About us.

blueSHIFT.red is currently composed of just a researcher (me) and a reader (you) to comprise the “us”.

Hello!

Not entirely meant to be anonymous, but the researcher is likely the least interesting aspect of the project. If you are interested in helping, discussing further advancements or resources to be backed up, please feel free through the “contact us” comment page.

Why the name bluesSHIFT.red?

The answer is pretty nerdy.

When something is approaching the speed of light and coming towards you, the light is “blue-shifted” as the waves compress and shift more towards the blue end of the light spectrum. As something leaves you approaching the speed of light, it becomes “red-shifted” as the waves expand. This is similar to the Doppler effect for sound waves (the change in the sound of the siren of a firetruck as it passes you).

So why blueSHIFT.red? We are blue-shifting (bringing things back to you hopefully quickly) after they have been removed quickly (red-shifted).

Told you it was nerdy.

So, why does blueSHIFT.red exist?

Mr. Rogers famously said “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

Disregarding politics, as a health research scientist, it is an act of civil obedience that health information is created and made available to help others, even when it may be difficult to do so. Curtailing access to information, regardless of the stated rationale, leads to uncertainty and fear, particularly for the individuals of the groups whose information is being culled and censored.

I am no Fred Rogers, but as a child I signed up to be his neighbor and friend. I welcome his vision of a beautiful day in the neighborhood by striving to be a person who is helping, even (and perhaps most importantly so) when things are uncertain and scary.