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>> 30.11.03

Something for the weekend
The weekend has proved to be very relaxing. In fact, the seven or so weekends I've encountered since the start of my PhD have proved to be quite relaxing, because on the whole I've done very little in the way of work during them. I've been considering whether this is a good thing or not and, up until now, have yet to come to a final decision. As I see it, working relatively hard five days a week at this stage is acceptable, because it allows for the prospect of... {>>}

Programming (successfully) in Maple
After several hours of deleting commas, replacing semi-colons with colons and basically playing with punctuation, I've managed to get the programme for finding symmetry generators of IVPs working. It has been quite a frustrating, though ultimately satisfying experience and I've been finding generators of IVPs left, right and centre simply because I can. It hasn't all been fun, though: in order to help the interested reader understand what IVPs are, there is now a small paper over in the research section of arbitrary constant that will hopefully make things a... {>>}

>> 28.11.03

Programming in Maple
My attempts to program in Maple have proved to be as successful as I thought they would be, which is to say they haven't been successful at all. This is partly due to a complete lack of experience with Maple as a mathematical package (which we can be registered as being a fairly major obstacle, i'd say) and a general inability to think "in computers." (I do, on occasions, talk in maths, though). At such times of defeat, it is always worth considering what you are trying to achieve and... {>>}

>> 27.11.03

IVP 'success'
After some time adjusting to the demands of research 'proper', work is moving in a positive direction. Having read the majority of the literature on symmetry methods, I am now working with my supervisor on the symmetries of initial value problems (IVPs). (A brief introduction to IVPs can be found elsewhere within the diary, although a better introduction to this part of the research will be available in the research section of arbitraryconstant soon). This basically boils down to us trying to find a systematic way of finding the symmetry... {>>}

PhD timescales
Having briefly discussed the phases of a PhD, it is perhaps time to include a list of the important dates associated with a PhD. These are by no means accurate, but do provide a rough idea of what needs to be achieved by when (all dates are the time by which the following description should have been achieved): 3 months: define your research area and possible project title; read the majority of the background and current literature. 12 months: transfer report. Submitted to allow a student to 'upgrade' to a... {>>}

Knowing your place
The first lecture given by Professor Barry Evnas as part of his research skills lecture course didn't exactly endear me to his cause (continually referring to the amount of money effective and efficient research generates doesn't exactly sound like encouragement in a form I would consider welcoming) and the second lecture has gone virtually the same way. Once again ignoring the constitution of his audience, Professor Evans discussed Research Projects: Their Organisation & Structure, a topic which allowed him the opportunity to discuss the benefits of and need for red-tape... {>>}

UniS postgraduate prospectus
I picked up a copy of the postgraduate prospectus for the University of Surrey yesterday and found that it made quite interesting reading. It certainly provides enough information for a prospective student (as you would hope) and also fills in a couple of gaps for current students that might have missed something along the way. Like me. There isn't much point in me repeating everything written, so perhaps the best thing to do is have a look at the on-line postgraduate prospectus and see what you make of it yourself.... {>>}

>> 26.11.03

Adaptation
Adapting to true research is proving to be more difficult than I imagined it would be. As I have mentioned before, my PhD had until now entailed working through an introductory text on symmetry methods and working through the exercises/concepts to form a solid basis for future work. (Fortunately, the field of symmetry methods does not contain hundreds of ambiguous papers and text books that contain small, unfathomable results that serve to bog a reader down instead of educate them; as a result, the reading of one text should do... {>>}

>> 25.11.03

The end of the book
Today has seen the end of the first phase of my studies: I have finished working through Peter Hydon's book and will now be working on something that cropped up a while ago but no-one has yet figured out an answer/approach to. In as much as you can define so surely the end of a "phase" of a PhD, I feel like I have settled down well into the routine of things and am looking forward to the new challenges my work will now present. I will be working on... {>>}

