What is my porpoise?

Sparks Fly

Nick Deason, while in lab one night, picks a fight with a fruit fly and disaster ensues. How will his mentor react when Nick timidly calls him to tell him about the disaster? This story was told live at Bivouac Ciderworks on October 29th, 2025 as part of the "Little Lab of Horrors" SASSY event. Nick Deason got his PhD in molecular biology at UCSD and is a member of the SASSY organizing team.

Martial Arts and Sciences

After sleepless nights and failed PCR reactions, Teju finds solace in karate and the philosophy of persistence. Through countless troubleshooting sessions and kata repetitions, she discovers that both plants and people thrive on rhythm. This story was told live at Bivouac Ciderworks on October 29th, 2025 as part of the "Little Lab of Horrors" SASSY event. Teju Patil is a master's student in the UCSD biological science program

Pirates of the Canteen

Seven weeks on the Pacific Ocean collecting climate data sounds idyllic—until the snack supply runs out - a low point on the high seas. As tensions rise and a black market for potato chips emerges, one scientist discovers her inner snack pirate. What starts as a tale of rigorous science turns into a salty truth: always bring your own snacks. This story was told live at Bivouac Ciderworks on October 29th, 2025 as part of the "Little Lab of Horrors" SASSY event. Sophie Shapiro is a physical oceanographer getting her PhD at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Magic Before Six

Shivani braves Illinois winters and failing experiments—armed with grit, a mother’s unwavering love, and a dash of magical thinking.  This story was told live at Bivouac Ciderworks on October 29th, 2025 as part of the "Little Lab of Horrors" SASSY event. Shivani Malik is a scientist and author.  She is the Senior Director of Translational Research at Kura Oncology. Her first book will come out in February of 2026!

What is my porpoise?

What starts as a childhood dream turns into a summer of filming dolphins from above as they dance through the water. Until one stormy day pops more than just a research blimp. This is the story of how a dolphin-loving scientist made a pivot, proving that sometimes life’s porpoise takes you somewhere entirely new. This story was told live at Bivouac Ciderworks on October 29th, 2025 as part of the "Little Lab of Horrors" SASSY event. Scott Rifkin is a professor of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution at UCSD.