Laura McCullough
@lauramccphd.bsky.social
Physics professor; researcher of gender and science; recipient of uxoriousness.
Crocheted most of this last year but gave myself tennis elbow doing it. Finished it a month ago and finally got to wear it!
October 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Crocheted most of this last year but gave myself tennis elbow doing it. Finished it a month ago and finally got to wear it!
Exciting news: I have been elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society!
I am so thrilled, and my citation makes me extremely happy: "For sustained, significant, and impactful research on and service towards promoting gender equity in physics."
www.aps.org/funding-reco...
I am so thrilled, and my citation makes me extremely happy: "For sustained, significant, and impactful research on and service towards promoting gender equity in physics."
www.aps.org/funding-reco...
APS Fellows Archive
The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society.
www.aps.org
October 10, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Exciting news: I have been elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society!
I am so thrilled, and my citation makes me extremely happy: "For sustained, significant, and impactful research on and service towards promoting gender equity in physics."
www.aps.org/funding-reco...
I am so thrilled, and my citation makes me extremely happy: "For sustained, significant, and impactful research on and service towards promoting gender equity in physics."
www.aps.org/funding-reco...
Climate change for the...fail. Big old fail.
This is the week that I start teaching static electricity. Early October. Works great since the humidity is low and static demos work well.
Today will get into the high 80s and the current humidity is about 85%.
This is the week that I start teaching static electricity. Early October. Works great since the humidity is low and static demos work well.
Today will get into the high 80s and the current humidity is about 85%.
October 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Climate change for the...fail. Big old fail.
This is the week that I start teaching static electricity. Early October. Works great since the humidity is low and static demos work well.
Today will get into the high 80s and the current humidity is about 85%.
This is the week that I start teaching static electricity. Early October. Works great since the humidity is low and static demos work well.
Today will get into the high 80s and the current humidity is about 85%.
We got a message from the cats this morning, but I’m not sure what it means.
September 12, 2025 at 12:09 PM
We got a message from the cats this morning, but I’m not sure what it means.
“Excuse me, can you help me find my class?”
September 4, 2025 at 8:17 PM
“Excuse me, can you help me find my class?”
Hey women in physics!
I am co-authoring a forthcoming book focused on helping women thrive in physics, and we are looking for success stories!
We are collecting short quotes and stories from women in physics who have successfully navigated challenges they faced due to being a woman in physics.
I am co-authoring a forthcoming book focused on helping women thrive in physics, and we are looking for success stories!
We are collecting short quotes and stories from women in physics who have successfully navigated challenges they faced due to being a woman in physics.
August 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Hey women in physics!
I am co-authoring a forthcoming book focused on helping women thrive in physics, and we are looking for success stories!
We are collecting short quotes and stories from women in physics who have successfully navigated challenges they faced due to being a woman in physics.
I am co-authoring a forthcoming book focused on helping women thrive in physics, and we are looking for success stories!
We are collecting short quotes and stories from women in physics who have successfully navigated challenges they faced due to being a woman in physics.
This has been one of the worst days in years. All I want now is to spend 12 hours in one place with a good bed and no problematic texts or calls or emails. Just 12 hours, please.
May 20, 2025 at 1:03 AM
This has been one of the worst days in years. All I want now is to spend 12 hours in one place with a good bed and no problematic texts or calls or emails. Just 12 hours, please.
I have submitted my grades and my gen ed assessments.
I am now weeping with relief. It was a more stressful semester than ever, and I had to take several mental health days.
But I survived. And my students did very well.
Now to prepare for three trips in one week. <sigh>
But done!
I am now weeping with relief. It was a more stressful semester than ever, and I had to take several mental health days.
But I survived. And my students did very well.
Now to prepare for three trips in one week. <sigh>
But done!
May 14, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I have submitted my grades and my gen ed assessments.
I am now weeping with relief. It was a more stressful semester than ever, and I had to take several mental health days.
But I survived. And my students did very well.
Now to prepare for three trips in one week. <sigh>
But done!
I am now weeping with relief. It was a more stressful semester than ever, and I had to take several mental health days.
But I survived. And my students did very well.
Now to prepare for three trips in one week. <sigh>
But done!
