Today I applied for membership with the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). As I'll start reading an MSc soon, I'll want the support they can bring while I undergo my studies.
Other memberships
While I studied chemistry at York, I was signed up to the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and I had paid membership fees for the duration of my degree course. This allowed me to have undergraduate / student membership with the institution. This entitled me to the magazines RSC News and Chemistry World. Chemistry World is more of a trade magazine for the chemical sciences and it gives lots of summary articles based on cutting edge research from literature. RSC News keeps one abreast of the situation and happenings in the RSC and leans more toward the educational side of things.
New Beginnings
As I had been a member of the RSC during my first degree, I thought it a good idea to seek membership with the IChemE. If anything, the complimentary magazines are interesting and they can help direct your thinking toward the science as the articles are very focussed on the research / projects/ news they describe. There are many more benefits to being a member and as a young person starting out in their career, there is lots of support out there. There are discounts on course texts and discipline related books and there are opportunities to go to seminars, lectures and symposia too. These conferences are useful because one can hear what the captains of the industry are saying. This last part really excites me as it gives one the opportunity to talk to the people who are heavily involved in the field I want to move into. Certainly in the more social symposia and conferences, there will be the opportunity to network and meet people.
Reasonable Fees
As a member of the RSC, I pay £12 annually for my student membership and gain access to lots of resources and I think this is a reasonable price. For my RSC membership, the level of membership was easy to work out because I was an undergraduate student and so a student membership was appropriate. Because I was now a postgraduate, I was unsure on how to go forward. So I called the IChemE helpline to ask about the right membership for me. The service assistant on the other end advised me that given my previous experience in the chemical sciences, an affiliate membership would be right for me. An affiliate membership is for people who are out of their first degree or have a few years work experience in the chemical sciences. He said £20 would be the annual fee which, if I were to receive the same level of support as from the RSC, was pretty reasonable. He sent out the application form via email and I filled it in. I'm waiting to see if I get any shiny membership cards through the post.
Wholesome Character
Membership of an institution doesn't just give you access to great discounts and very readable 'trade magazines'. It can count as a part of a wholesome character from a professional perspective because being a member of an institution and maintaining that membership can be a sign that you're committed to your science. As a prospective employer, a maintained membership / active participation shows a love for what you do and can often be that extra cherry on the top of what employers expect from applicants. It's a small thing but it's important if you're trying to communicate you're passion for scientific industries in your CV.
Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Jobs
My girlfriend recently got a job. I'm really excited for her. It's a fantastic opportunity and I'm pleased she got one so soon after graduating university. It's a 6 month placement to cover some maternity leave. The most important part of the position is that it is a true graduate position with the potential to relocate within the company after the 6 month placement has been completed.
It's great that she has a job and it's already boosting her confidence and self-esteem. Even if there is no possibility to relocate, the experience that she's gaining on the job is a sure fire help in further applications to other jobs.
It's one thing to get a job. It's another to use it to your advantage and get everything you can out of it which isn't money. An important thing to consider when in a job is the ease with which you can try your hand at all parts of the job. If you can get involved in all parts of your job and gain experience and knowledge of many areas, it instantly increases your appeal when applying for other jobs. Showing you can adapt and learn many things by demonstrating that you've done it in the past is a great sign to encourage employers to hire you because that's what they're looking for. Obviously, different positions need different specific skills but there are transferrable skills which are common to many jobs.
Bearing this in mind, good luck with seeking employment and getting the job that's right for you.
It's great that she has a job and it's already boosting her confidence and self-esteem. Even if there is no possibility to relocate, the experience that she's gaining on the job is a sure fire help in further applications to other jobs.
It's one thing to get a job. It's another to use it to your advantage and get everything you can out of it which isn't money. An important thing to consider when in a job is the ease with which you can try your hand at all parts of the job. If you can get involved in all parts of your job and gain experience and knowledge of many areas, it instantly increases your appeal when applying for other jobs. Showing you can adapt and learn many things by demonstrating that you've done it in the past is a great sign to encourage employers to hire you because that's what they're looking for. Obviously, different positions need different specific skills but there are transferrable skills which are common to many jobs.
Bearing this in mind, good luck with seeking employment and getting the job that's right for you.
