Moving on

I'm starting a new and optimistic blog as a post-doc here. I don't know if I should be staying with Blogger or moving to Wordpress. It's easy to get content into Blogger but I've used Wordpress a little for my OUBS 'Winding Up' blog, liking some of its writing features, but more importantly, also liking reading other's Wordpress blogs - if it gets your more readers and hence more feedback, then it's worth the move.

I'll come back here to report progress of my colleagues here in the OUBS. For example, our EU colleague is back, up and running with his PhD. Hurrah!

Canadian colleague has to submit by the end of October or go part-time. Last year, someone else went part-time which cost around £1500 (per year), but for my Canadian colleague, as a non-EU student it costs even more - around £5000, so he is well-motivated to finish. Canadian colleague has been the enthusiast for others' success for several years now, arranging little parties and get-togethers over a celebratory glass of champagne. At last, his turn approaches and I look forward to celebrating with him and for him.

Procrastinating again

Enthusiastic for another yummy day, I rush to my desk, switch on my computer, and the enthusiasm stalls, like in this comic.

There are many different ways of putting off writing:

• decorate the whole house
• watch all the Harry Potter videos in a day
• check Facebook
• play cards
  
• go for a long thoughtful walk.
  
• a swim.
  
• make Christmas lists.
  
• make other lists.
  
• Minesweeper.
• comb the cat
• watch the leaves
  
• Lots and lots of things to do...

PhD Issues

The OUBS PG students have just had a meeting between themselves. We started with an introductory activity - say what issue you are dealing with now, and your neighbour will offer some advice.

Issues included:

• literature - being stuck on something interesting
• procrastination
• time management
• the more you read the more you're scared by what you don't know!
• waiting for a confidentiality agreement for access to clients
• access to get data
• too small a return rate on samples
• writing to persuade access

Advice included:

• work 8 hours a day
• write anything
• schedule to read x articles per day
• use mnemonic SOSTS to guide your writing

SOSTS =

• Situation
• Objective
• Strategy
• Tactics
• Solution

I think the first two give the background and the later ones are what you want to get to. I'm working on those to write one paragraph that will persuade someone a) that I can write in non-academic terms, b) that I understood what was going on in the meeting, c) that the OU is a competent organisation, including having real research ability d) to introduce me to others of interest in my area e) to provide the access he offered f) to provide any other relevant support.