If you could pick a song to describe your research agenda, what would it be?That’s the question we posed to some of Florida State’s researchers in hopes that we’d get some pretty telling answers.Here are some of the answers we received.
This is the first part of an occasional series asking FSU professors about their lives, their interests and what generally makes them tick. Have a question? Tweet @FSUResearch with #FSUIcebreakers.
Associate Professor and Coordinator in English Education
“I think a way to approach my research in 21st century literacies through song would be ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ in that while we want to promote new technologies, we want to also be concerned about the impacts of technology on our students and learning.”
Robert Spencer
Assistant Professor of Oceanography
“Willie Nelson’s ‘On the Road Again.’ I’m fortunate that my research takes me all over the planet from the Amazon and Congo to Siberia and Alaska, so I do a lot of traveling and spend a lot of time, well, on the road.”
Ken Hanson
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
“I asked my students to suggest songs and they chose ‘MMMBop’ by Hanson. I’m not sure how to respond to that because the upbeat — albeit hard to understand— lyrics are an introspection on dying alone. I’m not sure what that says about our research.”
Zhaohua Wu
Assistant Professor of Meteorology
“’Blowing in the Wind’ by Bob Dylan.”
Valerie Shute
Professor of Educational Psychology
“I’d have to say John Lennon’s song, ‘Imagine,’ particularly the last lines. ‘You may say I’m a dreamer – But I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.’”
Susan Blessing
Professor of Physics
“This is tough. ‘Neutron Dance,’ ‘The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades,’ and ‘She Blinded Me With Science’ are pop-ish songs that come to mind.”