Monday, 8 August 2011
UCL : update
I received a letter detailing that I am now in receipt of an unconditional offer of study at UCL. This is great news as it means that I'm essentially 'in' at UCL and am clear to begin study in September. This is the kind of proof that I've been waiting for, the concrete proof that I've got 'in' and will be studying there. It makes it all the more real and as I read the letter I got so excited because I had physical proof that I'm going there now.
education
college
education
college
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Study preparations
It's not long now till I start reading my second degree at UCL. I've recently sent off a confirmation of my interest in taking a place on an MSc chemical engineering course. I'm really interested in reading engineering as a practical application of the analytical, mathematical and organisational skills I gained as a chemistry student.
I've had a close look at the course synopsis at other institutions and there's good overlap in lots of areas so I've got a good idea that I'll be learning about things like fluid particle systems, process dynamics and control and environmental systems. In the course at UCL there's a lot of emphasis on thermodynamics. I've also got the opportunity to take one option module out of Law for managers, project management and mastering entrepreneurship. These last modules afford opportunities to develop in areas that really interest me. At the moment I'm really leaning toward the project management because I'd rather not take a punt on entrepreneurship. I know that if I took the choice to learn the law or the project management, I'd be taught concrete skills that I'd be able to take to the job. The full list of modules is here: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/chemeng/graduate/msc_content.html.
I'm really interested in specialising in engineering and getting to grips with developing industrial envrionments toward safety, loss prevention and efficiency gains.
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Review: Freefall by Joseph Stiglitz
I've just finished reading Joseph Stigliz' review of the 2008 financial crash. In his book Freefall, he sets out the context of the financial institutions that were responsible for the downturn and the massive harm to the global ecomony. He gives a critical review of the appraisal and encouragement systems within banks and investment companies that gave their leaders disproportionate bonuses and salary relative to the work that they did.
Stigliz goes on to give a detailed critique of the actions of both the American government and the banks before and during the crisis. He talks about the current down turn whilst contrasting and comparing with past recessions and the Great Depression. This is a useful vehicle for explaining how the banks became so intertwined and how governments became so reliant on banks for growth. The book also touches on the rarely mentioned taboo of insider trading and it's role in the financial crunch.
What is most heartening about the book is that it isn't simply a critique of the governments' failure in safeguarding the taxpayer during a market crash. It also gives potential paths forward for government to follow in the future so it gives hope to the reader. The best part about this is that the solutions to our problem http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifaren't plucked out of thin air, they're tried and tested learnings from recessions and bubble bursts from over the past century. This relevance gives the reader confidence that Stigliz has done his homework, giving a thorough treatment of the matter.
In summary, it's a fantastic read. It's exciting and not packed with obscure jargon so you don't need an economics degree to understand what's going on. I will say however, some parts move so quickly (unexpected in a review of financial history) that going back and reading again is a must so that all the information can be assimilated. The book is available on Amazon :
Stigliz goes on to give a detailed critique of the actions of both the American government and the banks before and during the crisis. He talks about the current down turn whilst contrasting and comparing with past recessions and the Great Depression. This is a useful vehicle for explaining how the banks became so intertwined and how governments became so reliant on banks for growth. The book also touches on the rarely mentioned taboo of insider trading and it's role in the financial crunch.
What is most heartening about the book is that it isn't simply a critique of the governments' failure in safeguarding the taxpayer during a market crash. It also gives potential paths forward for government to follow in the future so it gives hope to the reader. The best part about this is that the solutions to our problem http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifaren't plucked out of thin air, they're tried and tested learnings from recessions and bubble bursts from over the past century. This relevance gives the reader confidence that Stigliz has done his homework, giving a thorough treatment of the matter.
In summary, it's a fantastic read. It's exciting and not packed with obscure jargon so you don't need an economics degree to understand what's going on. I will say however, some parts move so quickly (unexpected in a review of financial history) that going back and reading again is a must so that all the information can be assimilated. The book is available on Amazon :
Monday, 18 July 2011
Mad about Maths?
2 + 2 = 5. Simple. Many people think that's where it ends and after school, it has no relevance. This is not the case.
It is becoming more and more common, people in their middle ages returning to school to enroll
in night courses to improve their skills in maths / english / science or languages. In recent years there have been many government initiatives to engage the general public in improving their skills in maths and english specifically to help them better themselvesin the workplace and increase their confidence with sums they encounter in their day to day lives.
A prime example is the Direct gov programme where parents / adults who find they are bafflled
by their childrens' homework, they should contact the phoneline to get involved with the free
skills courses on offer. This is an excellent initiative as it increases the general level of learning
of the populace. However, this scheme shouldn't be a necessity in today's society and we should examine the root of the problem, the cause of the apathy towards maths in the early years when these skills should be nailed.
Benefits of maths - confidence
The benefits of learning maths skills are many and varied. For one, having a good grasp
of maths means that one isn't forever scowling at a problem and asking colleagues for help.
