With about nine months to go until I am due to hand in my thesis, I am periodically cycling between optimism and pessimism as to how I am progressing. I know that I have managed to pull together a reasonably solid body of work, which my supervisors assure me will be sufficient to complete my… Continue reading Research update: optimism and pessimism
Author: Donald
Overdue update on research progress
I realise that I’m very much overdue an update on my research progress, having posted very little so far and nothing in the last year. Things are generally going well, although I still feel there is a lot to do and only a limited amount of time to do it in. This feeling of pressure… Continue reading Overdue update on research progress
Photos of 2015
At the start of the new year, I like to take the opportunity to look back over past photos, and try and come up with a list. This is highly subjective, and particularly dependent on how I am feeling when compiling it, nevertheless I have put together a set on Flickr of my top 16 photos from last… Continue reading Photos of 2015
2015 in numbers
Over the past year I have again been logging my activity and travel, and thought it would be interesting (for me if no-one else) to post an update on here. In 2015 I walked approximately 4.4 million steps, covering 2 900 km, and I cycled a further 2 050 km. This is slightly more walking than 2014, but about a… Continue reading 2015 in numbers
Is ‘Climate Change’ too nice?
An interesting letter in New Scientist, suggesting that one of the the reasons we as a society have not done enough about climate change is the name ‘global warming’—it makes it sound quite nice, especially for us in northern latitudes. And some thoughts following the COP21 agreement in Paris.
Book Review: “News from…” trilogy
This is a somewhat overdue review of the sci-fi “News from…” trilogy by Robert Llewellyn.
European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, Nantes
Thoughts about my 2015 trip to Nantes where I presented my research at the EWTEC conference.
Exhibitions in Edinburgh
I have been to see three excellent exhibitions that are currently being held in Edinburgh: The Amazing World of M.C. Escher, Photosynthesis: Shedding new light on plants, and Bailey’s Stardust.
I would thoroughly recommend going to see them if you can.
European rail trip, part 5: Amsterdam and home by ferry
Amsterdam, a city of canals and bikes. Lots of bikes. And what better way to explore the city, than a hire bike. Then it was finally time to head back to the UK, by ferry to Newcastle.
European rail trip, part 4: Overnight to Köln
The return journey began with a sleeper train to Köln, where I visited the impressive cathedral, and some of the other sites, before heading on my way again