E-mailing and the web…

When it comes to my email management, perhaps being more consistent with my use of mailboxes would be a big improvement , as I do tend to let my inbox swell and then spend time re-ordering messages to mailboxes…best deal with these as they come in.

And just as many emails in my inbox are just as many (if not infinitely more!) mailing lists and discussion boards for me to subscribe to all let alone keep up with their content. I have subscribed to a few that are quire strategic for me in terms of networking, and they’re the ones I tend to really make an effort to keep up with and also contribute. I also like RSS feeds, just to browse and glance on what’s out there without having to have emails inundating my inbox (I use Google Reader, so it is like a website full of news and latest content from pages and websites of interest to me – fantastic, thanks a lot Google.

While we’re on the topic of all things internet, I like the idea of creating a research blog, I think it comes across a lot more informal and personal than a structured website. It has a real organic feel, as the research process tends to be (for me anyway). In addition to recording thoughts and experiences, perhaps I would also add (or make explicit in its own section of the blog) the following:

• A “news” section, outlining what’s new in my research or activities, travels etc.
• A publications list (in prep, submitted, corrected proofs, published, etc etc).
• Facilitate feedback from others, such as “leave a comment” feature or the like. Having links and emails that work.
• A section which lists a brief summary of my CV (with links to those institutions or places of employment, associations I belong to, etc etc).

Well, at least that is what I’d like to see doing one day, but best not use this as an excuse for even further procrastination. Simple and effective is the key, nit a piece of art!

This unit’s book…

So today I’ll start using this unit’s discussion board, where we are meant to record our reflections on this course as we progress through the topics. The first of such questions on which to reflect on, asks: “In what ways do you think the book could be useful for you and your research?” …well, just by reading the first chapter, I immediately became aware of the difference between efficiency and effectiveness – something I had rarely, if ever, though about. I felt that my biggest problem is definitely efficiency in my research – whilst I’m often told of my relatively ‘good’ organisational skills and effective results, I probably spend way too much time trying to get organised and therefore seems more like procrastinating!!!! So, in what ways would this book be useful to me? in many ways, particularly in learning more about efficiency.

In many ways I wish I had this book at the very start of my candidature, and I guess should be made available and as essential recommended reading for new PhD students. Chapters 12 and 13 seems the most relevant right now and of immediate application for me, but really there are bits and pieces scattered throughout the book (like software recommendations) that I’m sure I’ll be using from the word “Go!”…PhD and beyond.