#big data phd projects

[captainsophiestark]

Epiphany

Javi Rivera x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for Fictober 2024!

Fandom: Twisters

Day Two Prompt: "It's been a long time."

Summary: Javi's job bring him back into the same town as a sort-of-ex, but if he wants a chance at rekindling anything, he's going to have to answer for his decision to work for Riggs.

Word Count: 3,189

Category: Angst, Fluff

A/N: Happy spooky season everyone!

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

I grinned as I lined up my shot on the dartboard ahead of me, ignoring the heckling of my friends and a few new competitors we'd met at the bar. I was the undefeated champ at darts, both tonight and in general, and I hadn't gotten here by letting people get in my head.

I let out a breath, completely focused on the center ring, and sent the dart flying in one smooth motion.

Bullseye. As planned.

I turned to my friends with a grin, enjoying their chorus of groans. While I wasn't completely undefeated for all time, I was undefeated tonight, and I was frankly having the time of my life.

"Okay, there's got to be somebody in this bar who can beat you," teased one of my friends, throwing an arm over my shoulder and turning to scan the rest of the patrons who hadn't been roped into our competition yet.

"I bet I could give it a shot."

I turned at the sound of the voice to see a man I hadn't seen in years.

Javi Rivera and I had met while we were both studying at Muskogee State College almost six years ago. We'd hit it off, going quickly from friends to dating, and after only a couple months, I'd started to be able to see a future with him. And then, three of his friends died in a tornado while they were trying to test their PhD project and secure grant funding.

I'd done my best to be there for Javi, but we'd pretty quickly realized he needed some space--from chasing, from school, from Oklahoma. From everything. Including me.

It sucked to say goodbye to someone I loved, but at the same time, I got it. We'd parted on pretty good terms, deciding for both our hearts it would be best for the break to be clean. I'd thought about him a thousand times since then, clean break or no, but I hadn't seen him once. Now, he was standing before me in the dive bar just outside my hometown, apparently challenging me to darts.

"...Javi?" I managed, a smile tugging at my face despite the shock and disbelief. He grinned back at me, holding his arms out but not making any move to close the distance.

"Hey. It's good to see you."

I grinned, quickly closing the rest of the space between us to wrap Javi in a hug.

"It's good to see you too! What are you doing here? ...How are you doing?"

He stepped back with a smaller smile on his own face, running a hand through his hair before he met my eyes again.

"Better. A lot better than the last time you saw me, actually. I'm working with a team that's researching tornados, trying to get better data to better understand them and hopefully make everybody safer as a result. My team's just passing through the area on our way to chase a some big cells developing further West, and we're staying in town for the night. I was really hoping I'd find you here."

"You know, I do have a phone. And I haven't changed my number."

He grinned. "That was going to be Plan C, if Plan A of finding you here and Plan B of finding you at another bar didn't work out."

I just shook my head and laughed.

"You know, there's a lot I could say about that, but I think instead I'm gonna settle for kicking your ass in darts."

"Oh, bring it on. I was watching you, I think you've lost your edge since the last time I saw you. And I can tell you right now, I haven't. I've only gotten better."

"Sure you have, Rivera. Come on, put your money where your mouth is. You start us off."

"If you insist."

Javi leaned in close, hitting me with a charming smile as he took his half of the darts out of my hand, taking his time and letting his fingers linger over mine. For a split second, it was like I was back in grad school again, spending weekends blowing off steam and occasionally working on our project from the back table of a bar. Then, he pulled back, turning his attention to the dartboard again.

"Loser buys drinks," he called as he drew his arm back, then let the dart fly. He hit an 18, but not on any of the score-multiplying rings. I grinned.

"You're on."

****************

Javi and I spent most of the rest of the night together, trading blows in darts and just catching up with each other again. To my delight, it had been like no time had passed since we'd last seen each other. We immediately fell back into the same happy, comfortable routine we'd had for years, and my heart did a happy little flip in my chest every time Javi leaned into me with the smile I loved so much.

We stayed out at the bar together long after my friends had left, hovering at a back table together until they kicked us out. Javi had walked to the bar from his hotel, so I gave him a ride back, the two of us lingering as clearly neither of us wanted to leave. When Javi finally hopped out of the car, it was only after we'd made plans to get together the next day, depending on the tornado situation.

Luckily for Javi and I, the forecast the following morning looked very calm. Javi texted me early, and we made plans to get together for lunch. I was practically walking on air as I drove into town, parking and hopping out to wait for Javi before heading inside. I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself, but having Javi back in my life even for these twelve hours or so had been amazing. I couldn't stop thinking about him, and frankly, I didn't want to.

Unfortunately, my happy little bubble got momentarily popped by a Storm Par truck pulling into the lot. I frowned and narrowed my eyes. They'd shown up in the area recently, swooping in like vultures and taking advantage of tragedy in the community to make a profit. If they were heading into the restaurant for lunch, Javi and I might need to find somewhere more peaceful to hang out.

I glowered at the truck, trying to project as much malice and disapproval as possible. Then the door popped open, and my heart stopped in my chest.

Javi climbed out of the driver's seat. He had on a Storm Par button down. He grinned and waved at me as soon as he saw me, but I couldn't do more than stare back. What the fuck was he doing?

"Hey! Sorry I'm a little late, I had a meeting this morning-"

"With Riggs?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them. Javi stuttered a step, the smile on his face dimming a little as I crossed my arms. He came to a stop in front of me.

"I... what?"

"I think that's my line, Javi. What the hell are you doing? Why are you showing up here in Storm Par shit?"

"I told you I was chasing again-"

"You told me you were here researching tornados! Not conning grieving people out of their family homes!"

Javi took a step back, blinking like I'd physically slapped him across the face. I huffed, trying to get a hold of myself. I'd been almost shouting by the end of my speech, and I really didn't want to throw a scene in front of the restaurant.

"Listen, I get why you're mad," Javi started, holding up his hands like a peace offering. "But Riggs is funding research that's going to allow us to better understand how, why, and when tornados form, which will save lives. We're on our way to the most complete understanding of a tornado ever, and we never would've gotten here without Riggs investing and getting us this tech."

I'd started shaking my head after the second sentence, getting faster and faster until Javi finished speaking. I huffed a disbelieving laugh and took a half-step back towards my car.

"There are other ways to get grant money, Javi. Ways that don't include Riggs."

"Yeah, just ways that include risking everything going into an EF5 that got almost all of my best friends killed."

I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. It had been a dream come true when Javi walked into the bar last night, but this was quickly turning into a nightmare. Hurt, anger, saddness, and disappointment formed their own little tornado in my chest, and I barely managed to keep my voice level as I met Javi's eyes again.

"I know what you went through when you lost your friends. I understand why you're making the choices you're making. But you know as well as I do that Riggs is taking advantage of people, actively hurting people in this community, and that all the data you bring him with your research is just going to make it easier for him to swoop in looking to make a profit after disasters, not bringing help before them."

"That's not what we're doing-"

"You might be able to convince yourself of that while you're riding around in your stupid trucks, but unlike you, I was born and raised here, and I never left. I know what's happening, I know the reputation your sponsor has earned for you, and frankly Javi? I want nothing to do with it. Any of it."

Javi huffed in surprise, then scowled.

"I take it to mean that includes me?"

I nodded, slowly at first, then faster and more confidently as I took a few more steps back.

"As long as you're going to keep enabling the vultures? Yeah, that does include you."

He huffed again, a humorless laugh, as he shook his head and shuffled around like he couldn't figure out how to react. It felt like a knife to my heart, but I didn't let myself hesitate before turning around and heading back to my car. I'd sat and cried with neighbors in the wake of tornados, trying to salvage anything we could in the wreckage, before polished looking guys in suits came in and way underpaid for properties, then left without lifting a finger to help a single living thing in the devastated area. If Javi was willing to be a part of that, then he was nothing like the man I'd known and loved before.

****************

I sighed, dropping an armful of books on the kitchen table. I still had a few things to bring up from the storm shelter, but I couldn't stop myself from sinking into the nearest chair. It had been a long few days.

