Comments | cn_89: NRP's done!

cn_89

NRP's done!

Nov 19, 2006 00:41

NRP's finally over for me today, after my presentation at the NRP symposium today. It's over for many others like me too, but some people are going to bring their projects a step further to participate in things like SSEF, A*TS or even ISEF (if they ever manage to make it). I'm in a dilemma whether to do likewise.

It is practical to do so because by ( Read more... )

Comments 5

anonymous November 20 2006, 15:13:52 UTC

Hello! Been reading your blog entries... and felt that I should put something down ( ... )

cjqsg November 20 2006, 15:52:59 UTC

"Perhaps, in the future, you might want to take the initiative to work a little harder if you feel that you "could slack around for one year without using [your] brain much". You can learn alot, alot from RPs, as much as and more than what you think you can learn. Don't let the constraints and problems of RPs restrain you, go beyond it. "

it's difficult really. you must have sufficient interest, do sufficient groundwork to gain sufficient understanding, and have sufficient support/time. central to achieving these is an encouraging environment, an interested mentor and a willing partner, all of which are increasingly rare in an environment saturated with limitations and oriented towards results.

jez_hex November 20 2006, 16:56:12 UTC

despite my annoyance with the misrepresented nature of RPs, I still think they're useful on some level.. for me, I have gained an understanding of various fields; and even though I'm doing diluted research, still get some idea of how it is actually done. I also glean quite a lot from watching my mentor at work and reading scientific papers. And I believe that the SSEF etc judges are awarding not just innovation, but methodicity, and a comprehensive understanding of what you are working on. The latter two are equally important in doing research imo, and to some extent it is possible to evaluate these qualities through questioning the student; and the people who win these awards are usually those that put in a lot of work (and have the abovementioned skills). Although, as previously said, scholarship boards may think more of these awards than is really justified; but it's not all fluff, or even mere ambition with no skill ( ... )

cn_89 November 21 2006, 02:24:48 UTC

I agree with you that a lot can be gained from research projects (despite my devoting two entries to talk about their disappointments). Indeed I've learnt a lot even through merely observing what my mentor did in the labs and reading scientific papers. =P I'm just saying if the program could be more active in encouraging independent thinking it would be much better ( ... )

anonymous November 22 2006, 13:39:07 UTC

wow! so lively here! hi jez!

i guess it really takes 2 hands to clap. RPs aren't for everyone, in its true form, a passionate student and a willing mentor. I'm the kind of person who would keep pushing forward, keep trying to ask and learn (rather annoyingly sometimes), and kinda will die for research. We're all different... diff perspectives.

RPs are, now i think, mainly for people interested for research. If it werent for all the H3 stuff and what not crap, i would predict that there would be much much fewer people going for these RPs. People passionate about research are really rare. Well... who ask MOE to push research so much... but then again... it's everybody's fault (you all get what i mean... sry saya engrish also dying)

Yay quite short post! haha! =D Take care!