April was a hectic month. The Engineering Postgraduate Research (PGR) Conference was held on the 14th April at John McIntyre Conference Centre, Pollock Halls. I wasn't presenting, but a couple of friends who are in their second year of PhD did. There were 52 posters presented. The amazing part was when each presenter had to present their WHOLE research to the audience in 2 MINUTES! Apart from expanding social network at the conference, attendees got to learn what makes a poster effective.
Now that the PGR Conference is over, I have my 8-month report that is due soon. I spent almost the whole month preparing and yes, I was too obsessed over a 6-pages report. Thankfully, the day is much longer since summer is approaching. Hence, I got the chance to take a stroll at The Meadows (a huge public park bordered by the University of Edinburgh's George Square campus and the Quartermile development site) for a peace of mind. Originally contained a loch (that is the Scottish Gaelic word for a lake), The Meadows is not merely a park. According to the history, it was one of the main water supplies for Edinburgh's old town until Edinburgh's first piped water supply came in year 1621!
Since it is the exam week at the University of Edinburgh; from 27th April - 22nd May, study spaces are over-crowded especially the central library. I was there looking up about gold electroplating on a printed circuit board (PCB) for my research when I came across in one of the journals, where the word ‘gold' came from and apparently it is an old English Anglo-Saxon word for geolo that means yellow. Since my friend was reading on Roman slavery for his exam, it was fun to talk about things which both could understand though coming from different backgrounds. Then I had a thought about it: how does ancient engineering contribute to the modern engineering? Since The Meadows was once Edinburgh's main water supply, let us take the Roman aqueducts for an example. In the third century, these aqueducts provided water for mining operations, milling, farms and gardens. They moved water through gravity alone, being built along a slight downward gradient within ducts of stone, brick or concrete (Source: Wikipedia). The current water supply system that we have today definitely is an improvement of the Roman aqueduct.
It then reminded me of my recent visit to Limoges museum of porcelain (Musée national Adrien Dubouché) in Limoges, France, where there was a demonstration of porcelain making and to my surprise, Lithography was part of the process - which was done back in the 19th century! I reckon that the semiconductor fabrication process was adapted from the porcelain making process. How amazing that is! Hence I was thinking, technology advancements are pointless if we have no knowledge on the past because such history is the inspiration! A friend who is doing his MA in Ancient History once said, "The artefacts are only interesting when we know the story behind them and their purpose." And I can totally relate that with the modern engineering.
When I was doing my undergraduate, I never had the chance to read about anything else other than engineering courses (management was included because it was a compulsory course). I was studying too intensely for the degree and did not realise what I have missed - to study history which is actually interesting. If you came from countries with an exam oriented education system, you might want to take my advice - stop sitting in your cocoon and feeling so stressful about your course. Instead, explore the massive opportunities around you!
Best wishes to those who are sitting for their exams!! Till my next post.
May 2015.
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