Less than 48 hours after Javi and I had our fight, one of the worst tornados of the year had touched down much too close for comfort. It had done some significant damage to the next town over, although not nearly as bad as it could've been. Exactly what had happened was still a little unclear, but it had been a long time since one had come that close to me. I hadn't been expecting it to affect me, but my knees were actually feeling a little weak.

I took a few moment to focus on breathing deeply, then rallied myself to move the last of my supplies out of the storm shelter. I'd just made it to my feet again when a knock came at the door.

I sighed and honestly debated pretending I wasn't home. But, most likely, it was a neighbor coming to check in or share news from the tornado. I didn't want them to worry, and I probably wouldn't get away with pretending not to be here.

I made it to the door just after another knock came, slightly louder this time. I swung open the door without looking outside first, then froze halfway through the motion when I found Javi staring at me, standing on my doorstep with a six pack of beer held loosely in one hand.

"Thank god you answered. Listen, I'm sorry. You were right. Kate was right. Storm Par... Riggs..." he shook his head, apparently at a loss for words. His hair and clothes were a mess, back to the Javi I'd known in grad school instead of the perfectly-pressed Storm Par rep I'd seen a few days ago. More than just that, though, he looked frazzled. Offbalance, in a way I'd never seen before.

"Javi... are you okay?"

He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.

"Did you hear about the big one?"

"...The tornado that just hit?" He nodded. "Yeah. I've only heard bits and pieces outside of the siren, but yeah. What happened? Is everybody... you said Kate's name earlier."

He quickly reassured me, getting halfway through reaching for my hand before pulling himself back.

"Kate's fine. I convinced her to come out here and help with research, but she almost-" Javi stopped short, closing his eyes for a long, long moment. I frowned, briefly considering what to do next, but it didn't take me long to reach a decision. Javi seemed to be implying he'd ditched Storm Par, but even if he hadn't, I still cared about him. And he clearly needed somebody right now.

"Javi. Why don't you come inside and sit down? Take a breath for a minute?"

He nodded, opening his eyes again and taking a slow, deep breath.

"Thanks."

"Sure thing."

I held the door open, and Javi didn't need me to show him where to go. We'd spent a good part of our relationship hanging out in this house, and it hadn't changed much since then. I followed Javi, letting him decide where he wanted to settle. Eventually, we ended up on the back porch, Javi settling into the bench swing where we'd watched more sunsets than I could count. He set the six pack down by his feet, and after a moment's consideration, I sat down next to him.

Javi didn't look at me as I joined him, his stare still a thousand yards out on the sun that had just started to approach the horizon. I gave him a few moments, then gently reached out to take his hand. His attention immediately snapped to me, his eyes wide with surprise. I gave him a soft smile.

"How long as it been since we spent an evening sitting out here?"

He huffed a laugh. "It's been a long time."

We shared a little smile, then after a moment, I sighed. Javi seemed calmer, at least slightly, and now I needed some answers.

"So... you wanna tell me what brought you here?"

"I came to apologize. You were right about Riggs, and about what's important. I want to be helping people, and it's a long story, but it became clear in the last few hours that I can't do that as long as I'm working with Riggs. I just wish I'd been able to figure it out earlier."

Javi shifted, taking my hand in his and shuffling a little closer to me. The apology was sweet, and I'd missed having moments like this with Javi, but his answer still had a lot of holes.

"I'm glad to hear you're done with Riggs- I mean, I'm assuming that's what you're saying?"

"Yes. Very much yes."

I smiled. "Okay. But maybe you should start a little further back on explaining what happened between now and the last time I saw you. Starting with why you failed to tell me Kate was in town."

"...In my defense, I was planning to tell you at lunch."

I couldn't hold back a snort.

"Fine. Depending on how good the rest of your explanation is, you get a pass on that."

Javi laughed. "Good. Alright, let me think about this..."

It took a while, but eventually Javi managed to walk me through his whole story. It was the serious catchup we'd been planning to have over lunch, but with the added beneift of a private moment together in one of our old favorite places. A lot had happened since Kate had come to town, and she'd had the same kind of fight with Javi as I had, but he'd come around and stepped up when it mattered.

"So, now we're done with Riggs. We're working on a pitch for investors back East right now, actually. Kate's going to present what we've got so far, and hopefully we'll have ethical funding for helping people and nothing else by the end of next month."

I smiled, leaning into Javi. The sky was red from the sunset now, and we'd been holding hands the whole time. Even though we'd gone years without really talking, right now, it felt like nothing had changed.

"I'm glad to hear it, Javi. And I'm so, so glad you're okay."

"Yeah, me too. It was dicey there for a minute, but we're on the other side now."

I leaned a little further into Javi, and after a moment, he raised one arm and stretched it around my shoulders. I sighed.

"You know..." Javi started. He paused and cleared his throat, then shifted a little on the bench before continuing. "Kate and I could actually use some help working on those grant proposals, and maybe some of our future presentations. I know you've always been happy to do your own thing, but... we'd love to have your help if you want to come back to spending more time with us. I would love that."

I leaned back to look Javi in the eye, and I couldn't keep a gigantic smile off my face for even a second.

"Honestly Javi? I would love that. Both to be part of helping you guys finish what you started, helping our community, and... for you. I missed you a lot."

"I missed you too. So much. And I know I'm the one who left, but if you'd be willing to give us another shot... I'll be around for the long haul."

 My heart did a backflip in my chest, and the beaming smile on my face mirrored the feeling.

"I would really love that Javi."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, good." He smiled back at me, then started leaning in before stopping short. "Can I kiss you?"

"Absolutely you can."

He grinned, then the two of us closed the distance as one, Javi's hand going to my waist as I tangled one in his hair. It felt right, and we both smiled into the kiss.

"No pressure if this is a little fast," I said, pulling back from Javi just enough to speak, "but... would you like to stay the night tonight?"

"You know I've stayed the night before, right? Regularly. I don't know if it can count as too fast if we've already done it a million times."

"Fair point. So what do you say?"

"I'd love to." He leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on my neck and then moving slowly up towards my ear. One of his hands moved to my thigh as he whispered: "I've got a lot to catch you up on if you're going to start writing grant proposals for us. I think we've got an all-nighter coming on."

I laughed, pulling back and swatting at Javi's arm. He just grinned.

"Okay, I'm officially banning work talk until tomorrow morning."

"Honestly, you don't have to tell me twice."

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989 @space-helen

Twisters Taglist: @turtlee-says-rawr

[thekatebridgerton]

What would Kate's Bio Data say?

depends on what social media profile youre talking about.

In Tinder it would say: Driven, passionate and courageous, love sunbathing in the summer, healthy exercise and drinking good tea. Join me for a workout?

Outside of Tinder, In Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and all other social media it says about the same thing: PHD in Project Management. Female Entrepreneur, Big sister, dog mom. Acceptable wit and genteel manners, you know the drill.

Ps: The Bridgerton siblings have so many theories on 'why' Kate got Tinder account in the first place. Some think Edwina is behind it, some think Kate simply got sick of being single, was it peer pressure, was it necessity?. The most well supported theory is that Anthony annoyed Kate one time too many times, talking about opinionated spinsters like her not being able to attract anyone and a pissed off Kate opened a Tinder account to prove him wrong. Colin in particular thinks she comes over to Bridgerton house so often just to show Anthony how many thirsty DM's she's getting and that's why Anthony has been a pain in the butt for the past few weeks. What do you think guys? do you support his theory?

and that's the tea

[space-mermaid-writing]

Of monsters and men [IronStrange]

Summary: Some kidnappers fucked up big time and now Tony is bonded to this strange demon he continues to summon by accident.

Tags:demon!Stephen Strange, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Angst, Whump, body horror, protective Stephen Strange, Stephen Strange needs a hug

Author's note: Just a short interlude chapter that gives you some clues about Stephen. Beta by @harpywritesfic and @kvjjjjjj

Read it on AO3 | Masterlist | Word count: 0.5 k | Previous | Next

Chapter 5: Sir, I found a match

“Sir, I found a match,” Jarvis chimed in.

Tony frowned. “A match for what?” He didn’t remember doing any specific research.

His eyes fell on the file Jarvis had put on the screen and the title caught his attention: Doctor Stephen Strange, MD, PhD. His current project was forgotten in an instant.

There were several photos attached to the file, all of them dated from years ago. Tony stared at them. The resemblance was there, but this person was human – a good looking one. Tony dived right into reading.