Having maths skills means you can be more independant and can take on problems head on, without fear. This can greatly increase your confidence and lead to more senior role in the workplace as you oversee those who are developing their skills.
Employability
Having skills and qualifications in maths allows you to apply for a greater variety of jobs.
They instantly open more doors and brighten your outlook as you can say yes to a lot of
different opportunities. Maths not also helps with a professional post with a company but
it can also help by opening up doors to part-time freelance work like tutoring. Many children
suffer at school and need extra help to get their skills up to par and working as a tutor allows
you to aid them whilst also making some money with your own skills. This is a direct example of the maths skills at work but there are also many other different opportunities out there using the same kinds of skills. Bookmaking and small-time accounting are just a few examples.
Economic Wellbeing
There are many benefits to learning maths and keeping your skills up to scratch. the above confidence boost and ability to moonlight as a tutor/ bookmaker are to name but a few. These are personal benefits of learning maths skills but the wider picture is that with better maths skills, there will be less waste in the economy: less time wasted as employees tackle problems quicker. Less waste at events and in government departments as employees gain confidence in the art of estimation and mininise the waste originating from buying too much of a particular consumable. There are many good reasons behind getting involved in learning more english and maths skills. confidence, employability. There is also the lucrative path of working as a tutor, earn part time wage as maths tutor.
Maths, Maths, everywhere !
However, there are many jobs where a good grasp of even elementary mathematics skills are a necessity. A good example is the humble P.A.. Working under someone doesn't mean your skills needn't be up to scratch. The assistant needs to help organise the superior's day. This means calculating time intervals when tasks can be carried out, keeping track of calls and reports. In addition, the seemingly simple task of getting the coffees also requires a sharp mind so correct remuneration for each person's drink can take place.
Root of the problem
In the UK, school doesn't foster the importance of maths skills as a concept. In fact, the opposite occurs frequently. Children are expected to simply pick up the maths at an exponential rate like a savant (Rain Man) with little explanation or reinforcement of how to gofrom A to B in a mathematical system. This 'you know it or you don't' strategy, borne out of the lack of specialist maths tutors and a strict time sensitive curriculum maths in schools.
Patience is the key
These factors are the main reason that children aren't learning the essential skills they'll need
in the working world. The above benefits should be stressed to children when the despair with their maths homework and the concept of delayed gratification, working hard now for something good later in life, should be cemented into their minds. Remember, a good knowledge of maths needs patience to be able to learn it in the first place.
It is becoming more and more common, people in their middle ages returning to school to enroll
in night courses to improve their skills in maths / english / science or languages. In recent years there have been many government initiatives to engage the general public in improving their skills in maths and english specifically to help them better themselvesin the workplace and increase their confidence with sums they encounter in their day to day lives.
A prime example is the Direct gov programme where parents / adults who find they are bafflled
by their childrens' homework, they should contact the phoneline to get involved with the free
skills courses on offer. This is an excellent initiative as it increases the general level of learning
of the populace. However, this scheme shouldn't be a necessity in today's society and we should examine the root of the problem, the cause of the apathy towards maths in the early years when these skills should be nailed.
Benefits of maths - confidence
The benefits of learning maths skills are many and varied. For one, having a good grasp
of maths means that one isn't forever scowling at a problem and asking colleagues for help.
Having maths skills means you can be more independant and can take on problems head on, without fear. This can greatly increase your confidence and lead to more senior role in the workplace as you oversee those who are developing their skills.
Employability
Having skills and qualifications in maths allows you to apply for a greater variety of jobs.
They instantly open more doors and brighten your outlook as you can say yes to a lot of
different opportunities. Maths not also helps with a professional post with a company but
it can also help by opening up doors to part-time freelance work like tutoring. Many children
suffer at school and need extra help to get their skills up to par and working as a tutor allows
you to aid them whilst also making some money with your own skills. This is a direct example of the maths skills at work but there are also many other different opportunities out there using the same kinds of skills. Bookmaking and small-time accounting are just a few examples.
Economic Wellbeing
There are many benefits to learning maths and keeping your skills up to scratch. the above confidence boost and ability to moonlight as a tutor/ bookmaker are to name but a few. These are personal benefits of learning maths skills but the wider picture is that with better maths skills, there will be less waste in the economy: less time wasted as employees tackle problems quicker. Less waste at events and in government departments as employees gain confidence in the art of estimation and mininise the waste originating from buying too much of a particular consumable. There are many good reasons behind getting involved in learning more english and maths skills. confidence, employability. There is also the lucrative path of working as a tutor, earn part time wage as maths tutor.
