Posted by David in Natural Sciences on February 5, 2014
From speaking with friends who have graduated or are in the masters year, it seems fairly unanimous that this point in the degree brings the most stress. Now engrossed in Maxwell’s equations and the theorems of Claude Shannon that make up the remainder of the current module, a host of deadlines fall at the end […]
Posted in Career, Dissertation, Employment, Future, Stress | Tagged centre of interdisciplinary science, guitar, interdisciplinary sciences, ISci, natsci, Natural Sciences, stress, student blog, University of Leicester
Posted by David in Natural Sciences on January 24, 2014
The year has been divided into groups, all now furiously pulling apart the material we’ve been learning on cell signalling pathways in the context of their chosen topic. For my group, we’re tackling disuse osteoporosis, in particular with regards to the physiological effects of long-term space flight. Here disequilibrium in bone formation and absorption is […]
Posted in Career, Future, Studying | Tagged cell signalling, centre of interdisciplinary science, interdisciplinary sciences, ISci, natsci, Natural Sciences, osteoporosis, project, reflection, space flight, student blog, University of Leicester
Posted by David in Natural Sciences on January 15, 2014
After a rush to meet every deadline, the term kicked off with two exams on Monday for the Evolution and Nanoscience and Molecular Biology modules, followed by a well-earned drink. Reuniting with all the years had to be cut short however, as pre reading was already required to start the next core module today! For […]
Posted in Exams, Studying, Volunteering | Tagged Cell Engineering, centre of interdisciplinary science, convection cells, Electromagnetism and Cell Communication, Exams, flying teabags, interdisciplinary sciences, ISci, natsci, Natural Sciences, Nick Brindle, Stargazing Live, student blog, The National Space Centre, University of Leicester
Posted by David in Natural Sciences on December 29, 2013
Living in a city means giving up two things: silence and the night sky, both of which are all the more special on rediscovering them every time I return to the coast. Beyond the university bubble of student loans and bursaries the endless electric lights cast out anything save the brightest stars, ostensibly showing there […]
Posted in City, Dissertation, Leisure, Revision, Studying | Tagged centre of interdisciplinary science, Charles Petzold, Christmas, Code, guitar, interdisciplinary sciences, ISci, light pollution, natsci, Natural Sciences, project, Stargazing Live, student blog, University of Leicester
Posted by David in Natural Sciences on December 17, 2013
The last week of term drew to a close with the traditional feat of endurance to meet every deadline, sparing a few moments to decorate our corner of the Physics and Astronomy department and for a quick Christmas lunch before everyone leaves for the holidays. Looking back, this term has been the most work intensive […]
Posted in Dissertation, Friends, Future, Graduation, Studying | Tagged centre of interdisciplinary science, Christmas, first term, interdisciplinary sciences, ISci, natsci, Natural Sciences, project, reflection, student blog, University of Leicester
Posted by David in Natural Sciences on December 4, 2013
For the past week the third year of natural sciences has been immersed in quantum mechanics and magnetism, in particular in understanding how on the nanoscale, quantum size effects favour the formation of single-domain particles, giving rise to powerful magnets. Such magnets show a lot of promise in hyperthermia treatment of tumours due to their […]
Posted in Stress, Studying, Work | Tagged cancer research, centre of interdisciplinary science, interdisciplinary sciences, ISci, magnetism, nanoscience, natsci, Natural Sciences, quantum mechanics, student blog, University of Leicester
Posted by David in Natural Sciences on November 23, 2013
This week was the annual winter meal for the I-Science Society, and we had quite a good turn out! Student societies can be sponsored by different businesses, giving deals to society members in exchange for guaranteeing a certain number of people per term, or advertising, that sort of thing. This year like many student societies, […]
Posted in Leisure, Reseach, Societies | Tagged Alan Haywood, centre of interdisciplinary science, I-science society, Interdisciplinary Science Society, interdisciplinary sciences, ISci, Kevin Parker, Mathias Brust, Monica Grady, natsci, Natural Sciences, research lectures, Spice Bazaar, student blog, University of Leicester, winter meal
Posted by David in Natural Sciences on November 1, 2013
Today marks the end of the first core module for the third year (aside from a problem set due in Monday), with next week being dedicated to tackling the problem statements that form its foundations. In the case of Evolution, this consists of a report explaining the processes that give rise to maize being the […]
Posted in Societies, Studying | Tagged centre of interdisciplinary science, evolution, hox genes, I-science society, Interdisciplinary Science Society, interdisciplinary sciences, ISci, natsci, Natural Sciences, staff strike, student blog, University of Leicester
Posted by David in Natural Sciences on September 13, 2013
The annual Dynamic DNA event hosted by the GENIE project took place this week, with over five hundred students from thirteen schools passing through Leicester’s doors in just two days, and this year I decided to volunteer in running some of the activities. GENIE, or Genetics Education Networking for Innovation and Excellence, is essentially a […]
Posted in Volunteering | Tagged biology, DNA, Dynamic DNA, genetics, GENIE, human evolution, teaching, University of Leicester, volunteering
Posted by David in Natural Sciences on August 14, 2013
“Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.” – John Dewey Despite the increasing fees, I’m convinced that education is becoming cheaper. In fact, the educational model as we know it is now in many cases free to […]
Posted in Career, Future, Studying | Tagged Code Academy, Coursera, Interdisciplinary Science, ISci, John Dewey, Khan Academy, Lectures, MIT Opencourseware, natsci, Natural Sciences, student blog, The New Boston, traditional educational models, University of Leicester |
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