As my avid readers (are there actually any of you out there) know, I've spent the past 5 days in dissertation boot camp. And it has definitely been an experience to write home about. Get it, WRITE? I crack myself up sometimes. So my 5 today will focus on this boot camp.
-1-
Citing Someone Who Cited Enrico Fermi
Okay, I had a legitimate nerd out this morning as I was putting together my citations. I love the old documents from the Manhattan Project that I've been able to include in my bibliography because, HELLO, Manhattan Project! So as I was looking through the footnotes of the source-- Diffraction of Neutrons by a Single Crystal by W.H. Zinn-- and I see a name that I love, E. Fermi. If you don't know who Enrico Fermi is, he's a pretty big name when it comes to the science of the Manhattan Project (and winner of a Nobel Prize in Physics). Want to know more? You can read about him here.
(This article is public domain, btw. I'm not breaking any copyright laws by including the above images)
-2-
The Dresscode
Yesterday, I wore sweatpants. No one said anything. And I wasn't the only one wearing them either. I think most people wore real clothes the first day of camp. The number of women in yoga pants after that was glorious. I can't tell you the last time I wore sweatpants to work, and whenever it was, it likely had something to do with a cast being on my leg or lumbar injections for 80-year-old back. It was AWESOME!
-3-
The People
When I talked about relationships here, I mentioned the importance of having "knowers" outside of your field. I met people from history, theology, sociology, medieval studies, etc. And it was really good to talk about grad school woes. For once, it felt like someone was saying, "Yeah. I totally know how you feel. It sucks. I get it." Instead of trying to convince me that graduate school was the best decision of my life and science and engineering and here's how I should fix my research. We talked about dogs (I love my burritos), unsupportive advisors, deadlines, and our research too (Everyone else's research sounded so cool). My favorite convo was linked to impostor syndrome and how it is just
-4-
Discovering the Library
 |
| Photo from nd.edu |
So I have a confession to make. I have really never set foot into the building that is probably most well known for its mural affectionately called "Touchdown Jesus." I mean maybe I picked up a book or two, but I haven't spent any quality time there-- until this week. It's actually pretty nice. There's this area called the Fishbowl that has a large work area (think plenty of tables, chairs, outlets, even couches) that has plenty of natural light from the floor to ceiling windows and a beautiful view of the Basilica and "Stonehenge". And it allows food and drink. I think getting out of my normal environment and into an environment where I just can sit and write has been especially freeing. I think I'll be working here more often.
-5-
Getting Stuff Done
I have quite literally been checking things off my checklist left and right. My outline and drafts of Chapters 1 and 2 have been sent to my advisor for edits. I sent a draft of Chapter 3 to Sel to look over to see if he has any questions that might make the chapter more cohesive.
Well, there it is. In the wise words of my buddy Enrico,
"It is no good to stop knowledge from going forward. Ignorance is never better than knowledge."
No comments:
Post a Comment