Maths, Maths, everywhere !
However, there are many jobs where a good grasp of even elementary mathematics skills are a necessity. A good example is the humble P.A.. Working under someone doesn't mean your skills needn't be up to scratch. The assistant needs to help organise the superior's day. This means calculating time intervals when tasks can be carried out, keeping track of calls and reports. In addition, the seemingly simple task of getting the coffees also requires a sharp mind so correct remuneration for each person's drink can take place.
Root of the problem
In the UK, school doesn't foster the importance of maths skills as a concept. In fact, the opposite occurs frequently. Children are expected to simply pick up the maths at an exponential rate like a savant (Rain Man) with little explanation or reinforcement of how to gofrom A to B in a mathematical system. This 'you know it or you don't' strategy, borne out of the lack of specialist maths tutors and a strict time sensitive curriculum maths in schools.
Patience is the key
These factors are the main reason that children aren't learning the essential skills they'll need
in the working world. The above benefits should be stressed to children when the despair with their maths homework and the concept of delayed gratification, working hard now for something good later in life, should be cemented into their minds. Remember, a good knowledge of maths needs patience to be able to learn it in the first place.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Ready Steady Cook
Hours slaving away in the kitchen to produce a small dish of inedible rubbish, burnt hands and lots of waste and cleaning to take care of afterward. Laughing at your pitiful efforts and crying at the poor quality 'food' you've created. Cooking does come with some horror stories but it need not be like this. In this article, there are a few tips and tricks to getting your skills fast tracked to Masterchef finalist levels.
Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail.
The most important thing to remember when attmepting to cook something is to ensure you have ready all the things you will need to cook your delicious meal. This means having the chicken breasts defrosted or the pork chops bought and in the fridge ready. It also means having the spices and flavourings ready too. Don't be tempted to swap one thing that you do have for the spice that you don't have but the recipe specifies. As you go through your cooking career,
you will start to amass a great number of spices and flavourings that you can use. So it will enable you to experiment more and more as more combinations of flavours are at your disposal.
Read your Recipe
To ensure that you get your food exactly how you want it, it is a good idea to invest in a cooking timer or use the timer on your watch. It is important to ensure that you have a good sense of the amount of time your food has been cooking for as it's not nice to eat runny eggs or burnt steak. This simple device will help you time your cooking to perfection. As you start out with the cooking, it is a good idea to follow the times in the recipe but as you progress and develop a sense of how long food takes to cook, you can rely on the timer less and just cook as if it were natural.
Cleaning
The dreaded pots and pans put a lot of people off from cooking. But it shouldn't be feared. After each step of your cooking, simply pop the dirty equipment in the sink to soak so food doesn't dry onto it. The dried on food is difficult to and needs a lot of effort to remove so get those dishes in soak as soon as you can. The other benefit of cleaning as you go is that there isn't a massive heap of stuff to clean when your potato bake/ beef wellington/ pasta bake. Remembering this will make your life easier. Don't be afraid to get your hands 'dirty' either, many recipes that involve marinated meat or baking require that you get your hands involved and manipulate the food yourself. This is a close relationship with food that has been severed in recent times with the growth of sterile boxed food that is simply microwaved for convenience.
Good Luck
Once you've picked your recipe, gathered the ingredients and set the timers, dive in!! Don't be afraid to try any dish you want to because the worst that can happen is burned food and the best thing; tasty dishes all round. If at first you go wrong, don't worry, practise makes perfect and as you go through your favourite recipes, you will find that you can cook them better and better. Once you have this confidence, you can start tweaking the food and cook what your heart desires, changing spices and meats and accompaniments here, there and everywhere.
Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail.
The most important thing to remember when attmepting to cook something is to ensure you have ready all the things you will need to cook your delicious meal. This means having the chicken breasts defrosted or the pork chops bought and in the fridge ready. It also means having the spices and flavourings ready too. Don't be tempted to swap one thing that you do have for the spice that you don't have but the recipe specifies. As you go through your cooking career,
you will start to amass a great number of spices and flavourings that you can use. So it will enable you to experiment more and more as more combinations of flavours are at your disposal.
Read your Recipe
To ensure that you get your food exactly how you want it, it is a good idea to invest in a cooking timer or use the timer on your watch. It is important to ensure that you have a good sense of the amount of time your food has been cooking for as it's not nice to eat runny eggs or burnt steak. This simple device will help you time your cooking to perfection. As you start out with the cooking, it is a good idea to follow the times in the recipe but as you progress and develop a sense of how long food takes to cook, you can rely on the timer less and just cook as if it were natural.
