Formally reviewed

It's been some time since my last post, I put this down to being very busy.

Last week I had my Formal Review (like an Annual Review, but they call the first one a Formal Review). It went well and brought up some interesting points to think about.

I'm currently working on a range of things. The literature review continues (and will continue for some time yet, as guided by my case studies), I'm developing a conceptual framework, on which to base my methodologies and also doing things like finalising my poster for the regional competition, preparing my presentation for a conference and writing another conference paper.

Transdisciplinary texts

It's been a busy couple of days since the Easter holidays. I've found lots of papers about transdisciplinarity and am working my way through reading (and understanding) them.

Duck tales

I've had confirmation that my research has been ethically approved.

I'm currently working on a conference paper and wondering how best to record IOCT Duck's travels. IOCT Duck has just returned from Los Angeles, thanks to Ben, and there are some great photographs.

Signed, sealed, delivered

The registration document is in!

It's been completed, checked, signed and handed over to the Research Office. I should know by the end of the week if my ethics form was OK and if I've got ethical approval for the research.

So, it's on with the research and the writing. I'm working on interdisciplinarity and discipline boundaries at the moment.

And so it continues...

The registration document continues.

I've finished my poster and submitted it for the competition. People are coming to support me and it on the day, so that's really good.

My research has recently focused on interdisciplinarity and disciplne boundaries, as I'm writing a paper on this for a conference.

Variety is the spice of life

This week has included a lot of variety. I've been working on my Registration document, conference paper, general research and organising TECH1001, the module I'm a Part-Time Lecturer on.

The week started with a course in Microsoft PowerPoint. I managed to get through the work in half a day, so got on with some research in the afternoon.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was nicely varied; taught in the morning, went to Special Olympics Roadshow to get information about volunteering, lunch, watched a Flash Mob outside the Campus Centre, went to the library with Motje to give feedback about the new research students only rooms, ammended Registration document, went to watch Ben in the BCS Competition, and woohoo, Ben won! Obviously Ben's success required a celebration, so there was a visit to Level 1 for a quick drink.

Today (Thursday) I've been working on my poster and conference paper.

First conference paper accepted

Great news! The first conference paper abstract I have submitted has been accepted. The title of the paper is "The role of discipline boundaries in transdisciplinary research". The conference is "Interrogations - Creative Interdisciplinary in Art and Design Research Conference", to be held at Loughborough University, 1st and 2nd July 2009.

This is really good news as it means my work will be peer-reviewed, a key part of the PhD. So now, I have to put the paper together and produce a PowerPoint to accompany my 20 minute presentation.