Friday 18 November 2011

Research Symposiums are Time Consuming

Some of you may have noticed my lack of comments this week and I apologize for that. I've been busy preparing for a research symposium that was held today. Basically, I had to polish and refine a poster that boils down all the research I've done and present it to anyone interested.

And pray I won't be like this the entire time.

I won't go into the details of my research. It's not the most amazing or interesting stuff in the world. Just investigation into how a particular memory technique might work. What is more interesting (in my mind) is the work that went into the poster.

I ran into a few complications such as graphs that didn't work properly, Powerpoint being a pain in the butt and not working properly, being tired and my brain not working properly, you get the idea. All this leads to me being forced to submit my poster for printing on the night before and then having to run out in freezing weather to pick it up.

Had I sent the poster even one day earlier, I could have saved my hands and face from our harsh Canadian winters.

Forgive me exposed flesh.

And then when I get around to setting up my poster, there are a few graphical errors. Not sure how my prof, supervisors and myself missed that, I suspect it may have been due to a cropping issue when they printed my poster but no time to fix it.

Did I mention that there would be judges? Yeah, judges came around to talk to you about your posters, assign you a grade so hopefully you'd win an award later that afternoon. 15 minutes after I notice the poster errors I get my first judge.

And already I'm stuttering and explaining things in a confusing manner.


Seriously, this isn't the first time I've discussed this material, it shouldn't be this difficult. Fortunately, things get better and I'm somewhat more coherent with my other two judges.

Unfortunately however, I didn't win anything (I blame this on the first judge). My friend Adrian however got $250 for having the best poster in physics for his work on string theory. Ah well, at least I presented something. These types of events are always good to tack onto a resume.

48 comments:

  1. research is such a pain in the ass. but either way, I hope your's will come out clean and flawless :), go work on your graph now. never mind the blog hopping/commenting, you have all the time to do that after you're done with your research and poster whatever :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Interesting post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I haz frozen :3 that one is really cool lmao :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Excellent post man, sorry to hear you didn't win anything but it sounds good regardless!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Memory stuff is fun to research, actually. Very interesting stuff. Could you put the poster (or at least a snippet of it) on here? :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. I feel sorry that you didn't get anything.

    ReplyDelete
  7. wow, 250$ worth the effort, I mean If you have nothing to do, the opportunity cost is 0.

    I do not receive nothing for my economics research xD

    ReplyDelete
  8. You'll do better next time! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Techonology only good when it works..haha..stupid powerpoint...yeah canadian winters suck.

    ReplyDelete
  10. At least you got it done, came out alive, and if the guy who won $250 is a friend you can probably get some of it in some form lol.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Too bad you didn't win, maybe next time!

    ReplyDelete
  12. that reminds me of the old science fair projects. I would always lose terribly to kids who's parents did all the work.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Chalk another one up for those string theory elitists... they win everything! Well you will get em next time. Remember this tip..... sabotage works every time!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh no! Poor seal! I hope he's doing okay.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ah, sorry to hear you didn't get anything, but experience is always good.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I wish I had those $250 right now.

    ReplyDelete
  17. ehh..better luck next time :P

    ReplyDelete
  18. Happens. Sounds like its a good process and I'm sure the more you do, the better you get.

    Had to laugh at the "Forgive me exposed flesh" caption!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I like the little positive thought at the end, but you're right, the presentation is great for experience, however I know it's sucky not to get a prize or anything. Look forward to the term's end! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Don't worry about it. Just do what you gotta do. I'm kinda busy with real life too and I haven't been able to sleep properly for the past few days.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Glad it went well even though you didn't win :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. 2 out of 3 isn't so bad, you didn't win anything but still, congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  23. It would be cool if you showed us the finished product! Shame about not winning though, but I have to admit anything related to string theory just sounds impressive to a noob like me...

    WEMAKEPLANS

    ReplyDelete
  24. yay for being out of your comfort zone! sorta at least XD

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sounds like some complicated stuff

    ReplyDelete
  26. It is needed to be a clever man to see just how marvelous you are writing

    ReplyDelete
  27. Research symposiums sound borrrrrinnng.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Yes, you should be proud that you presented your research...and we all get tongue tied now and then. LOVE the photos you included in this post...especially that last one...LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  29. At least it helps your resume

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hey congrats to your friend and your classified research. BTW...made you blog of the day.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Lol'd at the first picture. That's how so many poster sessions go, and the posters take so long to prepare. Better luck at the next one, they get easier with practice.

    ReplyDelete
  32. seems like you had a difficult week!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Congrats.
    Head up, champ.
    You can't win em all.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Shame you didnt win anyway, better luck next time.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Ah well, you should be glad you got it done and over with.

    ReplyDelete
  36. what's that pet frozen?

    ReplyDelete
  37. Sorry to hear about the editing snafus. Hang in there, mate!

    ReplyDelete
  38. i'm busy too !
    too much homework for graduate

    ReplyDelete
  39. THose are some great pics. I'm sorry your poster didn't turn out as well as you would have liked but I hope you had fun anyway. How cold is it in Canada?

    ReplyDelete
  40. Good luck to your speech symposium. This kind of activitiy really eycites me. Go ahead and break a leg. :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. oh the fun of the winter...the last 2 days have been freezing. at least its nice out today!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Congrats! I am currently working on my undergrad thesis and want to die.

    I am a bit jealous you are finished with your research.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Good luck next time. Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  44. You get better trying!

    And looking that baby seal... I want to be a baby seal, rolling in the snow and being all cute and happy, well, at least the part before I get beaten to deaht.

    ReplyDelete