http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/25/oscar-cat-artifical-paws-pioneering-surgery
I read this article and just marvelled at the wonder of science, medicine, engineering. The cat might look slightly like something out of Terminator 2 but I just love how they called this article 'Kitten Heels'.
Sarah
Friday 25 June 2010
Wednesday 2 June 2010
"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?"
Much and many developments in the life of this science girl and I will divulge them in somewhat chaotic order, with the only common thread that is me....
• Paper trail: I submitted a paper recently-ish. This was based on work that I completed in my PhD and every word I wrote myself. The real learning curve was trying to put it in paper format and submit it. On rejection (sniff, sniff but no real surprise), I had to reformat it for another paper. Piece of cake, I thought. An old hand at it now, I scoffed. Yet another ruddy rigmarole was the reality. Why is it so hard? Why are there so many rules? Why if I downloaded one template, does my laptop become fiercely loyal and refuse to work with others. Anyway, watch this space to see if it gets published.
• Career Development Course: As mentioned in networking instalment of blog, I went to a course which wasn’t right for me but I did see it helping other people that had turned up. I met a career advisor who had come to observe the course. I spoke to her about my lack of experience working outside of UK, outside of Glasgow! She told me about exchanges funded through the Royal Society of Edinburgh (these have established links with existing universities) and the Royal Society-links have been added. I am very lucky to have a supervisor that gives my ideas consideration and is supportive of my proposed secondment. I am now making a list of people that I would like to work with, or a skill I would like to learn.
• Knowledge Exchange: Today I am off to find out about becoming a project champion for technology that has been patented by the university. The government, as spoken about in last blog, wants universities to commercialise more of its technology and has allocated money to train up post-docs to help with this. It does sound like a great opportunity for me and my C.V.-I will be learning parts of the masters in business, will be networking, learn more about I.P. etc. I am just worried that I am taking on too much! Will go along today and take it from there.
• Serendipity: Don’t you just love it when things work and you don’t know why, you don’t know how and ultimately you don’t really care. Due to some random boiling water I had on the go, I managed to make the compound I have been in a rut with for months. Delighted. Now writing paper.
• Oh! I’m going to Hawaii: Abstract got accepted for Pacific Chem 2010. Hawaii here I come...if I can figure out how to book it all and pay. Ruddy Hawaii-YAAAAAASSSSS!!!!
• Global Poverty Project: A friend of mine studied economic development and hosted a presentation called 1.4 billion reasons. This had a profound effect on me and it wasn’t all happy clappy, wasn’t pictures of people dying of starvation, wasn’t a plea for money. I don’t want to give too much away but maybe encourage you to have a look: http://globalpovertyproject.com/. Yet again, I spoke to my boss this time about the possibility of me taking unpaid leave to do something to contribute to the fight against poverty and yet again, my super boss said yes! Having being given the gift of time, I need to think about using this wisely.
Updates will follow on all of the above!
Sarah
• Paper trail: I submitted a paper recently-ish. This was based on work that I completed in my PhD and every word I wrote myself. The real learning curve was trying to put it in paper format and submit it. On rejection (sniff, sniff but no real surprise), I had to reformat it for another paper. Piece of cake, I thought. An old hand at it now, I scoffed. Yet another ruddy rigmarole was the reality. Why is it so hard? Why are there so many rules? Why if I downloaded one template, does my laptop become fiercely loyal and refuse to work with others. Anyway, watch this space to see if it gets published.
• Career Development Course: As mentioned in networking instalment of blog, I went to a course which wasn’t right for me but I did see it helping other people that had turned up. I met a career advisor who had come to observe the course. I spoke to her about my lack of experience working outside of UK, outside of Glasgow! She told me about exchanges funded through the Royal Society of Edinburgh (these have established links with existing universities) and the Royal Society-links have been added. I am very lucky to have a supervisor that gives my ideas consideration and is supportive of my proposed secondment. I am now making a list of people that I would like to work with, or a skill I would like to learn.
• Knowledge Exchange: Today I am off to find out about becoming a project champion for technology that has been patented by the university. The government, as spoken about in last blog, wants universities to commercialise more of its technology and has allocated money to train up post-docs to help with this. It does sound like a great opportunity for me and my C.V.-I will be learning parts of the masters in business, will be networking, learn more about I.P. etc. I am just worried that I am taking on too much! Will go along today and take it from there.
• Serendipity: Don’t you just love it when things work and you don’t know why, you don’t know how and ultimately you don’t really care. Due to some random boiling water I had on the go, I managed to make the compound I have been in a rut with for months. Delighted. Now writing paper.
• Oh! I’m going to Hawaii: Abstract got accepted for Pacific Chem 2010. Hawaii here I come...if I can figure out how to book it all and pay. Ruddy Hawaii-YAAAAAASSSSS!!!!
• Global Poverty Project: A friend of mine studied economic development and hosted a presentation called 1.4 billion reasons. This had a profound effect on me and it wasn’t all happy clappy, wasn’t pictures of people dying of starvation, wasn’t a plea for money. I don’t want to give too much away but maybe encourage you to have a look: http://globalpovertyproject.com/. Yet again, I spoke to my boss this time about the possibility of me taking unpaid leave to do something to contribute to the fight against poverty and yet again, my super boss said yes! Having being given the gift of time, I need to think about using this wisely.
Updates will follow on all of the above!
Sarah
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