education

  • As I find myself now nearly 8 months out from my PhD (or the viva anyway), I am becoming ever more aware of the difficulty in choosing direction. For me it feels like there is a mysterious dilemma in research, there is this line somewhere that, one one side, you stay centred and become an

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  • From the beginning of my PhD, I noticed the word “engagement” getting thrown around a lot in the university (and in a number of other academic events I would attend). My initial reaction to this was abject fear as I pictured me trying to do research with children (while I have learned that I do

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  • This is a brief thought (maybe, I say that a lot an then write an essay) that quite regularly passes in and out of my mind. When we talk about Artificial Intelligence, how intelligent are we actually talking? Now, as a disclaimer, I am not referring to the highly advanced, technical wizardry type AI’s that

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  • The Semester is Nigh

    As a sign to my growing older, I can affirm that time is certainly moving too quickly. Out of nowhere another academic year has catapulted onto the shores of Lesley time (if my thesis taught me anything, it is clearly travelling via race-built galleon). As a side note: This idea of time accelerating is something

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  • What happened next…

    It is just over one month since I passed my viva (1 month, 2 days but no one is counting obviously…) and it felt like a good time for a quick bit of pondering. It is possible that it was just me, but a large part of the PhD was wondering what it would be

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  • I am very pleased to report that 2 weeks ago today I emerged successful from my PhD viva (pause for celebration). But now, as you might expect from me (or if, not then I will tell you now that I cannot resist the opportunity to reflect), this is a milestone that induces much reflection. “Discussion”

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  • The end is nigh…

    So, here we are. Saved in my files (and several other places) is a complete thesis. 80,000+ words pulled forth from my mind and onto ‘paper’. It’s a strange feeling, equal parts incredible and terrifying. The terror I should note, isn’t from the thesis, it’s from the thought of having to leave being a PhD

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  • (Disclaimer: Here you will learn that I am a dedicated fan of Nintendo’s ‘Legend of Zelda’ series) After almost 2 years, this week I finally hit the milestone that has haunted me from day 1. I defined my research questions. Of all the mental struggles that a PhD can bring (a topic for future discussion

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