The thing was, Tony had Jarvis analyzing the video feed of the demon before, but the images had been glitching, like there was some kind of interference. The engineer wasn’t sure what caused that and had blamed it on the fact that the demon was from a whole other dimension.

Jarvis had apparently been concerned enough that he had continued to search based on the data he got – with success.

Tony read about the neurosurgeon; about his rise, the accident and the fall. His trail was lost in Nepal, somewhere in the Himalayas. The last photo showed him in the background of a selfie from a tourist. The doctor’s hair was shaggy, his beard long and unkempt. He wore a blue parka.

No one had seen him since.

That had been three years ago.

Tony looked closely at the photo, as if it would tell him the answers to his questions.

“What happened to you, Stephen Strange?”

He was tempted to call the demon to get his answers. But Tony was currently trying not to spill blood in any way in order to not bother Stephen.

He had meant what he said: the system was awfully unbalanced. It didn’t seem fair to him that Stephen had to come every time, no matter if he wanted to or not.

As a person in the public eye, Tony valued privacy. He knew how it was to deal with demanding people. For him it started with events he had to attend, put on a nice front and smile even if he didn’t feel it. And it didn’t just end with people getting into his personal space uninvited, or people expecting him to be their friend because they thought they knew him or they had stalked him on social media.

No, Tony tried to keep his accidental summonings to a minimum.

So far he had managed a few weeks – which felt like a new record looking back at how often he had called Stephen in the first month.

Tony saved Stephen’s file onto a private hard drive.

“I know you already did a great job, but keep digging, Jarvis,” he asked his A.I.

People didn’t vanish overnight and became jaw-unhinging tentacle demons. There had to be more to the story.

[lottiestudying]

hi lottie!! <3

i'm an undergrad at the moment but have recently found myself looking to the future, and was wondering if you could share anything about your phd experience so far?

i'm also a neurodivergent australian like yourself and would love to know what the course structure is like, how heavy the workload is, and if you're so far finding it manageable with your conditions ^_^

— 🍨💫

hi there!! thanks for ur question + support 💗

i definitely found the first month really difficult, and actually debated going part time. i ended up in hospital a lot, and found it a big adjustment. but it’s been a few months now and although the work is really intense, i am enjoying working on my project (my topic is the underrepresentation of disabled people in Australian politics, not sure if i actually ever mentioned what my project was!). coursework is intense, but i only need to take two courses for my program (some Australian unis don’t require any coursework, so it does vary. it’s because you’re assumed to have done coursework through honours or a masters). i average about 25-30 hours of study/week.

im currently working on my literature review, which i have a love hate relationship with lol. but im passionate about my topic, and that makes it easier. my supervisors are fantastic (i have 4 supervisors, but we’re looking for a 5th that’s based in SA since im moving back to Adelaide). you have to meet a number of milestones, such as a large proposal and annual plan, which is what ill be doing once coursework is over. and of course data collection and stuff, but i haven’t reached that stage yet (first year is really just coursework and literature review).

it’s definitely no easy feat to do a PhD with additional barriers, but if you have a topic you’re passionate about and it aligns with your career goals, then i think it’s totally worth it. if you have the ability to have financial support from family or Centrelink, then that’s also a bonus as the stipend isn’t really enough to live on (feel free to DM me how much stipend is, i don’t want to out my finances here).

thanks again for the q, if you have any specific questions, feel free to DM me x

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Earth-based telescopes offer a fresh look at cosmic dawn

Small telescopes in Chile are first on Earth to cut through the cosmic noise

For the first time, scientists have used Earth-based telescopes to look back over 13 billion years to see how the first stars in the universe affect light emitted from the Big Bang. 

Using telescopes high in the Andes mountains of northern Chile, astrophysicists have measured this polarized microwave light to create a clearer picture of one of the least understood epochs in the history of the universe, the Cosmic Dawn.

“People thought this couldn’t be done from the ground. Astronomy is a technology-limited field, and microwave signals from the Cosmic Dawn are famously difficult to measure,” said Tobias Marriage, project leader and a Johns Hopkins professor of physics and astronomy. “Ground-based observations face additional challenges compared to space. Overcoming those obstacles makes this measurement a significant achievement.”

Cosmic microwaves are mere millimeters in wavelength and very faint. The signal from polarized microwave light is about a million times fainter. On Earth, broadcast radio waves, radar, and satellites can drown out their signal, while changes in the atmosphere, weather, and temperature can distort it. Even in perfect conditions, measuring this type of microwave requires extremely sensitive equipment.

Scientists from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor, or CLASS, project used telescopes uniquely designed to detect the fingerprints left by the first stars in the relic Big Bang light—a feat that previously had only been accomplished by technology deployed in space, such as the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and European Space Agency Planck space telescopes.

The new research, led by Johns Hopkins University and the University of Chicago, was published today in The Astrophysical Journal.

By comparing the CLASS telescope data with the data from the Planck and WMAP space missions, the researchers identified interference and narrowed in on a common signal from the polarized microwave light. 

Polarization happens when light waves run into something and then scatter.

“When light hits the hood of your car and you see a glare, that’s polarization. To see clearly, you can put on polarized glasses to take away glare,” said first author Yunyang Li, who was a PhD student at Johns Hopkins and then a fellow at University of Chicago during the research. “Using the new common signal, we can determine how much of what we’re seeing is cosmic glare from light bouncing off the hood of the Cosmic Dawn, so to speak.” 

After the Big Bang, the universe was a fog of electrons so dense that light energy was unable to escape. As the universe expanded and cooled, protons captured the electrons to form neutral hydrogen atoms, and microwave light was then free to travel through the space in between. When the first stars formed during the Cosmic Dawn, their intense energy ripped electrons free from the hydrogen atoms. The research team measured the probability that a photon from the Big Bang encountered one of the freed electrons on its way through the cloud of ionized gas and skittered off course. 

The findings will help better define signals coming from the residual glow of the Big Bang, or the cosmic microwave background, and form a clearer picture of the early universe. 

“Measuring this reionization signal more precisely is an important frontier of cosmic microwave background research,” said Charles Bennett, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins who led the WMAP space mission. “For us, the universe is like a physics lab. Better measurements of the universe help to refine our understanding of dark matter and neutrinos, abundant but elusive particles that fill the universe. By analyzing additional CLASS data going forward, we hope to reach the highest possible precision that’s achievable.”

Building on research published last year that used the CLASS telescopes to map 75% of the night sky, the new results also help solidify the CLASS team’s approach.

"No other ground-based experiment can do what CLASS is doing," says Nigel Sharp, program director in the NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences which has supported the CLASS instrument and research team since 2010. "The CLASS team has greatly improved measurement of the cosmic microwave polarization signal and this impressive leap forward is a testament to the scientific value produced by NSF's long-term support."

The CLASS observatory operates in the Parque Astronómico Atacama in northern Chile under the auspices of the Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo.  

Other collaborators are at Villanova University, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Chicago, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Argonne National Laboratory, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the University of Oslo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of British Columbia. Collaborators in Chile are at the Universidad de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad de Concepción, and the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción.

The observatory is funded by the National Science Foundation, Johns Hopkins, and private donors.

IMAGE: CLASS telescopes can detect cosmic microwave light signals from the Comic Dawn. Credit Deniz Valle and Jullianna Couto

[superlinguo]

Barb Kelly

This time last year came the sudden, unexpected news of the death of Barbara F. Kelly's. Barb Kelly was one of my undergraduate lecturers, my principle PhD supervisor, and eventually a collaborator and friend. I have mentioned Barb in passing on the blog over the years, but now we've muddled through a year without her, I finally feel like I have some space to reflect on the fact she has been one of the most important influences the course of my life.

Barb was many things to many people. She managed to do this by being deeply curious about people, and had a devastatingly compelling ability to give you her full attention when you were talking with her. She was interesting because she was interested; her friendships, hobbies and tastes were eclectic and wide-ranging. There's a really beautiful obituary from our colleague Nick Evans that captures the story of Barb's life. This is my story of how Barb shaped me as a linguist, a researcher and a person.

