On the wider theme of science and education, people sometimes ask me why I want to do a PhD (particularly in view of my recent rejections). The short answer is that I want to use it as a prelude to a career in research. And the reason I want to do research is partly that I want to keep studying, and actually cover new ground. In most companies, training is regarded as a necessary evil - you give up a few days for your staff to learn new skills, then you want them to use those skills repeatedly for the next couple of years, until the next upgrade comes along. The other motivation for research is that I want to do something worthwhile with my life - something that matters. The other reason for a PhD is a bit more shallow - I want the respect and recognition that comes with it. More specifically, I'm looking to get that from my peers. I already have vocational qualifications, and my former employers clearly valued my skills (based on my salary), but it's a bit like the Groucho Marx problem ("I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member") - I want to impress the people who aren't impressed by me.
On the wider theme of science and education, people sometimes ask me why I want to do a PhD (particularly in view of my recent rejections). The short answer is that I want to use it as a prelude to a career in research. And the reason I want to do research is partly that I want to keep studying, and actually cover new ground. In most companies, training is regarded as a necessary evil - you give up a few days for your staff to learn new skills, then you want them to use those skills repeatedly for the next couple of years, until the next upgrade comes along. The other motivation for research is that I want to do something worthwhile with my life - something that matters. The other reason for a PhD is a bit more shallow - I want the respect and recognition that comes with it. More specifically, I'm looking to get that from my peers. I already have vocational qualifications, and my former employers clearly valued my skills (based on my salary), but it's a bit like the Groucho Marx problem ("I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member") - I want to impress the people who aren't impressed by me.
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Broken chain
This time last year (April 2017), the chain snapped on my touring bike. To be fair, it had lasted 3118 km, and these are essentially consumable…
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WNBR 2015
I've been involved with the World Naked Bike Ride since 2009. This year, I took part in three rides: London, Brighton, and Bristol. I also did a few…
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Free stuff
I'm having another clear-out, to get rid of some of my accumulated clutter. If anyone would like any of these items (free of charge), just let me…
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