Author Archives: Roger Gosden

About Roger Gosden

A British/ Canadian/ American scientist specializing in reproduction & embryology whose career spanned from Cambridge to Cornell's Weill Medical College in NYC. Married to Lucinda Veeck, the embryologist for the first successful IVF team in America. They retired to Virginia, where he became a master naturalist and writer affiliated with William & Mary. He also writes on Substack at What’s Hot in Fertility? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Gosden

The Mind of a Dog

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Roger Gosden

If you loved an animal and have felt it loving you back (more than just from trained obedience) you probably wondered how it perceives you and itself. I long to know what my Goldens are thinking. Philosophers have asked that question. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animalia, Nature | Tagged Consciousness, Golden Retriever, Philosophy of mind, TThomas Nagel | 4 Comments

All That Breathes

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Roger Gosden

I’m not a movie buff, but occasionally something I see stirs me to make a recommendation. When I woke about 30,000 feet above the Congo, I scrolled through a list of movies to entertain the rest of my flight. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding | Tagged Black Kite, Indian vultures, New Delhi | Comments Off

A Hardier Zone

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Roger Gosden

The USDA updated the Plant Hardiness Zone this week, changing our zone to 8A. This is an example of how climate change is affecting gardens and farms throughout the country. We didn’t need a government to tell us. Record temperatures … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | 2 Comments

The State of Drought

Posted on November 18, 2023 by Roger Gosden

“Drought—what drought?” That was a typical response to my question before this week’s news of wildfires in Virginia and the Governor declared a state of emergency. I’m sure farmers, beekeepers, gardeners, foresters, and firefighters have worried for weeks, if not … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, Nature | Tagged Drought Monitor, Virginia, Wildfires | Comments Off

Poppy Day

Posted on November 11, 2023 by Roger Gosden

This week you can tell a Brit from the red poppy worn on his or her lapel. Today, I was a lone poppyist in the congregation for a Veterans Day service in the graveyard of Grace Episcopal Church, Yorktown. There … Continue reading →