All of the most impressive, really useful things probably fall under the “oh shit that’s scary” umbrella or they’re too risky to pull off. So— I’m thinking maybe gypsum plaster casts, they’re simple enough and it would still be a medical improvement on splinting.
( A contemplative pause, then, )
Would you feel safe traveling with the microscope? Part of my trouble with germ theory in Cledwyn was that no one could see bacteria, so they didn’t really believe in the concept. If word could spread of people seeing these organisms with their own eyes…
Oh, I hadn't thought of that. Yeah, if we pack it carefully, it should travel OK. I've risked bringing it on field work a time or two before. And I've done some basic stuff here, showing people blades of grass, that sort of thing. Their blood, if they're interested, though maybe not that one for Orlais.
We could team up, germ theory and magnification. That'd make a lot of sense.
Good. Yeah. It’ll be useful having someone to tackle it with me — maybe we’ll stand a better chance of convincing them if it’s not just one of us sounding like a local eccentric.
You’ve been here longer than most— how in the world did you put up with it? Being modern-day Earth’s emissary without backup.
Oh, I mean like ... I've got tenure these days, but there were other modern people here before, they've just gone since. I don't know if it was ever totally just me. God, I did seriously consider making a germ theory pamphlet at one point, as many times as I explained it.
Oh, shit, while I've got you and speaking of pamphlets. I'd been meaning to track you down about something, I just got busy. If you've got a second now.
Beyond just this fair, Tony thought that it might be a good idea for you and me to head up a more specific project about cross-cultural dialogue. Team up with Diplomacy to get some names of people who would be actually enthusiastic about some scientific discovery, develop a curriculum so we can pass it on. Hearts and minds sort of stuff for Riftwatch, but also helping fewer people in like, Antiva and Orlais die of preventable diseases.
I told him it was ambitious, but a win-win payoff if we can find the right people. But I also said I'd talk to you, see what you thought. [A bit wry:] As I keep trying to explain to people, a PhD in biology doesn't actually make me a medical doctor.
That’s actually— I mean, in that case, Tony’s got a startlingly high opinion of my diplomatic abilities, but that’s a good idea. If we can find any fellow nerds at the university, open-minded radicals, people who are willing to try rifter science, we could make some potential new pen pals.
In terms of medicine: it’s admittedly been a few years since I switched to sorcery, and I specialised in neurosurgery for so long before that, I’m a bit removed from the general basics. But it’s not like we need much more than the basics to make progress. Germ theory, soap, sterilisation, and boiling water, concepts like that to start with.
Look, we can rope in someone from Diplomacy to actually deliver the curriculum once we develop it. Enchanter Julius started in Research anyway before Mme de Cedoux poached him, he'd probably be into it. But I feel like if we're going to find nerds, the university is a good place to start.
It's wild, sometimes you run into people have a way more advanced concept of something than you expect, and then you'll mention like, sterilizing instruments in boiling water and you blow their minds. I think it if it was just no knowledge across the board it'd be easier, but there's so much variation even country to country. The dangers of no mass communication, I guess.
I’ve considered that too, actually. These sending crystals— imagine how invaluable they could be planted in strategic locations around Thedas to get word around the globe quickly, like telegram stations.
But the stash is limited enough that I suppose Riftwatch agents themselves need priority; we can’t exactly go around handing them out like candy. More the shame.
Yeah, there's also the security risk, but I feel like ... maybe it's worth considering a wider communication net when the war eventually ends. I don't know who actually gets to make that call, I guess the Division Heads? But I think it's worth pitching as a possibility.
But anyway, in the meantime, if you think the pitch is good, we could start maybe putting some sample materials together. I'm sure Riftwatch has a friendly acquaintance or two we could use as a test case once we've got something we're pleased with. And it might be nice to solicit information from rifters from worlds more different than mine and yours are, too. I don't want to fall into the trap of thinking we know everything useful to know.
But what if we do know everything there is to know?
No, I’m joking. Honestly it’s just a relief that the biological similarities seem to line up, and that Thedosian humans don’t have a second stomach or third lung or anything. Which isn’t always a given. I briefly passed through a universe where everyone was made of paint.