>> 21.11.03

The weekly non-linear seminar
A cursory glimpse at the maths department's website quickly reveals that one of the main research interests at UniS is non-linear dynamics. (If you think of a graph, then a non-linear equation is basically one that cannot be drawn by a straight line; if you remember that linear means y = ax + b, then you'll be fine). As a result of the deep interest in non-linear dynamics, the department has been hosting a series of seminars every Friday afternoon, at which an invited speaker gives a lecture on their... {>>}

Asleep in the back
The research skillls lectures once again prove to be the most numbingly predictable highlight of the day, with the University Research, PhDs, Organisation & Funding lecture taking it's turn to wither everyone present into a state of despair, or — in my case — slumber. I shall not discuss the merits of holding a lecture at 9am on a Friday morning, but instead consider the one issue of the hour the lecturer seemed most concerned to impress on the gathered unfortunate: money, and lots of it. The speaker was Professor... {>>}

>> 19.11.03

UCAS days
As part of my money-earning, I have started helping once again with the department's UCAS days. As an undergraduate, I used to do talks to prospective students about the MMath course which I quite enjoyed, though of course reaction was at best muted and at worse total silence. The open days have changed a little bit since then and there is a much more interactive approach to the day now. Though the basic structure remains the same, students are now required to attend a short interview with a member of... {>>}

Setting the alarm for the morning
Having never been particularly good at getting up in the morning, I was hoping to establish some sort of routine that determined a regular arrival time in the "office" in the maths department. The plan was to arrive at around 9:30am, have a cup of tea and catch up on some news and then get down to some serious work. What has actually happened, however, is that the alarm goes off and I tend to fall back to sleep. Not entirely a new experience, but a little disappointing. It does... {>>}

>> 18.11.03

A big blank where my mind should be
Today has been by far the worst day of my studies: everything I have tried has gone decidedly wrong and, as it turns out, my grasp of a particular method is not so much a grasp as an attempt to hold on to a greasy pole having washed my hands with olive oil. The day has not been helped by my late-ish night last night, which was late because of the marking I chose to do. Although the money will come in useful, it provided a timely reminder that I... {>>}

>> 17.11.03

Original work
The whole point of a PhD is to contribute original material to your chosen field: if you do not add any new knowledge to your chosen subject matter, then the likelihood of receiving the title of "doctor" diminishes greatly; to zero, in fact. I am approaching the point where I shall no longer be familiarising myself with the discipline of symmetry methods and will be working with my suprevisor, Dr Peter Hydon to develop some new techniques. Though I am slightly apprehensive at the prospect of doing some sums that... {>>}

>> 15.11.03

Tutorial sessions
As mentioned previously, I've been doing my bit in the department to help supplement my income. Having already done some marking, today saw my first tutorial session for a group of students on the MSc in Astrodynamics, which proved to be quite an interesting experience. The first point to raise is whether or not I have the experience necessary to be able to help these students, given that the only real difference between myself and them is a couple of weeks of study. This was something I brought up with... {>>}

>> 13.11.03

LaTeX assignment
As part of the research skills course that is compulsory for all new PhD students, I have to produce a LaTeX document displaying various skills. This seems to be the perfect opportunity to employ what would otherwise be a pointless module and write a brief introduction to symmetry methods for the research section of arbitraryconstant. It is due for week 14, which in real moeny is something like the end of November; there will be a link to the paper (and perhaps even a picture to please the punters) from... {>>}

Concentrated effort
Now that I have settled down a bit more, my progress has improved steadily. The current preoccupation is with Dr Hydon's book, Symmetry Methods for Differential Equations, and involves a crash-course in symmetry methods. It's not so much a crash-course as a fairly rapid refresher, because symmetry methods formed a fourth year module as part of my undergraduate studies (and is now, interestingly, only available for MSc students), thus I am familiarising myself with concepts such that they come as second nature. The book itself is split into eleven chapters.... {>>}

