List paper-reading hobby as EC?

[RenegadeOkapi]

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OK, hobbies it is. Yes, I'm using this as an excuse to really deep dive on any papers I manage to mention in my application. I am a bit lost on the title. What about: "Independent secondary research hobby". I think that's a technically accurate description of what I do. However, I'm worried that may be just as misleading.

By the way, could any of this be folded into this to provide some concrete evidence? I wrote an essay about biofield physiology that got awarded an all-expenses paid scholarship to attend a fringe science conference. To respect the evidence, I spent much of my time at the conference asking skeptical questions. A physicist I befriended there recommended me to an editor, who asked me to review and write questions for a manuscript in a low impact factor journal. I wrote skeptical questions and cited my sources, and my questions were published along with the manuscript.

Based on feedback here, I scrapped my old PS (which focused on my research interests) and rewrote it along more conventional lines. The current draft does still have a one sentence mention at the end though.

*Shameless plug*: If anyone would be willing, I'd greatly appreciate some feedback on my new PS!

The biggest importance of traditional research in a lab is to duplicate/build upon the works of others and present your findings. When you are reading papers and blogging about and reviewing them, your contribution to the field is limited and is not as impressive as a publication or a thesis. This seems like an activity that you can expand upon at length in a PS or as a hobby that cements your narrative of your commitment to learning.

I would not categorize this as research, but definitely mention your blog/review as a hobby and emphasize the academic rigor of your work. It would be just as impressive imo.

Edit: Sorry I read further. Definitely include any work that has been published listed in a journal.