Dwarven, qunari, and elven physiologies will be a gap on the medical front, obviously, but I can draft an introductory packet from the healthcare side. I’ll put some time on your calendar after we’re back from Val Royeaux, and we can put our heads together about what else might be useful to include— I’m sure Tony’s got some strong opinions about engineering we could pick his brain for.
maybe putting a bow on this so I can fling her at his current open post?
[It is exceedingly clear she wants to ask about made of paint, but apparently she decides to come back to it another time.]
Yeah, that sounds great. I can ask Stark if he wants to have a meeting for the three of us or if he'd rather me coordinate, or whatever, but I think it's a good thing to get moving. Maybe I could put a standing meeting on the research office calendar for whatever section we're working on then, and whoever we're consulting with can drop by. But we can work the details out after the expo. I'm just glad you're in, it'll be really helpful.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
( A contemplative pause, then, )
Would you feel safe traveling with the microscope? Part of my trouble with germ theory in Cledwyn was that no one could see bacteria, so they didn’t really believe in the concept. If word could spread of people seeing these organisms with their own eyes…
no subject
Oh, I hadn't thought of that. Yeah, if we pack it carefully, it should travel OK. I've risked bringing it on field work a time or two before. And I've done some basic stuff here, showing people blades of grass, that sort of thing. Their blood, if they're interested, though maybe not that one for Orlais.
We could team up, germ theory and magnification. That'd make a lot of sense.
no subject
You’ve been here longer than most— how in the world did you put up with it? Being modern-day Earth’s emissary without backup.
no subject
Oh, shit, while I've got you and speaking of pamphlets. I'd been meaning to track you down about something, I just got busy. If you've got a second now.
no subject
What's up?
no subject
I told him it was ambitious, but a win-win payoff if we can find the right people. But I also said I'd talk to you, see what you thought. [A bit wry:] As I keep trying to explain to people, a PhD in biology doesn't actually make me a medical doctor.
no subject
That’s actually— I mean, in that case, Tony’s got a startlingly high opinion of my diplomatic abilities, but that’s a good idea. If we can find any fellow nerds at the university, open-minded radicals, people who are willing to try rifter science, we could make some potential new pen pals.
In terms of medicine: it’s admittedly been a few years since I switched to sorcery, and I specialised in neurosurgery for so long before that, I’m a bit removed from the general basics. But it’s not like we need much more than the basics to make progress. Germ theory, soap, sterilisation, and boiling water, concepts like that to start with.
no subject
It's wild, sometimes you run into people have a way more advanced concept of something than you expect, and then you'll mention like, sterilizing instruments in boiling water and you blow their minds. I think it if it was just no knowledge across the board it'd be easier, but there's so much variation even country to country. The dangers of no mass communication, I guess.
no subject
But the stash is limited enough that I suppose Riftwatch agents themselves need priority; we can’t exactly go around handing them out like candy. More the shame.
hides date stamp sheepishly
But anyway, in the meantime, if you think the pitch is good, we could start maybe putting some sample materials together. I'm sure Riftwatch has a friendly acquaintance or two we could use as a test case once we've got something we're pleased with. And it might be nice to solicit information from rifters from worlds more different than mine and yours are, too. I don't want to fall into the trap of thinking we know everything useful to know.
np ever 💕
No, I’m joking. Honestly it’s just a relief that the biological similarities seem to line up, and that Thedosian humans don’t have a second stomach or third lung or anything. Which isn’t always a given. I briefly passed through a universe where everyone was made of paint.
Dwarven, qunari, and elven physiologies will be a gap on the medical front, obviously, but I can draft an introductory packet from the healthcare side. I’ll put some time on your calendar after we’re back from Val Royeaux, and we can put our heads together about what else might be useful to include— I’m sure Tony’s got some strong opinions about engineering we could pick his brain for.
maybe putting a bow on this so I can fling her at his current open post?
Yeah, that sounds great. I can ask Stark if he wants to have a meeting for the three of us or if he'd rather me coordinate, or whatever, but I think it's a good thing to get moving. Maybe I could put a standing meeting on the research office calendar for whatever section we're working on then, and whoever we're consulting with can drop by. But we can work the details out after the expo. I'm just glad you're in, it'll be really helpful.