I witnessed an unusual encounter as I was walking home the other day. A male-female couple were holding hands and chatting. The guy said something, and the young woman whacked him on the shoulder. He said a fake “ow!” and then said “That’s not fair!” She responded with “Why isn’t it fair?”
May 9, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I witnessed an unusual encounter as I was walking home the other day. A male-female couple were holding hands and chatting. The guy said something, and the young woman whacked him on the shoulder. He said a fake “ow!” and then said “That’s not fair!” She responded with “Why isn’t it fair?”
Last night I finished the last of Andre Norton’s Magic series. I especially enjoyed Octagon Magic and Fur Magic. I gave up on Lavender Green Magic since I thought the main character too stupid about life. A kid probably wouldn’t have that problem.
They were a great gentle read for these times.
They were a great gentle read for these times.
May 5, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Last night I finished the last of Andre Norton’s Magic series. I especially enjoyed Octagon Magic and Fur Magic. I gave up on Lavender Green Magic since I thought the main character too stupid about life. A kid probably wouldn’t have that problem.
They were a great gentle read for these times.
They were a great gentle read for these times.
From a student: "Laura, I felt you greatly helped show me that it isn’t scary to be wrong, as sometimes during lecture you would even get things wrong, and you would fix them and explain why you went wrong...
May 5, 2025 at 3:15 PM
From a student: "Laura, I felt you greatly helped show me that it isn’t scary to be wrong, as sometimes during lecture you would even get things wrong, and you would fix them and explain why you went wrong...
I had a delightful day at a local conference, seeing one of my undergrad professors and my doctoral supervisor. Good to see them continuing to keep physics education moving forward!
May 4, 2025 at 1:39 AM
I had a delightful day at a local conference, seeing one of my undergrad professors and my doctoral supervisor. Good to see them continuing to keep physics education moving forward!
Tonight’s dinner finds me pairing a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with a bowl of Lucky Charms in whole milk.
Living the dream, here.
Living the dream, here.
May 2, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Tonight’s dinner finds me pairing a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with a bowl of Lucky Charms in whole milk.
Living the dream, here.
Living the dream, here.
Uff da. Didn’t need tonight’s added stress on top of the existing piles. But I got my poster finished and can print it tomorrow, so there’s one thing taken care of.
I’m not sure why I agreed to go to a local conference and present. Momentary lapse of judgment, clearly.
I’m not sure why I agreed to go to a local conference and present. Momentary lapse of judgment, clearly.
May 2, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Uff da. Didn’t need tonight’s added stress on top of the existing piles. But I got my poster finished and can print it tomorrow, so there’s one thing taken care of.
I’m not sure why I agreed to go to a local conference and present. Momentary lapse of judgment, clearly.
I’m not sure why I agreed to go to a local conference and present. Momentary lapse of judgment, clearly.
This is a delightful analogy for a crappy feeling:
"I have been unable to sleep or breath for the last week from an unknown sickness. I felt microwaved: cold in the middle and hot/sweaty everywhere else."
"I have been unable to sleep or breath for the last week from an unknown sickness. I felt microwaved: cold in the middle and hot/sweaty everywhere else."
April 29, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This is a delightful analogy for a crappy feeling:
"I have been unable to sleep or breath for the last week from an unknown sickness. I felt microwaved: cold in the middle and hot/sweaty everywhere else."
"I have been unable to sleep or breath for the last week from an unknown sickness. I felt microwaved: cold in the middle and hot/sweaty everywhere else."
[Long post] Friday I took a day off for mental health and told my students that it was for mental health.
I just checked my email and now I'm crying. Two students from different classes sent me notes on Friday.
I just checked my email and now I'm crying. Two students from different classes sent me notes on Friday.
April 28, 2025 at 12:36 PM
[Long post] Friday I took a day off for mental health and told my students that it was for mental health.
I just checked my email and now I'm crying. Two students from different classes sent me notes on Friday.
I just checked my email and now I'm crying. Two students from different classes sent me notes on Friday.
First bike ride of the season! 11.3 miles with a stop for errands. My legs will hate me tomorrow, but at the moment they are enjoying the hot tub.
I very nearly had to stop on one hill but managed it in the lowest gear with much panting and some swearing.
I very nearly had to stop on one hill but managed it in the lowest gear with much panting and some swearing.
April 26, 2025 at 6:34 PM
First bike ride of the season! 11.3 miles with a stop for errands. My legs will hate me tomorrow, but at the moment they are enjoying the hot tub.