I first encountered Barb when she was teaching in my final year of a Bachelor of Arts. The third year subject Language and Culture was a romp through kin terms, colour theory, names, primates, spatial systems, social intelligence, politeness, and so much more. Barb was an enthusiastic lecturer, with anecdotes, contextualisation and rich examples every week.

One week she introduced us to the topic of gesture. I was intrigued! How had I made it through a whole degree without encountering this work! (now that I write courses, I know how hard it is to find space in the curriculum for every topic worthy of attention, and gesture rarely features at all in undergraduate coursework). At the end of the lecture Barb said "this is one of my favourite topics. You're not allowed to do you're final assignment on this unless you see me first, because I don't want to read a bad assignment on this topic."

I still remember when I went to talk to her about it, and experienced the full intensity of the undivided attention of Barb Kelly for the first time. At some point, mildly bewildered by all this new reading, I wondered how we even knew that people paid attention to different types of gesture. "I always thought that would be a good topic for an honours thesis," Barb mentioned, before walking me back to something more manageable for a class paper.

[A brief time jump: The last time Barb and I caught up, it was getting to the end of the year and we were trying to avoid editing a paper. Somehow we got talking about the first time we met. Barb's main recollection was: "You were so weird." Barb thought it was very funny, but I also think that being interesting to Barb Kelly was a delightful compliment.]

A couple of weeks later, I went back and asked "could... I be the person who did that paper you mentioned?" At the very end of the final semester of my degree, I threw in my plans for a fourth year of Art History. I'm not usually one to change big plans so dramatically, but I decided that I wanted to do linguistics if I got to do the kind of linguistics Barb did. Of course, many years later when we were talking about it she laughed "I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't want you to do it!"

That's how we got working on a small honours project to see what kinds of gestures and other movement people report that they pay attention to. It was an in-the-spirit replication of an old task Adam Kendon set up in the 1970s with a projector and silent film, but we used a computer and software that let people mark what they thought a gesture was (this became, many years later, Gawne & Kelly 2014). Just as I was finishing up data collection Barb disappeared. She had colorectal cancer and (although I didn't know this at the time) the prognosis was terrible.

At the end of that year I felt quite lost. I had finished the project, but didn't really know what to do next. I managed to get an office job for a while; it was fun to have a steady income after years of student life, but I got bored pretty quickly. I had planned a long nonsense holiday in Europe to distract myself. Barb had returned to work and I emailed her about catching up for coffee. I even fact-checked this in my email archive, and apparently I asked to "pick [her] brain about post-grad courses". It's easy to forget, with the benefit of hindsight, just how little idea I had of what I could do, what I should do or how I should go about making any of it happen. The only people I knew who had PhDs were the ones who taught me. I do remember we talked about where there was good work being done, the difference between Australian/UK and North American PhD programs and what kind of topics I might do. Barb then mentioned that she had a project she was working on and they were looking for someone do contribute by doing a PhD on evidential systems of a Tibeto-Burman language from Nepal. How was I meant to come up with a better idea than that? She promised me that her oncologist gave her at least the four years I needed to finish a PhD, because I am excessively practical and Barb had a very good sense of humour. I mailed my application to do a PhD at The University of Melbourne from a post office in Malta while on my holiday. I only mention this because it sounds very nonsense and like something form the 1930s.

[A disclaimer here: I usually strongly discourage students from staying at their undergaduate institution for graduate study. But I also point out I'm a giant hypocrite and staying at UoM to work with Barb was a good decision for me. Please take into account the survivor bias. Barb believed in me and that was more useful than anything another institution could have provided]

The week before I started my PhD with Barb, we caught up off campus with Sara, another PhD student who was about to start working with Barb. Barb used it as an opportunity to explain to us that even though a PhD would be big and demanding and important, it was also important that we didn't let it stop us living the rest of our lives, "if you need to, take a break to tour with a band or have a kid, that's important too" I was worried she was maybe expecting I had time to start a band as well as do a PhD? but it also left a lasting impression on me. She was so good at talking through the linguistic content of what I was doing, but also socialising me into the expectations of academia, while being realistic about life also happening. With Rachel Nordlinger as co-supervisor and Jill Wigglesworth as chair, they were an amazing, sometimes slightly terrifying, dream team who took their roles as supervisors, teachers and mentors seriously.

After my PhD, Barb joined me in the work with Andrea Berez-Kroker on data management. We also tinkered away on other things; including getting my honours thesis published. She helped me plan job applications, and even loaned me her office when I had video interviews. When I left Melbourne for post-docs we'd meet in different corners of the world. She was supportive and practical during many of my less optimistic moments while I was precariously employed. I enjoyed that my postdoc work allowed me to return to gesture, and spend more time doing lingcomm stuff, while still continuing to do work on evidentials and language documentation. Having Barb as a role-model mean that I normalised having a range of interests as a strength. I still spend a lost of time at a desk, but it's as far away as possible from the monotonous office job I left to come back to do a PhD.

In late 2020 Barb had a cardiac arrest. When La Trobe offered me an ongoing job in that same week, I apologised to her for texting her while she was in ICU. Obviously this is important because I'm the protagonist of my own story, even though it's a story about Barb, but I also wanted to mention it because a recurring theme in conversations over the last year has been "but, even when she technically *died* she still came back", which hasn't really helped things sink in.

I am pretty much the age Barb was when we first met. And, a couple of years into a tenured teaching/research role, I'm in a similar place professionally. And that's very much thanks to Barb. Without Barb I would not have done honours in linguistics, and I would not have come back to do a PhD. I wouldn't have been ready to face the grueling academic job market, and I wouldn't have normalised the importance of having more in life to define you than your job.

I miss talking with Barb all the time. There have been moments in the last year when I've been introducing someone to the bouba/kiki test, writing about my favourite gesture papers or talking through a problem a grad student is having with their writing, and I get to continue Barb's passion and enthusiasm. I am so grateful for the influence she has had on me as a linguist, teacher, supervisor and human, and I'm grateful I get to pass that on.

Co-authored papers This is a list of all the published papers for which we were co-authors. I'm proud that they represent a good range of our shared interests across gesture studies, language documentation, and data management. We have one more forthcoming paper, a handbook chapter on discourse in Tibeto-Burman languages, which is the other major area of shared interest that carried through my PhD work and beyond.

Gawne, Lauren, Chelsea Krajcik, Helene N. Andreassen, Andrea L. Berez-Kroeker & Barbara F. Kelly. 2019. Data Transparency and Citation in the Journal Gesture. Gesture 18(1): 83–109. https://doi.org/10.26181/5f57fddc85ebb [Superlinguo blog post]

Berez-Kroeker, A.L., L. Gawne, S. Kung, B.F. Kelly, T. Heston, G. Holton, P. Pulsifer, D. Beaver, S. Chelliah, S. Dubinsky, R. Meier, N. Thieberger, K. Rice & A. Woodbury. 2018. Reproducible Research in linguistics: A position statement on data citation and attribution in our field. Linguistics 56(1): 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1515/ling-2017-0032 [Superlinguo blog post]

Gawne, L., B.F. Kelly, A.L. Berez- Kroeker & T. Heston. 2017. Putting practice into words: The state of data and methods transparency in grammatical descriptions. Language Documentation & Conservation 11: 157-189. [OA PDF] [Superlinguo blog post]

Gawne, L. & B.F. Kelly. 2014. Revisiting ‘significant action and gesture categorisation. Australian Journal of Linguistics 34 (2): 216-233. https://doi.org/10.26181/5e4b684d8f1e9

Gawne, L., B.F. Kelly & A. Unger . 2010. Gesture categorisation and understanding speaker attention to gesture. In Y. Treis & R. De Busser (Eds), Selected papers from the 2009 conference of the Australian Linguistic Society. Melbourne: La Trobe University. [PDF]

[eponymous-rose]

A full day today, so I figured it might be fun to write up what a professor's day might look like when not lecturing!

6:30AM: Got up early to virtually attend a friend's wedding on the East Coast! <333

8:00AM: I have been very careful this quarter to shuffle lectures/meetings around so that I have a little time to myself in the mornings to sit at home and drink coffee and eat breakfast and pet a cat while I get the day's work started. No exception today! I pull up an application my PhD student has been putting together for a tech grant and use the proverbial red pen to make some (a lot of) comments. It looks good overall, though! I send him a note to encourage him to send it to our collaborator in the computer science department when he's done with edits. Monday's the deadline, we gotta get moving on this.

