超新星コンデンセート
Supernova Condensate is a blog about our place in the Universe. Of astronomy, chemistry and life in the big bad bubble of academia.
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Invader Xan is a molecular astrophysicist and part-time alien invader, who spends life looking at very small things on very large scales, and trying to better understand the chemistry of interstellar space.
DFTBA ♥
すべての我々は星で作られています。
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Writing this blog is a labour of love, and one which I evidently need a little encouragement towards on occasion. If you like what I write, the best way to show your gratitude would be to fuel my caffeine addiction and buy me a coffee to say thank you. All coffee donations are gratefully accepted!
Tag Archives: student life
Why Michael Gove is a reprehensible spam faced tool bag
The internet is such a fickle beast. After staying up well past my bedtime yesterday to live tweet Juno being inserted into Jupiter’s orbit, I achieved a thin slice of tinned internet fame for tweeting at UK politician Michael Gove to call … Continue reading
❝ Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt. ❞ William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure
How to write a proposal – part II
A few months ago, I wrote a little about how to put together a research proposal. At the time, I acknowledged that I was no expert and had a lot still to learn. I still acknowledge this, perhaps now even … Continue reading
Posted in academia
Tagged links, postdoc life, postdoc problems, reading lists, student life
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“She is an astronomer”
Today marks the 100th anniversary of women being allowed membership into the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in the UK. While this is most certainly a thing to celebrate, one thing about this still gives me pause. It’s only been 100 years. … Continue reading
Posted in academia, life
Tagged postdoc life, postdoc problems, scientists, student life
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How to write a proposal – part I
A friend of mine contacted me recently to ask for help on writing a research proposal, and I said I’d send her an e-mail about it… But after thinking about this carefully, it might be better to make this advice … Continue reading
The Geoff Marcy affair: Our failure as a community
This past week has been a very difficult one for the astronomical community. And I’ve been watching the whole mess unravel on Twitter. It hasn’t been pretty. But it needs to be told, and we need to shift the focus. … Continue reading
The Vivapocalypse is Nigh!
Disconcertingly nigh, by this point. I’m not sure how much more I can really do to prepare. I do need to try and maintain enough focus to get information from my brain to my vocal cords – something I often … Continue reading
Prepping for Battle
If doing a PhD was like playing a video game, then the viva you have to face at the end is a lot like the final boss battle. Yes, I know this seems like a flippant comparison to draw, but … Continue reading
The Importance of Worry
It’s just over a week until my PhD viva. As I’m sure I’ve told a great many people by now, this is slightly terrifying. But then, there’s one thing about that which perhaps not everyone realises. Sometimes being terrified is … Continue reading
Milestones
6 chapters and 2 appendices, 186 pages, 39 figures, and 52426 words later, the thesis was completed, bound, and submitted. And there was much rejoicing. (Yes I am covering my real name. Pseudonyms and all of that. You know how … Continue reading
