find here. I’m not an expert or a researcher–yet! –but what I am is a learner, a talker, and a writer.

And I have to admit…I’m a huge people person, so I look forward to meeting you all.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you around my blog!

~Emma

P.S. Want to get in touch? Scroll all the way down this page to find a comment form, or you can head over to my contact page to send an email! (Or find me on Facebook.)

Please also take a moment to check out my comment policy 🙂

Dedication
For my grandma
Who gave so much
And asked so little.

This is a science education blog written by a non-expert, so here’s some obligatory information on my sources!

Where textbooks have multiple editions, I try to use a relatively current one. When the core planned posts on any one subject have all been published, I plan to keep them all updated as frequently as possible with the most recent information available.

  • Astronomy: Foundations of Astronomy by Michael A. Seeds & Dana Backmann
  • Chemistry: Chemistry, published by Prentice Hall
  • Physics: Physics: Principles and Problems, published by Glencoe and McGraw Hill
  • Earth Science: Earth Science, published by McDougal Littell
  • All Life Science Topics:
    • Biology, published by Prentice Hall
    • Ecology by William D. Bowman & Sally D. Hacker & Michael L. Cain
    • Life in the Universe by Jeffrey Bennett & Seth Shostak, published by Pearson
    • Introducing Paleontology: A Guide to Ancient Life by Patrick N. Wyse Jackson
  • Geology: Essentials of Geology by Frederick K. Lutgens & Edward J. Tarbuck, published by Pearson and Prentice Hall
  • Meteorology:

More sources to be added! These aren’t all of the science subjects I plan to cover, they’re just the ones I already own sources for. Once I’ve covered the basics for any of the above (and can fund additional personal research), you’ll see sources from science journals added, too.

60 thoughts on “About”

  1. Pingback: New Stuff! | Science at Your Doorstep

  2. Hi Perse – hope all is well – I was MIA for most of July – very sorry to hear about your horse. It’s kind of like walking away from your best friend for no reason at all.
    I’ve nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award (no strange questions to answer) – my post is here ==> https://timeformythoughts.wordpress.com
    As always, feel free to disregard if you haven’t got the time or inclination.
    Carol

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Congratulations on your Liebster Award! Thanks for linking to my site, too.

    I wanted to you know that there are some free social follow buttons you can use, seeing as how your site is a WordPress site. They are the ones from about.me and you can learn more about them at http://wordingwell.com/about-me-benefits/.

    They are super-easy to install (it’s simply a widget!) and you’ll grow your following in no time!

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. I’ve nominated you for the Real Neat Blog Award—no link yet because I scheduled the post for tomorrow morning (EST) while I’ll be at work. Do not feel obligated to accept or pass it on unless you have the time & the inclination.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. Hi Perse. Wanted to write an email, but couldn’t find it…I would really like it, if you would guest blog for me. I was hoping to have 4 guest bloggers who would do a guest post each and I would post it over the next couple of weeks. Kind of every week or every two weeks a guest post. If you are happy to write a guest post every month for me that would work. If it is too much, we can make it every two months or so. If you would rather have a one time guest post, that is fine too. Or if you just want to write when you feel like it: Fine with me too. I am so new to this, that I don’t mind really…Open for everything 😉
    I was hoping that you could either write something astronomy (moon?) related OR maybe in relation to your horse. If you rather write a story, let me know. As I said: I am totally open. Feedback and ideas are appreciated.
    I thought, once we figure out what topics you guys will write about and how on what a frequency, I will post an introduction of you guys and your blogs in which I ask you a couple of questions as well. I will have a new page for the guest blogs. Kind of what I did with the “Your Stories” feature in Couples. Each of you will have his/her own page. Let me know your take on it: amommasview@gmail.com

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. An interesting variety of topics, I like that. As you have probably noticed, I found your blog through Blogging 201. I am now a new follower. Do feel warmly invited to visit my blog, too, and maybe follow it back if you find something there to interest you. 🙂

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    • It’s going well. I’ve been busy with other things, but I’ve made headway with my current novel. It’s a Star Trek fan fiction novel, unfortunately, but I’m planning on rewriting several of my non-fan fiction ones when I have time. Thanks for asking! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  14. I love the new format for your work. I haven’t read your stories yet. But I plan to. You are very organized. I’ll let you know what I liked best about the books I’ll read. Jane

    Liked by 1 person

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      • Hmm, looks like I had more updating and editing to do than I thought…I just keep getting ideas for this site! Oh well…keep reading, there’s more to come!

        Like

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