9:00AM: I load up a bag with books I keep putting off taking to my office, plus some extra Halloween candy I found to add to my office candy bowl, and head out to take the bus in to campus. Also, pet the cat goodbye (she is unconcerned).

9:45AM: At the office, books and candy put away! Time to prep for my first meeting, which is a committee meeting with someone else's PhD student. He struggled a bit with a recent exam (entirely his advisor's fault, but that's a different story), so we're reconvening as a group to see his progress and cheer him on. He sent an update document, so I run through that and take a few notes. Then it's responding to e-mails (setting up my participation in a federal review panel next year, responding to two prospective graduate students interested in working with me - the combo of a fun research topic and a beautiful campus means I'm now up to 20 inquiries so far this quarter, eep - and sending out an update to the department about the charitable giving opportunities I'm coordinating).

10:30AM: Great presentation by the PhD student about all the things he's done since our last meeting back in April-ish. He's made huge changes to his work, and we applaud (literally and figuratively) how much he's accomplished in such a short time. Also, amazing data visualization! Great work all around. He's set to defend his PhD by 2025 at this rate, definitely back on track.

11:30AM: Time to rush back to my office to meet with my own PhD student! We usually meet on Fridays, but we get tomorrow off for the holiday so we jumped the meeting back. He's a few minutes late due to a missed bus, so my next-door colleague and I talk about cats for a few minutes. As you do. When he does arrive, he's got some cool stuff to show me - we talk about the notes I made on his grant application, and I remind him (and myself) to book flights to a conference in December that is rapidly approaching somehow. (I guess this means I have to do some cool and innovative research before then that I can talk about. Go figure.) He also shows me some cool preliminary results from a project he's been doing with a friend out in Pennsylvania. He's late enough in his PhD that my role as advisor is primarily to get out of his way and make sure he has enough supercomputer core-hours to get his work done!

12:30PM: A break for me! I start in on e-mail again, sending a coordinator my bio and abstract for a talk I've been invited to give (virtually, thankfully) at a student conference in January. I also realize that, because of the break tomorrow, I should really put together a homework assignment and next week's lectures for the class I teach Monday-Wednesday-Friday. Hmmm. I dig through last year's lectures and assignments and realize they've gotten a little out of sync this year. The solution? I may just offer 5 instead of 6 assignments over these ten weeks and give them this one a week later. Class average has been extremely high on them, and I think the students will appreciate a bit of a break. Also means today's job is just to prepare a few lectures based on last year's material. I've got a big chunk of open time later this afternoon to deal with course stuff, so back to e-mail. Going to be joining a friend (who I can't help but think of as the undergrad who sat in during all my grad classes, but is now somehow a full research scientist) on a very cool project putting together a new thunderstorm dataset. Also reached out to another friend about setting up biweekly meetings to hopefully start a new research collaboration and... possibly some fieldwork! I also almost forgot to put a forecast together for our forecasting competition, but I got there in time. Phew.

1:30PM: Meeting with a colleague and the undergrad research intern we co-supervise who is sadly having to leave to go attend school closer to home. This meeting is mostly just us reinforcing to her that we're still here if she needs advice/reference letters or ever wants to work on a similar project with us remotely in the future, but we are going to continue with the research until the end of the quarter, at her request. After the meeting, I get an e-mail about another undergraduate looking for a research project! I present her with the options of a cool lightning project with my colleague next door (waiting to hear back about federal funding for that project, fingers crossed) and that other cool thunderstorm project led by my friend in Oklahoma.

2:30PM: Seminar time! A very cool freshly-minted PhD from California tells us all about her research, a complicated topic about which I knew very little going in and now know... slightly more. There was a very geeky moment in which she showed what happened to a particular part of the climate system when CO2 was added, then showed what happened when CO2 was removed, and the asymmetry of it made everyone in the room gasp and then self-consciously giggle.

4:00PM: Post-seminar snacks acquired (a big cookie and coffee are definitely a good late lunch, right? I kid, I kid, I had a big breakfast and have a big dinner waiting at home) and small-talk survived, I scramble back up to my office. Time to get those lectures ready for next week (pretty quick to do - rather than last year, where I'd show the code on the screen and we'd talk about it, I'm having us write the code together live and debug as we go; harder in the moment for me, but the students are learning so much better!). Get an e-mail back from the new undergrad research intern expressing interest in the lightning project, amazing! Time to get her registered so she gets credit for this starting in January. Also finally get a teensy bit more editing done on a draft of a review article that one of the top scientific journals in the world tapped me to write (???? still surreal beyond measure).

5:30PM: BAND PRACTICE. Our department is so nerdy that the faculty/staff/postdocs/grad students put together a giant band to perform popular songs but as covers so we can make the lyrics about our nerdy research. This tradition has been going on for 30+ years, and the big performance is for an hour at our holiday party every year. It's a riot, and this is my first year joining in the chaos (I'm on keys on three songs!). There are like 25 of us, we have a horn section, a professor plays the mandolin, the students create elaborate musical roasts of their professors, it's great. My parts go great, to the point where when there's some trouble with key drift during an a capella part they call me in to play chords under it and keep them grounded. I love playing music with other people!

7:00PM: Time to pack up and head home for dinner. Phew.

Long day, but also LONG WEEKEND BAYBEE. I don't actually have to do any substantial work this weekend, so that means BALDUR'S GATE WEEKEND BAYBEE.

[talenlee]

Know Your ABD's

I’m not going to try and parody Glengarry Glenross here, I’ve never seen it and all I know about it is a matter of cultural osmosis. I assume it’s about how people driven to succeed in sales are in fact good at sales and the results are always good, and you’re meant to walk away from the story going ‘what good salesboys those salesboys were, I am inspired to emulate them.’ Given how many times I’ve seen that speech echoed in actual business environments, it’s got to be a good thing.

Anyway, in that there’s this point where someone iterates something like ‘know your ABCs – always be closing,’ and that idea has sunk into the common world. And that’s why this thought: ABD, Always Be Designing, sticks in my head.

Here’s the short summary before you read the rest: You are always thinking about your projects, so talk to people about them and create a record you can search about those thoughts.

What I’m going to talk about here is centering my experiences. It’s possible your mind doesn’t work this way. It’s equally possible your mind works so differently to mine that this isn’t only not useful but it’s totally alien to you. I can’t promise that it’s going to help you any but I want to lay this out as useful tools for achieving a desired outcome, and that outcome is making things.

I am not someone who can retire to a writer’s garrett to work on my projects. The computer I use to write this blog is also the computer in which I write my PhD and also the desk space I use to draw and also the place I watch TV. I am not given to a very large space that I can subdivide for particular experiences, living as I do in what amounts to a large pod. When I am on the bus, I think about a dozen things, a podcast I’m listening to, a videogame that I’ve been playing, a story I’m working on, and bubbling in amongst this chaotic stream of thinking is game design. I keep documents open for when ideas occur to me, and yes, this is a sign of a pretty disordered mind, but it’s also about capturing the mind’s inspirations as it goes.

If I’m watching a TV show on my second monitor and sorting numbers on the first monitor as part of say, marking student work, then that TV show may give me an idea for a game lore idea, or a mechanical structure, or even just an old or archaic game that I can look at for mechanics. Is this time spent working on a game? I’m watching a TV show, after all.

To this end, I think that I am always designing games, more or less, and the question is not about when I do it or how I do it but much more importantly, how do I capture those data?

I just said ‘those data’, this is going to annoy Fox so much.

Anyway, the trick I’ve learned is to talk to people, and to keep continuity on a searchable chat medium as long as I can. I use discord currently, but back in the day I used to save all my chat logs when I was using AOL Instant Messenger. I could search all those with DOS commands (yeah, I hung onto DOS for a long time) and that meant any time I brought up a fact about a character or a story I was ‘working on’ back in those days, it wasn’t very hard to find it again. If we all pivot to something cool and super lightweight like mIRC, I bet that system will be amazing for big piles of logs, since the client can just dump .txt files all over again.

