I've had some awful jobs. I had to perform pubic shaves on male hernia patients in a private hospital in 1986. In 1989, as a junior bus driver, I was given the shortest, 14 minute, bus route in London, which I drove relentlessly day after day. Such is the discipline of driving a bus that you can't even take an alternative route for a change of scene, or day dream to while away the hours. Unlike pubic shaving, where you can, at least, shave interesting patterns into the mons pubis.
Anyway, now, according to the April edition of Popular Science magazine, I have hit a new low. I am proud to announce (drum roll please) that Popular Science have recognized my personal job as the 10th worst job in science. What is my job? I'm a Principal lecturer and Reader in the Psychology of Dance. So what's so bad about that? Okay, some of my colleagues have personal hygiene issues and I can be pretty bogged down with marking, but neither of these could have qualified me for the title, as I'm sure these issues are common to academics on University campuses around the world. No, I have been given the title for my role as the "Bad-dance Observer".
I'm pleased to have been beaten to the top spot by a "Dung Curator" at East Tennessee State University, an "Oceanic-snot Diver" at the Polytechnic University of Marche in Italy, and a "Feces Piper", who takes poo from one person and inserts it into another, all in the name of science. Although I am delighted to be associated with such scientific roles I am, sadly, at a loss to see how my job fits into this list. Is a dance observer really that bad a job?
No, my job is not only one of the best jobs in science, it is one of the best jobs in the world. I get to combine that which I love (dance) with that which I find fascinating (Experimental Psychology). Together with my team of researchers and students I examine the health benefits of taking part in recreational dance, I examine cultural differences in the way emotions are communicated through dance, I examine why dance can give us a natural high and I examine how we use dance as part of the sexual selection process.
The only problem with my current job is the smell of those of my colleagues who use deodorant every day instead of washing. Now lets be honest, we'd all rather perform pubic shaves than gag on the smell of stale deodorant. Apart from that I have the perfect job in science.
Dr Peter Lovatt
www.DanceDrDance.com
© Dr Peter Lovatt.
All rights reserved. 26th March 2010
