September 22nd Sunday Reflections

Since creating this blog last year, I've only totaled 12 posts (13 including this one). That's the equivalent of writing a single post in a month. Although in reality, I wrote a series of consecutive posts, then gradually realized I didn't have that many things to discuss on a daily schedule. Then it became on and off randomly, and then non-existent. I remember initially creating this blog to help keep track of my own research on a weekly basis, so I can look and see how far I've come along, while at the same time, sharing whatever information to what readers are on here.

Ultimately, I've failed and disappointed myself. The most likely cause was the expectation of creating a daily post, in an already busy enough day as a graduate researcher. There's no individual reason as to why I'm writing again, instead it's much more an aggregation of several presentations, talks, and motivation from others. Perhaps the most influential is another Blogger, by the name of Bongi, who points out that a) we should write as a hobby and on our time and b) as long as we write about what we love and do, the readers will come. Check it out here.

I'd like to give this blog a new start, but without creating a new blog nor deleting the old posts. Therefore I feel like it is obligatory to give a wrap-up of everything that has happened between now and the last post...

In August, my adviser presented a talk for me at PRICM-8 on topology measurements of grain boundary networks during grain boundary engineering (GBE).

In July to August, my collaborator from France came for another month-long exchange to do a study of temperature vs. deformation and it's effects on the twin density in GBE pure nickel samples. This ended up being both a very busy and stressful month, but also quite enjoyable with the results.

In May, my advisor presented another talk at the PICS conference on the nanocrystalline nickel sample that I work with which exhibits grain growth. This talk also included the kinetics results based on the JMAK equations as well as the TEM interface studies by my other colleagues and collaborators.

In May I also got to go to Sydney, Australia to present my first ever talk at the 5th International Conference on Recrystallization & Grain Growth. I won't claim whether it was well received or anything, but it certainly was an experience. (I imagine the first talk for any graduate student, or student, is.)

Besides all that, I was occupied with other life priorities and team obligations. So hopefully from here on out I'll start writing on at least a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

Cheers,
Brian