If I have an idea for a game, I just tell someone about it. If I’m listening to something interesting in a podcast, I find a friend who has some common interest with it, and I talk to them about it. I’ll often do this with, at some point, saying the word: “Concept:” or “Idea:” and that means when I go back to search for it, I can find it more readily.

Now, this means sharing your ideas, and that means you’re going to find people who aren’t immediately supportive of your creative endeavours. That indicates they’re bad friends to talk to about your creative endeavours and you know, I don’t know why else you’d talk to them, but hey, your friend group, your vibes. Me, I like to make things and I think all my friends are pretty used to me doing that.

Anyway.

What I think this push is to do is to lead to making out loud. See, there’s this way of thinking of making things that is at times, I think, a little precious of talking about the things you’re doing rather than actually doing them. I know for me, I felt that talking about One Stone as I wrote it was both very inappropriate and potentially, like I was releasing a genie from a pop can, going to dispel things. If anyone knew how the story would end, maybe my enthusiasm would melt and I would never write the end of the book.

This idea, this playful threat to our own creativity, is something I see a lot on tumblr. ‘Ah, but what if instead of writing, I instead lay on the floor and was sad about not doing it?’ well, that probably indicates a mental illness or an unwillingness to write, neither of which are a problem but also neither of which are a bad reason to write and neither of which are a good reason to beat yourself up. For myself, one of the things that gets me creating is when people around me can react to what I’m doing. Showing people things that they get interested in, that they get enthusiastic about is a big part of the process, especially because your friends can tell you if you’re doing something unhinged.

Make out loud.

Share drops.

And the rain will fall.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[theresa-of-liechtenstein]

re: previous reblog. arguably the event that pushed me into the sciences over humanities was my eighth grade science fair project—a little too ambitious, a little out of the scope of my own knowledge, and for all intents and purposes, a failure. my data was not clean, but i still had to report it because i couldn’t retake the data in time. being a big fish in a small pond (catholic school), i went straight to the county fair, presented my project, and wound up winning gold, entering the broadcom masters competition and presenting at the state fair. for the longest time i was embarrassed by it—i had produced dirty results that disproved my hypothesis, and yet i had made it so far. i thought i must have manipulated my way through it.

but i was thinking about this particular episode recently, on the cusp of entering a phd program, because. Current Circumstances. and i wonder whether i made it so far not because i was manipulating everyone involved with my presentation skills, but because people thought i wanted to be curious more than i wanted to be right. and maybe that’s what’s made all the difference.

[eduvantec]

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[inapat18]

SNOOP : the new AI tool to revolutionize audiovisual archives research

The French National Audiovisual Center (INA) developed in collaboration with the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (INRAE) a visual search engine which can explore millions of images and videos thanks to Artificial Intelligence. This new tool allows the user to identify rapidly objects, faces, and even concepts.

The project was imagined twenty years ago as AI was starting to be developed. It was created with the help of PhD student from INA research department and researchers from the research department of INRAE. The original goal was to quickly identify the diffusion of INA archives to make copyright management effective. But soon enough they understood the potential of this tool and decided to expand its usage to facial and object recognition. After some improvements and optimizations, the tool was made accessible to researchers five years ago on the database Gallica in collaboration of INA and the French National Library (BNF).

How does it work?

SNOOP does not function with textual metadata. It had to be trained to what we call machine learning. The team of researchers gathered a very big collection of documents in a server, which AI SNOOP has described using a network of neurons. This network of neurons is trained through a comparative algorithm which allows SNOOP to make links between the millions of documents. Then it finds their equivalent in the human language. Those links are transformed in visuals descriptors which are themselves translated in mathematical vectors. Those vectors are collected in a database and indexed in a search engine which are then used to identify the similarities between documents. Of course, since the model is based on machine learning, SNOOP will become more precise in the creation of links as new documents will be learned and indexed in the database and search engine. That is why the researchers based the improvement of AI SNOOP on the collaboration of the users, because the more results it has the more concepts the machine can learn. The users have access to a “basket” classification of their searches which then promote more precise results in the long term. This system of research is called RFLooper for relevant feedback, it is a visual based method of research that surpasses simple text research which can be limiting for research on audiovisual documents. Also, as the results of the research appears, the users can see green or red dots which is a guarantee of transparency. The green dot means that the result is up to 50% precise whereas the red dot means that the result is less than 50% accurate. We could say that machine learning is based on human experience and human intelligence.

The Future of AI SNOOP

SNOOP has a great potential in research, to help researchers build a large collection of data on a very precise subject. It was nearly impossible to be complete in a visual analysis but now SNOOP can do the work.  For example, the test was already made for a study. SNOOP was able to extract every image which showed phones or tablets. SNOOP could be also used in a commercial way, because some clients are often look for very specific images or objects which are not always indexed in a documentary record. However, as SNOOP seems like a very convenient tool, it must be used in a careful way to not erase the work of archivists nor become a new irreplaceable AI system which consumes a lot of energy.

[project-sour-grapes]

My Boss is Clueless: Episode 5 or Something

Boss was out all last week at a conference for an engineering topic that he loves to research. Good for him. But he came back and started with the snide comments in like 5 minutes flat.

One of my computers has not been able to connect to the network since I started two months ago (though I only do 10% of my work on it and there are other computers that I can use instead). I went to use one of these other computers within two minutes of walking in the door this morning, leading to his questioning me, and my reminding him of the network issue. Amongst all the troubleshooting that he then started helping me with, he asked sarcastically, "So what did you even... do last week then?" Oh, I just jerked off all day and ate cafeteria food. What do you and your five brain cells think I did?

The assumption that I did nothing when I actually built out some kickass functionality to our brain imaging pipeline is toxic at best. It's his lack of ability to give me the benefit of the doubt and to continuously treat everybody around him (not just me) like they are lazy and stupid. If he and I have had multiple conversations, from the generic to the specific, about how software development takes time and how I am doing my best, and he keeps going back to his cynical baseline, then I am abandoning his little circus. I have picked a resignation date and have already written up the emails.

Bonus: he sent me an email last-last Friday with 4 items to do for the week he was away. I did 3 of them (because, surprise, things take time), but he sent me a cheeky email that started with, "It seems like you were only able to do 2 of the tasks... blah blah blah [passive aggression]." 1 of the tasks that he gave me was a tricky coding problem to make our pipeline more mathematically accurate. That yarnball took some untangling. The other 2 were new tasks, one of which was compiling a patient's info (that has to do with the particular brain disease that we study) into a singular write-up, which actually becomes part of the decision-making process before the neurosurgeons chop into the patient's brain. So yeah, I'm going to be thorough and slow with that one. Eat dirt, bud. The other task was merely computationally intensive and required labeling some data and then leaving a program to run for an hour several times. Just takes time. The 4th task that I did not get to was not time sensitive.

Why am I explaining this? For sanity. To illustrate that I have thought this through. My boss has gotten a little better, but he just can't help himself, and I'm tired of the jabs and weird manipulation. You want your little kingdom back? You can have it. And fill it with MATLAB scripts and LLMs lmao.

I'm not going to tell him or anyone on that team the real reason for leaving. I am going to tell them that I am either moving or focusing on new freelance contracts or both. The point is to let all of the doctors and techs who have been so welcoming know that they are dope, but to imply to my boss that he is treating a Lexus like a Honda Civic in a demolition derby. With the wrong octane rating. I don't normally give a shit about titles or whatever, but did you even read my resume, big man? Forget the titles. The bullet points of projects that I have worked on are heavy hitters. You think you know how software works? Sorry that your PhD did not confer the engineering wisdom upon you that you thought it would. Like I said. MATLAB. LLMs. Asking ChatGPT to write your Python for you.

Just not a good environment.

