My Project, Take 2 (LJ 2/22)

I was just thinking how wonderful it is when you have no homework due the next day when I remembered I still have a non-stat class. And I have something due. Today. Probably a few hours ago. Oops.

As I was writing my Background, Significance, and Literature Review, I realized some unfortunate issues with my project. To begin with, I had a very, very rough time writing my draft. Though that may in part have been due to the fact I had just finished a grueling test, my paper should have gone more smoothly. Of course, I did not realize as I was writing that I was having issues with my project, not necessarily the writing. After the fact, I am now going to try to absolve my sins in my project.

I realized I have not yet clearly defined either part of my project, rendering the "specific information" very difficult to write. For the communication portion, I have not focused on what I want as the end goal nor on what I am defining as "academic communication". So: as a result of my project, I want to have strengthened the communications between Dr. Woods and BYU. In addition, I want to observe how professor-student communications differ in England as opposed to England. With those observed differences, I want to create a good connection between myself and Dr. Woods, an academic contact that I can continue to utilize in later years. As for the definition of "academic communication," I mean email contact, co-authored papers, weekly meetings, chance encounter conversations, clarifying questions, and presentations. There is probably more I will want to study, but the basic idea is "academic communication" is anything used to develop and sustain an academic relationship.

If possible, my statistics part of my project is even more vague. This is due in part to the fact that my actual project has not been decided. I only know the topic--design. But this in itself can mean anything from experimental design to computer simulations, practical to theoretical. Because I do not yet know what direction I will be pursuing, I cannot create a specific argument as to why I will be contributing to an "academic dialogue" nor can I give substantial "topic-specific information." As much as I would want to clarify my statistics project right now, I can't. At least not at the moment. I need to meet with Dr. Reese (my mentor) to iron out some details, and he may not even know what Dr. Woods wants to work on yet. I am kind of like the work force for part of this project. I just do whatever my professors tell me.

The most unfortunate part of my project is I am still trying to strengthen my argument that I need to do this project in England. Obviously I will have to if I am to work with Dr. Woods, but showing an "understanding of the local context" is a bit difficult. Honestly, I have not determined any "potential sensitivities specific to the culture and topic that may affect [my] field study." Maybe Dr. Woods will be unimpressed with my statistical background and send me back in disgrace? Maybe no one in Southampton will want to have me as an academic contact. Potentially. The project I will eventually work on may be too complex to solve in a summer, or ever. As it is the summer, I may have a difficult time finding students and professors to collaborate with at the university.

With the above clarifications now in place, I should probably re-write my part b. And I most certainly need to talk to Dr. Reese.

Southampton vs. London (LJ 1/30)

Will it be better to live in Southampton or to commute in regards to my project question? On the one hand, living in Southampton would immerse me in the culture of the university, allowing me access to academic life in England ‘round the clock. Or at least, academic life in Southampton. However, having a sample of size one is no good. Statistically, it is better to have a conglomerate of schools to draw upon to truly get a sense of what British universities are like.

In addition, my project question is not solely about the difference between American and British academic conversations. Instead, it is about observing how to create international contacts and maintaining them across the Atlantic. Therefore, it is not essential to live in Southampton. I just need to be able to establish a contact with Dr. Woods, which will be obtained through weekly meetings and email communication.

Dr. Heaton & the computer (LJ 1/27)

Each week, the statistics department at BYU invites a guest speaker to give a presentation on sometimes statistical. This week's speaker was Dr. Matthew Heaton from the National Center for Atmosphere Research. His talk was titled "Multi-Fidelity, Spatio-temporal Computer Model Calibration using Predictive Processes." In every day lingo? Dr. Heaton gave a presentation directly related to my project.

I'll admit; when I first heard from Dr. Reese (my mentor who got me in touch with Dr. Woods in Southampton) that Dr. Woods' research area was statistical computer design, I not only had no idea what he was talking about, but I also wasn't too excited. I wanted to work with DNA and RNA sequencing, not computer. In fact, I am not the biggest fan of computer programming. I just simply am not extremely talented at it. However, after listening to Dr. Heaton's talk, I understand more of what computer design entails. Moreover, I think it will be an interesting project--one I will not mind becoming my masters' project (see 25 questions).

Computer design is above and beyond experimental design. In some cases, it is impossible or impractical to obtain many data points. Sometimes you only have 10, but the system or model is vastly complicated. Case in point: Dr. Heaton was trying to model the effect solar storms have on the electrical grid. He has data from only one day. This is where the computer comes in. Using various mathematical equations (such as differential equations) and given inputs, the computer model is able to simulate data points to aid in helping predict whatever the end result is. However, this is only part of it. Next comes the stats. Running a complicated program can take an insane amount of time. Dr. Heaton got only 20 data points after running his program on a super computer for one month. Only 20. But, using statistics and mathematical reduction, he was able to compress the dimensionality problem. In one case, Dr. Heaton reduced a 2 billion by 2 billion matrix to a 5 by 5 and 4860 by 4860 matrix. Anyway, without getting bogged down in the muck of mathematics, computer design is not about computer programming; it is about dealing with small data sets and still being able to explain the bigger population. So, I will not be working with thousands of microarrays with DNA. Instead, I get to work with huge, complicated models like the atmosphere and global warming or a rare disease that only affects one in a million.

I realize this learning journal is probably very technical and boring, but by writing down what computer design is has helped me better comprehend the scope of my project.

Hmmm...

Project Question: What is the most effective way of creating an academic conversation across cultures? How does an international student establish contacts in a foreign country and how does one continue the communication after the initial footwork?

In regards to the statistical half of the project, what direction will experimental design have? How much can I extend the theoretical basis?

Practical or Theoretical (LJ 1/18)

I need to read up on Dr. Woods publications and ascertain where my base knowledge lies. Can I understand the statistical foundation for each paper?

As I will be working with experimental design, I need to decide if I want to study the theoretical side or the practical side of the design. If practical, in what area would I be best suited for researching?

Intentions of a Field Study

Just yesterday in one of my statistics classes, my professor launched into a small tirade about odds and Americans inability to understand them (unless you're a compulsive gambler). The English, he said, only use odds whereas Americans use probabilities, making communication a little more hairy between collaborators. Not impossible, but just a little slower as both parties have to convert the numbers in order to understand the meaning. 


Neither odds nor probability is better than the other. Rather, they offer a different perspective on the same statistic. And that different perspective, a different awareness, is my intention in studying in England. Even though the language appears the same, the culture, and thus the underlying consciousness, colors the meaning and nuances of life.


The definition of culture in Culture Blends is the one I want to experience. "Culture is an awareness, a consciousness,  one that reveals the hidden self and opens path to other ways of being." I already know how I live life; how do others? 

It is time to change culture from a "distant object into a personal experience."

Plans

Currently, my field study is two-fold. I plan on studying the communication between professors as mentors and their students. Also, I will be studying experimental design under a professor at the University of Southampton.