Blogging for Graduate Students?

As the Grad Program chair, I wonder if it is a good idea to encourage graduate students to start a blog. This may function to keep the graduate committees abreast of the work being done by each student -- particularly when a student is doing field research.

It is likely that several things will need to be done if this is to be successful:

• Have some examples that new students can see. These will serve as models.
• List typical things that should be added to the blog.
• Look at the blogs often and give feedback. (This can be helped if there are links to the blogs from the "people" page on the Botany website.