[marinaers]

a glimpse into ravi's phone. [template credit]

some notes below the cut because i love to talk!

all of ravi's photos except the top middle and left were taken before leaving for mission: albatross, and all except the top row are from before dan died. top left is his ID pic. the middle row is from a research trip with the glaciology department, bottom row from a weekend trip with friends. bottom right was taken the night he and dan applied for mission: albatross.

the galaxy pic is the last thing ravi shared to his socials before leaving. after a few weeks, they moved out of range of everything and weren't able to use social media or contact anyone back home. ravi never minded this because he didn't have anyone to contact.

ravi's playlists:

focus: his go-to music for when he has to dive into reports or data analysis, although the kind of music he picks is ridiculously distracting to everyone except him

driving playlist: could also be renamed 'travel playlist' since it's not used exclusively for when he's driving. he's been slowly but steadily working on it since undergrad, and it keeps him sane on the long journeys out to remote locations for fieldwork.

roadtrip!! was a joint project by ravi's whole friend group for a roadtrip they never ended up taking. it became a game to add the worst or most out of pocket songs they could find to the playlist at every get-together for years, and at this point, nobody can remember what kind of vibe they were originally going for.

dan's ultimate party playlist: this was for a party they did end up throwing way back in undergrad, which was unfortunately ended before the playlist was finished because someone called campus security and made a noise complaint. dan maintained the complaint was about the volume; ravi, that it was about dan's appalling choice in songs.

for lex: ravi's early research for a mixtape he wanted to make for his friend lex's birthday. she was (and he assumes, still is) a big fan of anything 'earth vintage'.

ravi has pradeep saved as pradeep (oceanography) in his contacts because pradeep lists every single contact as first name + where they work / place where he met them with no exceptions, and ravi never recovered from seeing his own number saved as ravi glaciology lab within ten minutes of them sleeping together. he picked 'oceanography' specifically because of the time pradeep drunkenly went on a rant about someone in his phd cohort who confidently insisted that "oceanography and marine biology are the same thing".

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

A new era of solar observation

For the first time, scientists have taken near-daily measurements of the Sun’s global coronal magnetic field, a region of the Sun that has only been observed irregularly in the past. The resulting observations are providing valuable insights into the processes that drive the intense solar storms that impact fundamental technologies, and thus lives and livelihoods, here on Earth.

An analysis of the data, collected over eight months by an instrument called the Upgraded Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (UCoMP), is published today in Science.

The solar magnetic field is the primary driver of solar storms, which can pose threats to power grids, communication systems, and in-space technologies like GPS. However, our ability to understand how the magnetic field builds up energy and erupts has been limited by the challenge of observing it in the solar corona, the Sun’s upper atmosphere. 

Measuring the magnetism of the region through standard polarimetric methods typically requires large, expensive equipment that to date has only been able to study small segments of the corona. However, the combined use of coronal seismology and UCoMP observations makes it possible for researchers to produce consistent and comprehensive views of the magnetic field of the global corona  — the whole-Sun view one sees during a solar eclipse. 

“Global mapping of the coronal magnetic field has been a big missing part in the study of the Sun,” said Zihao Yang, lead author who pursued this research as a PhD graduate at Peking University, China, and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR). “This research is helping us fill a crucial gap in our understanding of coronal magnetic fields, which are the source of the energy for storms that can impact Earth.​”  

The international team is made of researchers from Northumbria University, UK; NSF NCAR; Peking University, China; and University of Michigan. The research was funded by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Key R&D Program of China and supported by the Newkirk graduate student fellowship awarded to Yang by NSF NCAR. The UCoMP instrument was developed with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and is operated by NSF NCAR at the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory.

Upgraded instrument

Although scientists have been able to routinely measure the magnetic field on the Sun’s surface, known as the photosphere, it has long been difficult to measure the much dimmer coronal magnetic field. This has limited a deeper understanding of the three-dimensional structure and evolution of the magnetic field of the corona, where solar storms brew.

To measure the three-dimensional coronal magnetic fields in depth, big telescopes like NSF’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) are needed. With a 4-meter-diameter aperture, DKIST is the world’s largest solar telescope, and recently demonstrated its groundbreaking ability for making detailed observations  of the coronal magnetic field. However, DKIST is not able to map the Sun all at once. The smaller UCoMP instrument is actually better-suited to give scientists global pictures of the coronal magnetic field, albeit at lower resolution and in a two-dimensional projection. The observations from both sources are thus highly-complementary to a holistic view of the coronal magnetic field.

UCoMP is primarily a coronagraph, an instrument that uses a disc to block out light from the Sun, similar to an eclipse, making it easier to observe the corona. It also combines a Stokes polarimeter, which images other spectral information such as coronal line intensity and Doppler velocity. Even though UCoMP has a much smaller aperture (20 cm), it is able to take a wider view which makes it possible to study the entire Sun on most days.  

The researchers applied a method called coronal seismology to track magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) transverse waves in the UCoMP data. The MHD waves gave them information that made it possible to create a two-dimensional map of the strength and direction of the coronal magnetic field.

In 2020, a previous study used UCoMP’s predecessor and the coronal seismology method to produce the first map of the global coronal magnetic field. This was a crucial step toward routine coronal magnetic field measurements. UCoMP has expanded capabilities that makes it possible to make more detailed, routine measurements. During the UCoMP study, the research team produced 114 magnetic field maps between February and October 2022, or one almost every other day. 

“We are entering a new era of solar physics research where we can routinely measure the coronal magnetic field,” said Yang. 

Completing the picture

The observations also produced the first measurements of the coronal magnetic field in the polar regions. The Sun’s poles have never been directly observed because the curve of the Sun near the poles keeps it just beyond our view from Earth. Though the researchers didn’t directly view the poles, for the first time they were able to take measurements of the magnetism emitting from them. This was due in part to the improved data quality provided by UCoMP and because the Sun was near solar maximum. The typically weak emissions from the polar region have been much stronger, making it easier to obtain coronal magnetic field results in the polar regions. 

As a postdoctoral fellow at NSF NCAR, Yang will continue his research of the Sun’s magnetic field; he hopes to improve existing coronal models that are based on measurements of the photosphere. Since the current method used with UCoMP is limited to two dimensions, it still doesn’t capture the full three-dimensional magnetic field. Yang and his colleagues hope to combine their research with other techniques to get a deeper understanding of the full vector of the magnetic field in the corona. 

The third dimension of the magnetic field, oriented along a viewer's line of sight, is of particular importance for understanding how the corona is energized leading up to a solar eruption. Ultimately, a combination of a large telescope and a global field of view is needed to measure all the three-dimensional twists and tangles behind phenomena like solar eruptions; this is the motivation behind the proposed Coronal Solar Magnetism Observatory (COSMO), a 1.5-meter-diameter solar refracting telescope undergoing its final design study.

“Since coronal magnetism is the force that sends mass from the Sun flying across the solar system, we have to observe it in 3D — and everywhere all at once, throughout the global corona,” said Sarah Gibson, COSMO Development Lead and an NSF NCAR scientist co-author on the paper. "Yang's work represents a huge step forward in our ability to understand how the Sun's global coronal magnetic field changes from day to day. This is critical to our ability to better predict and prepare for solar storms, which are an ever-increasing danger to our ever-more technologically dependent lives here on Earth."

IMAGE: Illustration of the global coronal magnetic field as the Sun rotates. The background is the solar corona observed in extreme-ultraviolet waveband, with global coronal magnetic field maps measured at different time overlapped on top of it. Credit Image courtesy of Zihao Yang.

[collegedunias]

Why Choose B.Tech in India at Sharda University – A Complete Guide for Future Engineers

Are you a 12th-grade student dreaming of becoming an engineer? Not sure where to start your journey? Choosing the right college and program is a big decision, and we’re here to help.

In this guide, we will explain why doing a B.Tech in India, especially from Sharda University, can be the perfect step toward a successful engineering career. From top-class facilities to global exposure, this blog covers everything students need to know.

What is B.Tech in India?

B.Tech in India is one of the most popular undergraduate degrees, especially among science and math students. B.Tech stands for Bachelor of Technology, and it's a four-year professional course that trains students to become skilled engineers in various fields like Computer Science, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, AI, and more.

Indian engineering colleges are known worldwide for producing smart and innovative engineers. Many students who study B.Tech in India go on to work at top tech companies or study further in countries like the USA, UK, or Germany.

Why Students Prefer B.Tech in India

There are many reasons why students choose to pursue a B.Tech in India:

Wide Range of Specializations: From AI and Robotics to Mechanical and Civil, India offers many B.Tech streams to match your interests.

High-Quality Education: Many Indian universities follow globally recognized syllabi and are accredited by top educational bodies.

Affordable Tuition Fees: Compared to western countries, B.Tech in India is more affordable with quality education.