>> 12.11.03

Council tax
The title of this post might not be enthralling, but never-the-less it is an important issue when considering setting budgets as a postgraduate student. Before commencing my studies, I assumed that as a full-time postgraduate student I would be exempt from paying any council tax, no matter where I lived — similar to the case as an undergraduate student; I have since learnt that this assumption was wrong. Council tax is calculated on a property according to the individuals that live in that house. If every resident is a full-time... {>>}

>> 11.11.03

Earning a few extra pennies
Having calculated my budgets for the year, the conclusion was that any extra money that comes my way will certainly be appreciated — if not only to accommodate my occasional wish for take-out pizza. There are many ways in which it is possible to generate a little bit of cash, but a new avenue that opens up because of being a postgraduate student is helping within the department. This help takes on several different forms, but the two main ones are marking courseworks and holding tutorial sessions for individuals/groups, both... {>>}

>> 10.11.03

Becoming a part of the department
As an undergraduate, the number of hours spent in your own department is normally a relatively small number compared with lectures elsewhere; in fact, it is probably true to say that the only room within a department that is used effectively by students is the common room, effectively in this case meaning that the room is used for the purpose it was designed to be used for. As such, departments are useful as short-cuts and notice-posting areas - and an area neither for congregation or association. Considering the role of... {>>}

>> 09.11.03

Daily meetings
A relatively hot topic of discussion within the postgraduate "office" at the moment is the regularity of meetings a student has with their supervisor. It is normal practise for a student to meet with their supervisor once a week, perhaps sometimes more, occasionally a little less, and for that meeting to last around an hour. That is certainly the norm within our office — and from what I hear of other departments it is simliar there too; the exception, therefore, is me, because I meet with Dr Hydon every day.... {>>}

>> 07.11.03

Symmetry methods for differential equations
Enough of the walk and talk: there is a need for some facts. My PhD is concerned with Structure Preserving Symmetries of Differential Equations which begs many questions: 1) What are differential equations? 2) What are symmetries of differential equations (or, perhaps more pertinently, what is symmetry)? 3) Should such details really be included in this PhD diary? The last question is perhaps the best starting point: as far as possible, I will not be going into too much detail concerning my actual work within this environment. This is for... {>>}

Ebb and flow
Starting anything new can always be a daunting prospect and the idea of three years study certainly fits the bill. What if I can't do it? What if I'm not good enough? What if I don't come up with anything original etc. ad infinitum are the general feelings I suspect most people probably have and are certainly the ones I am most accustomed to at the moment. Armed with such questions, I spent my meeting with Dr Hydon today discussing the ebb and flow of a PhD and tried to... {>>}

>> 04.11.03

Research sessions suspicions confirmed
I thought it a distinct possibility, but 9am this morning proved what I suspected all along: that the research skills course that I have to attend as a compulsory part of my PhD funding conditions was a waste of time. The title of this particular module is "Computer Skills" and today's "tutorial" involved turning up at silly'o'clock, being shown a URL and proceeding to work through some UNIX tutorials. It was a waste of time and I've a good mind to tell someone about it. It put me in a... {>>}

>> 03.11.03

Dr Peter Hydon
The most important individual associated with a PhD is the supervisor: they determine subject matter, groom learning, offer advice, experience and ability, and basically drag students kicking and screaming through three years of intensive, difficult study. The success of a PhD is down to hard work, which is all channelled in the right direction by a supervisor keeping a close eye on every letter and calculation produced. I think you get the idea. Upon deciding I wanted to continue after graduation with academic study, my thoughts immediately turned to symmetry... {>>}

>> 02.11.03

Research skills
Since the server is down in the BB block (the 'sister' department of maths, where the school reception is located) and I cannot find enough material to show my supervisor in the best possible light, a little more information concerning the conditions of the bursary are called for. There was a time when postgraduates were simply given their money and a supervisor, with the goal of walking away three years later with a PhD. Though that it is still effectively the case (at a very basic level), the demands of... {>>}