#engd

[audaray]

Baby's first bop 🙌

[audaray]

Networking

Man I have NO idea what to do at networking events. I hover awkwardly unless my pals are there. I'll talk the hind legs off a donkey, but in a professional capacity I am PURE SHY. ANYONE any tips on how to gain chill and networking skillz?

[audaray]

Motion Capture Adventures

Genuinely today was great fun.  We were doing a motion capture study of sit-to-stand movements, which meant I had to put on a cycling onesie and tape markers to various bits of my lower limb. IT WAS HILARIOUS. You can walk about in the VICON system once these markers have been recognised and named etc and see a little stick frame representation of your lower body (in my case). It was very odd to see how I move - you don't pay attention to how your hips/pelvis move when in motion but it definitely made me think!  Decided it'd be a great idea to make my wee frame gyrate full monty style! and skip about :D  We also realised we could 'recreate' the Anaconda video if I shifted side to side on the thing I was sitting on as it showed you the ground reaction forces for each bum cheek - apparently I sit more right than left.  Now we've got to analyse the data and say whether or not a low chair, a chair the height of your knees or a chair higher than knee height creates a greater moment at your knees and hips.  WHAT FUN IN THE MOTION LAB! :P 

[audaray]

First block of EngD - COMPLETE

Managed (hopefully) it. 

4 exams in 4 weeks.  Cell Bio - was really, really hard and the Krebs Cycle is the most mad thing ever. Conclusion : The human body is a swirling pool of WTF.  Physiology1&2 - What I learned here is that the central nervous system is the most INSANE communication system ever. Tiny zaps firing down your axons = pick up that cup and drink. YES. The heart and cardiovascular system is complicated and FASCINATING. The heart is a complex little engine driving your existence. To learn (even in basic detail) how it swirls your blood around was so great. Really intrigued now. OH, also - YOUR KIDNEYS ARE IMPORTANT. DO NOT HURT THEM. And please look after your heart!  Anatomy - Jings, where do we begin? The prosections we got to examine in the labs we attended were fascinating. Yes, they were real human parts - and it was absolutely amazing to see how we all fit together. Spinal cords, hearts, feet - complicated structures. Hands - your hands are so cool underneath the skin! If you ever get a chance to visit the Anatomy Museum at Glasgow University, DO IT. It's so interesting. The top floor shocked me at points, due to there being all sorts of specimens in jars (foetii, animal parts etc) but this part is a collection from YEARS AND YEARS AGO.  Overall, the past 4 weeks have been so intense, and very difficult at times, but so interesting and challenging. It's been such a change from physics - a bit of a shock at times - but alot of the time it's been good fun :) Onwards and upwards - the 9-5 daily timetable starts Monday - I'll keep you all posted! :P 

[networkafrica-blog]

EngD Studentship in Water Engineering for students of UK/EU in UK ...

Scholarship deadline: 31st May 2013 Financial sponsor: University of Exeter in UK Course Level: PhD degree Study field: Water Engineering Study.

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[mlkubik]

Research Poster

  I've finally got around to something that I've being to for a long time… upload my research poster!  The poster has been done for a long time now, it's just that uploading it has been at the bottom of the list of a long things to do for a while, and it didn't look like that list was ever going to diminish to the point that I'd get it done.

If you’re unfamiliar with my research it should give you an overview of what it is I do and why it’s important.  I’ve tried to cut down the jargon, but the language is still a bit stuffy and techy (hey, it is an academic research poster), but I’ve tried to explain all of the important terms so hopefully it’s reasonably accessible. 

[mlkubik]

The case for UK renewables Part VIII: Renewable energy

Ok, last post  in this series.

  We’ve now covered the problems with carrying on as we are in terms of generating electricity (basically, we can’t!), and have tackled two of the three technologies that can help us deal with this challenge.  Finally, a little bit wiser hopefully, we are on to the technologies I originally wanted to discuss… renewables.

  There are a huge number of renewable technologies, including:

  ·         Onshore wind

·         Offshore wind

·         Biomass

·         Tidal

·         Solar PV

·         Solar CSP

·         Wave

·         Hydro

  In the UK we are blessed with one of the best wind, wave and tidal resources in Europe, all forms of renewable energy that can be developed and exploited to our benefit.  Renewable energy is a broad field, and not one technology, but an umbrella term for many different technologies with different respective advantages and characteristics.

  Their common benefits are that they utilize naturally replenishing resources, rather than finite fossil fuels, or finite nuclear fuels.  Their fuels, the wind, the waves, the tides, are all free.  They are zero carbon, and provide a huge potential opportunity for manufacturing, innovation and growth.  Anything else about them has to be said individually, as they have different characteristics that offer different drawbacks and benefits.  To avoid cramming this all into one post, I will have to tackle these individually at one point or another in the future.  For now, suffice to say these can work in a very complimentary way, and many technological developments can help some of their potential drawbacks.

[mlkubik]

The World Renewable Energy Forum

There has been silence on the blogging front for a little while, as I am away at the World Renewable Energy Forum in Denver, Colorado.  Although this means I will not be updating here for a while, this is one of the most social media active international conferences I've attended, and you can keep up to date by following my updates on twitter.  Normal blogging service to resume soon.