Cleaning
The dreaded pots and pans put a lot of people off from cooking. But it shouldn't be feared. After each step of your cooking, simply pop the dirty equipment in the sink to soak so food doesn't dry onto it. The dried on food is difficult to and needs a lot of effort to remove so get those dishes in soak as soon as you can. The other benefit of cleaning as you go is that there isn't a massive heap of stuff to clean when your potato bake/ beef wellington/ pasta bake. Remembering this will make your life easier. Don't be afraid to get your hands 'dirty' either, many recipes that involve marinated meat or baking require that you get your hands involved and manipulate the food yourself. This is a close relationship with food that has been severed in recent times with the growth of sterile boxed food that is simply microwaved for convenience.
Good Luck
Once you've picked your recipe, gathered the ingredients and set the timers, dive in!! Don't be afraid to try any dish you want to because the worst that can happen is burned food and the best thing; tasty dishes all round. If at first you go wrong, don't worry, practise makes perfect and as you go through your favourite recipes, you will find that you can cook them better and better. Once you have this confidence, you can start tweaking the food and cook what your heart desires, changing spices and meats and accompaniments here, there and everywhere.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
University Open Days
So you want to go to university. You know what you want to study and you know where. But how do you get more information aboutstudying what you want where you want. Well, the best and most simple option is to go to an open day.
Weather
Not the most obvious point to consider when thinking about univerity is the weather. Open days are really exciting opportunities for you to find out as much as you can about higher education at a specific institution. It is important that you enjoy your time there so it's important to dress sensibly for the weather. Make sure you pack an umbrella for the journey if it looks to be drizzly and wear something more breathable if it's going to be really hot. A hat an suncream would be a welcome addition to the latter scenario too.
Location
Before you got to an Open day, you need to know where you're going. Make sure that you have a chat with the admissions office of the unviersity that you want to go to. They will tell you times dates and locations of the sites that are open for open days. It's also a good idea to scan the prospectus to see what you're most interested in seeing when you go. From here, you can book train tickets, bum a lift, check bus timetables and plan a whole day around your university / university town, scoping out the place to see what's what.
Information
It is important that you make the most of your open day experience. Ensure that you have a general idea of the kind of information that you want to get out of your open day and ask lots of questions to satisfy your curiosity. Don't just ask about the obvious things like the course and the general student life. It may pay to ask about:
part time jobs at university,
societies that students can get involved in
charitable involvement opportunities
The experience of the students who may be presenting to you
The proximity of shops to the university
Course composition and assesment methods
After going for a University Open day it may be a good idea to email the university to get any more information or follow up any questions that weren't satisfied on the day.
Remember, you're going to university for three years at the very least. As a result, it is important that you enjoy the town / city you're going to be living in and are comfortable with the course that you sign up to. With that said, think hard about your options and carefully choose where to study, weighing up all the options. Good luck!
college
Weather
Not the most obvious point to consider when thinking about univerity is the weather. Open days are really exciting opportunities for you to find out as much as you can about higher education at a specific institution. It is important that you enjoy your time there so it's important to dress sensibly for the weather. Make sure you pack an umbrella for the journey if it looks to be drizzly and wear something more breathable if it's going to be really hot. A hat an suncream would be a welcome addition to the latter scenario too.
Location
Before you got to an Open day, you need to know where you're going. Make sure that you have a chat with the admissions office of the unviersity that you want to go to. They will tell you times dates and locations of the sites that are open for open days. It's also a good idea to scan the prospectus to see what you're most interested in seeing when you go. From here, you can book train tickets, bum a lift, check bus timetables and plan a whole day around your university / university town, scoping out the place to see what's what.
Information
It is important that you make the most of your open day experience. Ensure that you have a general idea of the kind of information that you want to get out of your open day and ask lots of questions to satisfy your curiosity. Don't just ask about the obvious things like the course and the general student life. It may pay to ask about:
part time jobs at university,
societies that students can get involved in
charitable involvement opportunities
The experience of the students who may be presenting to you
The proximity of shops to the university
Course composition and assesment methods
After going for a University Open day it may be a good idea to email the university to get any more information or follow up any questions that weren't satisfied on the day.
Remember, you're going to university for three years at the very least. As a result, it is important that you enjoy the town / city you're going to be living in and are comfortable with the course that you sign up to. With that said, think hard about your options and carefully choose where to study, weighing up all the options. Good luck!
college
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