The new semester started on Monday. I typically make lofty plans about how I'm going to get to the lab early in the morning, eat right, get lots of sleep, exercise, etc. And it hardly ever happens.
I really hope this term is different. So far I've done a good job of getting to the lab by 9 AM. I've gone home for lunch and have not gotten distracted. I've stayed in the lab well-beyond a typical 8-hour work day. Well, week one of a sixteen-week period was successful. Let's see how the rest of the term goes.
One woman's journey through life.
Showing posts with label classes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label classes. Show all posts
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
In Class Experiments
One of the classes I am taking this term is called Pollutant Dispersion Processes. It's the class I like the least of my two, mostly because the few assignments I've had involved MATLAB. I'm still not very good at MATLAB but I am better than when the class first started.
Anyway, back in October we got to do a fun little in class experiment that involved trekking over to the Milwaukee River and releasing some (EPA approved I believe) red dye. The main goal was to measure the amount of "pollutant" that passed through the center of the river.
Since I wasn't one of the people do got to don waders for the occasion, I stood on the river bank and recorded this little example of what went on:
I like this type of class activity.
Anyway, back in October we got to do a fun little in class experiment that involved trekking over to the Milwaukee River and releasing some (EPA approved I believe) red dye. The main goal was to measure the amount of "pollutant" that passed through the center of the river.
Since I wasn't one of the people do got to don waders for the occasion, I stood on the river bank and recorded this little example of what went on:
I like this type of class activity.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Classes, the Unnecessary Evil
I've always thought that the purpose of graduate school was to become very specialized in one topic.
For a bachelor's degree you learn a lot in four (plus or minus) years and it covers a wide variety of topics. For a master's degree you hone in on one topic from your bachelor's and specialize; becoming the master of that area. And finally for a doctorate you become really really specialized in one area from your master's degree.
I think the following comic from PhD Comics says it well with the following graph:
"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham
www.phdcomics.com
It's so true. And if you don't already subscribe to PhD Comics you should. Seriously.
Throughout that period of school you take a lot of classes. Because the bachelor's degree is so general you have a wide variety of options to chose from. The same, more or less depending on where you do your master's at, goes for the master's degree. But by the time you get to your doctorate all your research is cutting-edge - or at least to new to have classes devoted to the topic. So you take the classes that you think will help you pass the qualifying exams or the few that you find interesting.
Classes then become this evil, time-consuming thing that helps to foster procrastination. Why work on that journal article when you have homework to do? So few classes are applicable (at least for me) that it's almost a waste of time. Professors don't like teaching them because they take away from time they could be writing grants, students don't like taking them because it takes time away from research.
Classes at the graduate level are one of the really big differences between the educational system in the United States versus Europe. Here in the US it's classes and research until you fill the credit requirements and then just research. In Europe, or at least the UK, it's research-based where students work mostly towards the end goal (thesis/dissertation) without having to fiddle around with classes.
I'd like to just get these classes done so I can focus on my research! Especially right now when I'm trying to learn MATLAB (and failing, sigh) but still have a large "to-do" list accumulating. Perhaps this is just me complaining but how do you feel about class-work at the graduate level?
For a bachelor's degree you learn a lot in four (plus or minus) years and it covers a wide variety of topics. For a master's degree you hone in on one topic from your bachelor's and specialize; becoming the master of that area. And finally for a doctorate you become really really specialized in one area from your master's degree.
I think the following comic from PhD Comics says it well with the following graph:
"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Chamwww.phdcomics.com
It's so true. And if you don't already subscribe to PhD Comics you should. Seriously.
Throughout that period of school you take a lot of classes. Because the bachelor's degree is so general you have a wide variety of options to chose from. The same, more or less depending on where you do your master's at, goes for the master's degree. But by the time you get to your doctorate all your research is cutting-edge - or at least to new to have classes devoted to the topic. So you take the classes that you think will help you pass the qualifying exams or the few that you find interesting.
Classes then become this evil, time-consuming thing that helps to foster procrastination. Why work on that journal article when you have homework to do? So few classes are applicable (at least for me) that it's almost a waste of time. Professors don't like teaching them because they take away from time they could be writing grants, students don't like taking them because it takes time away from research.
Classes at the graduate level are one of the really big differences between the educational system in the United States versus Europe. Here in the US it's classes and research until you fill the credit requirements and then just research. In Europe, or at least the UK, it's research-based where students work mostly towards the end goal (thesis/dissertation) without having to fiddle around with classes.
I'd like to just get these classes done so I can focus on my research! Especially right now when I'm trying to learn MATLAB (and failing, sigh) but still have a large "to-do" list accumulating. Perhaps this is just me complaining but how do you feel about class-work at the graduate level?
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Where to start?
So much has happened since I last updated. Mostly, I registered for classes and began my research.
I'm taking two classes this term: environmental microbiology and pollution dispersion processes. Hopefully taking classes and working won't be too bad here. When I was working on my masters it was pretty easy to take classes and work but I'm not sure what this school will be like.
I'm working on two different tracks with my research. I've picked up where another student left off with microbial desalination cells and am putting together a literature review on enzyme biofuel cells.
The research appointment officially started last Monday. I didn't realize I would be starting so soon! Classes don't start till this week.
I'm taking two classes this term: environmental microbiology and pollution dispersion processes. Hopefully taking classes and working won't be too bad here. When I was working on my masters it was pretty easy to take classes and work but I'm not sure what this school will be like.
I'm working on two different tracks with my research. I've picked up where another student left off with microbial desalination cells and am putting together a literature review on enzyme biofuel cells.
The research appointment officially started last Monday. I didn't realize I would be starting so soon! Classes don't start till this week.
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