I very nearly had to stop on one hill but managed it in the lowest gear with much panting and some swearing.
I very nearly had to stop on one hill but managed it in the lowest gear with much panting and some swearing.
A palpable hit, direct to the heart.
From a student: “Hey Laura, you know RateMyProfessor? Your first rating was posted six days before I was born!”
Which was my fourth year teaching.
Ouch.
From a student: “Hey Laura, you know RateMyProfessor? Your first rating was posted six days before I was born!”
Which was my fourth year teaching.
Ouch.
April 25, 2025 at 1:12 AM
A palpable hit, direct to the heart.
From a student: “Hey Laura, you know RateMyProfessor? Your first rating was posted six days before I was born!”
Which was my fourth year teaching.
Ouch.
From a student: “Hey Laura, you know RateMyProfessor? Your first rating was posted six days before I was born!”
Which was my fourth year teaching.
Ouch.
Yesterday the dandelions popped up, and today the anthills popped up. It is finally spring!
April 23, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Yesterday the dandelions popped up, and today the anthills popped up. It is finally spring!
Feeling kind of Jewish, having Asian food for dinner on a Christian holiday. It was delicious!
@kellydmcc.bsky.social had pork dumplings and udon noodles. He _may_ have been immersed for the last two weeks in AC Shadows and thereby Japanese food.
@kellydmcc.bsky.social had pork dumplings and udon noodles. He _may_ have been immersed for the last two weeks in AC Shadows and thereby Japanese food.
April 20, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Feeling kind of Jewish, having Asian food for dinner on a Christian holiday. It was delicious!
@kellydmcc.bsky.social had pork dumplings and udon noodles. He _may_ have been immersed for the last two weeks in AC Shadows and thereby Japanese food.
@kellydmcc.bsky.social had pork dumplings and udon noodles. He _may_ have been immersed for the last two weeks in AC Shadows and thereby Japanese food.
Reposted by Laura McCullough
Happy Easter from Chemistry Cat 🧪
April 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Happy Easter from Chemistry Cat 🧪
Happy Red Currant Jelly Day! While today is the official expiration of the Jelly, RCJD observed will be sometime after the school year ends.
www.uncannymagazine.com/article/myth...
www.uncannymagazine.com/article/myth...
Myth Has Momentum, or: How I Accidentally Deified a Jar of Jelly - Uncanny Magazine
As an author of various flavors of science fiction and fantasy, I’ve spent most of my life deliberately creating mythologies. I deal in gods and demons, heroes and villains, dragons, imps, tricksters…...
www.uncannymagazine.com
April 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Happy Red Currant Jelly Day! While today is the official expiration of the Jelly, RCJD observed will be sometime after the school year ends.
www.uncannymagazine.com/article/myth...
www.uncannymagazine.com/article/myth...
Emotional work day. A student who has been missing for 3-4 weeks came to my office. He was visibly nervous and very apologetic. He had been dumped by his girlfriend and he “lost all his confidence.”
He has been running to train for a marathon to help get confidence back. Good coping strategy!
1/x
He has been running to train for a marathon to help get confidence back. Good coping strategy!
1/x
April 17, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Emotional work day. A student who has been missing for 3-4 weeks came to my office. He was visibly nervous and very apologetic. He had been dumped by his girlfriend and he “lost all his confidence.”
He has been running to train for a marathon to help get confidence back. Good coping strategy!
1/x
He has been running to train for a marathon to help get confidence back. Good coping strategy!
1/x
2/2
"This applied physics will then be able to calculate the force of particle physics, mass and motion at lightspeed. This is also a code free systems God damn fucking computer. Thank you for your time, Have a good day. Bye."
"This applied physics will then be able to calculate the force of particle physics, mass and motion at lightspeed. This is also a code free systems God damn fucking computer. Thank you for your time, Have a good day. Bye."
April 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
2/2
"This applied physics will then be able to calculate the force of particle physics, mass and motion at lightspeed. This is also a code free systems God damn fucking computer. Thank you for your time, Have a good day. Bye."
"This applied physics will then be able to calculate the force of particle physics, mass and motion at lightspeed. This is also a code free systems God damn fucking computer. Thank you for your time, Have a good day. Bye."