A Happy Accident
I started the daily blog five years ago today by publishing No Accident. It was a short post to start an ongoing daily blog! I wanted to begin by exploring what gets a postgraduate researcher from the start to the...
no accident
Four Years
That’s how long I’ve been writing this blog. Longer than I spent on my PhD! I started with the following short post in 2017: I’ve got a few questions for you: Did you do the work? Did you show up...
On Track
Even if this year has been bumpy, you’re still on track to succeed if you’ve submitted or are working to getting your thesis finished. Being on track with your PhD means that you know where you’re going, even if you’re...
Does The Viva Matter?
Yes. You won’t get your PhD without passing, so it matters. It may be that your examiners have very few issues with your thesis, no problems to tackle, but they still have to have a good discussion with you. The...
Right
Your viva happens at the right time, after you’ve had plenty of opportunities to do good work and become talented. It happens in the right place – in a seminar room or online – but private, with space and time...
Three Years On
Viva Survivors started in 2012 as a podcast, but since April 18th 2017 it’s been a daily blog. Apart from the odd day off for Christmas I’ve published a post every day for three years! Too much has happened, particularly...
The Best Of The Best
It’s awards season. Great movies, shows, actors, directors, writers are all in competition. Five great people are up for this award, who will win?! Ten movies could all get that award – except, they can’t, only one can. Not just...
Creation or Discovery
When I was a mathematician, some of my colleagues said maths research was like sculpture. A big block of stone was chipped away at until you had the art you were trying to make. You have to start with everything...
Actions Beat Hopes
You can hope your examiners don’t spot them. A vague paragraph. An unfortunate typo. An unfinished project. The method you can’t quite remember. The definition that you struggle to place. The ideas you’ve not finished developing. The things you hope...
It’s a Wonderful Viva
A few days ago I was inspired by A Christmas Carol. Today my mind turns to It’s a Wonderful Life, which is my favourite Christmas movie. I could write a lot about how this movie makes me feel, what I...