Strong Industry Connections: Colleges in India often partner with big companies for internships, training, and placements.

Government Recognition: Indian degrees are recognized by UGC, AICTE, and are widely accepted for jobs and higher studies.

Now let’s talk about one of the most trusted and modern private universities offering B.Tech in India – Sharda University.

Why Choose Sharda University for B.Tech?

Located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Sharda University is one of India’s leading private universities. It is known for its world-class infrastructure, experienced faculty, global partnerships, and strong focus on student success.

Here’s why students are choosing Sharda University for their B.Tech in India:

Industry-Relevant Curriculum

Sharda University offers a future-ready B.Tech curriculum designed with input from top companies and industry experts. Students learn real-world skills, work on live projects, and stay updated with the latest technologies like AI, Data Science, Cloud Computing, and IoT.

Top-Notch Faculty

Faculty members at Sharda University are highly qualified, with years of teaching and industry experience. Many hold PhDs and have worked on national and international research projects.

Excellent Campus Infrastructure

The campus is fully equipped with modern classrooms, high-tech labs, Wi-Fi, libraries, innovation centers, and comfortable hostels. It creates a perfect learning environment for engineering students.

Global Exposure

With tie-ups with over 250 universities in more than 50 countries, Sharda University offers students opportunities for student exchange programs, international internships, and global learning experiences.

Placement Opportunities

Over 600+ companies visit the campus for placements every year. Students at Sharda University have been placed in top firms like Amazon, Microsoft, Wipro, TCS, HCL, and more, with impressive salary packages.

Scholarship Programs

Worried about tuition fees? Sharda University offers merit-based scholarships for deserving students. Your 12th marks, entrance test performance, or achievements in sports and other fields can help you earn financial aid.

Specializations Offered in B.Tech at Sharda University

B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering

B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

B.Tech in Civil Engineering

B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics

B.Tech in Electronics & Communication

B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering

B.Tech in Biotechnology

B.Tech in Data Science

And more!

Whatever your interest, Sharda University has a B.Tech program that fits your goals.

How to Apply for B.Tech in India at Sharda University

The admission process is very student-friendly:

Eligibility: You must have completed 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Math (PCM) with a minimum percentage (usually 60%).

Entrance Exam: You can apply through national-level exams like JEE Main or take the Sharda University Admission Test (SUAT).

Application Form: Fill out the online application form on the official website of Sharda University.

Counseling & Selection: Based on your scores, you’ll be called for counseling and seat allocation.

Document Submission: Once selected, submit your 12th marksheet, ID proof, photos, and pay the admission fee to confirm your seat.

Student Life at Sharda University

College is not just about studying – it's also about growth, fun, and memories. Here's what student life looks like at Sharda University:

A vibrant 63-acre campus

Cultural events, fests, and tech competitions

Sports, gym, music, and arts clubs

On-campus food courts and cafes

Safe and secure hostel facilities

Diversity – students from over 95 countries

This kind of environment helps students develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills along with academics.

Career After Doing B.Tech in India

After completing your B.Tech in India, especially from a reputed college like Sharda University, you can:

Get placed in top Indian and global tech companies

Apply for higher studies like M.Tech, MBA, or MS abroad

Start your own tech startup

Appear for competitive exams like GATE, UPSC, or public sector jobs

Work in government or private sectors across engineering domains

The possibilities are endless if you have the right education and skills.

Final Words

If you want to become an engineer and are looking for the right place to start, then doing B.Tech in India from Sharda University can be your best decision. It gives you the right mix of education, industry exposure, global opportunities, and career support.

So don’t wait. Take the first step toward your dream career today!

If you need further information contact:

523, 5th Floor, Wave Silver Tower, Sec-18 Noida, UP-201301

+91 9711016766

infocollegedunias@gmail.com

[samartht]

Best CS Engineering College in Jaipur — Why SGVU is the Ideal Choice for B.Tech in CSE

Jaipur has emerged as one of the leading educational hubs in North India, especially in the field of engineering. For students who are passionate about Computer Science and wish to pursue a career in technology, choosing the right college is a crucial decision. Among the many institutions in the city, Suresh Gyan Vihar University (SGVU) stands out as the best CS engineering college in Jaipur.

With world-class infrastructure, industry-aligned curriculum, experienced faculty, and a strong placement record, SGVU offers everything a student needs to succeed in the fast-evolving tech industry.

Why Jaipur is an Emerging Hub for Computer Science Engineering

Before diving into what makes SGVU special, it's important to understand why Jaipur is becoming a hotspot for technical education:

📈 Growing IT Industry: Jaipur’s tech landscape is expanding with the emergence of IT parks and startups.

🏙️ Student-Friendly Environment: Affordable living, safe surroundings, and excellent connectivity.

🎓 High-Quality Education: Presence of reputed engineering colleges and universities.

🌐 Opportunities for Growth: Easy access to internships, tech events, and industry collaborations.

This combination makes Jaipur a smart choice for students seeking a future in technology and innovation.

SGVU – The Best Computer Science Engineering College in Jaipur

Suresh Gyan Vihar University (SGVU) is a UGC-recognized, NAAC ‘A’ Grade accredited private university in Jaipur. It has built a strong reputation for excellence in engineering education, especially in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE).

Let’s explore what makes SGVU the top B.Tech CSE college in Jaipur:

1. 🏅 NAAC ‘A’ Grade Accreditation

SGVU is Rajasthan’s first private university to earn an ‘A’ grade from NAAC. This accreditation reflects the university’s commitment to maintaining the highest academic standards, research output, infrastructure, and student outcomes.

2. 🎓 Industry-Relevant B.Tech CSE Curriculum

SGVU’s Computer Science Engineering (CSE) program is designed in collaboration with industry experts. The curriculum is updated regularly to match the demands of the tech industry.

Specializations offered:

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI/ML)

Data Science & Big Data Analytics

Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking

Cloud Computing

Internet of Things (IoT)

Web and Mobile App Development

This multi-disciplinary approach ensures that students are not just job-ready but future-ready.

3. 🧪 Advanced Labs and Technology Infrastructure

SGVU provides hands-on learning through its state-of-the-art labs and centers of excellence. Facilities include:

IBM Cloud Computing Lab

Microsoft Innovation Center

AI & Robotics Labs

IoT and Smart Devices Lab

High-performance programming zones and coding clubs

These resources provide students with real-time exposure to the tools, platforms, and technologies used in the industry.

4. 💼 Strong Placement Support

One of the biggest advantages of studying at SGVU is its robust placement cell, which works throughout the year to connect students with top companies.

Top recruiters include:

Infosys

Wipro

Cognizant

Capgemini

TCS

Amazon

HCL Technologies

Students are trained in technical skills, communication, aptitude, and interview preparation to ensure high placement success.

5. 👨‍🏫 Experienced Faculty and Mentorship

The CSE department at SGVU comprises highly qualified faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and have real-world industry experience. Students benefit from:

Regular mentorship programs

Guest lectures by IT professionals

Technical workshops and hackathons

Research guidance and project supervision

This creates a strong academic foundation and boosts confidence among students.

6. 🔬 Research, Innovation & Startup Support

SGVU actively encourages students to pursue research and entrepreneurship. The university has established:

Innovation & Incubation Cell

Student Startup Support Programs

Tech research groups in AI, Cybersecurity, and IoT

Patenting and publication assistance

These initiatives help students turn ideas into innovations and explore startup opportunities even before they graduate.

7. 🌟 Vibrant Campus Life and Holistic Development

SGVU believes in all-round development. The campus is home to:

Spacious smart classrooms & digital libraries

Modern hostels with Wi-Fi & recreation facilities

Cafeterias, sports grounds & fitness centers

Annual tech fests, coding competitions, and cultural events

This ensures a balanced student life — academically enriching, socially engaging, and personally fulfilling.

Conclusion: Why SGVU is the Best CS Engineering College in Jaipur

Whether you're passionate about coding, artificial intelligence, data science, or cybersecurity, Suresh Gyan Vihar University offers the ideal environment to nurture your talent and launch a successful tech career.

By choosing SGVU for your B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering, you gain access to:

Top-tier education

Industry-grade training

Career placement with global recruiters

A platform for innovation and growth