I saw this the other day too and have to say, reading the abstract and commentary it really brought a tear to my eye. It is such a fantastic demonstration of how to really inspire children, and how able they are of doing something great when they have the encouragement. Good luck to them in the future! They would all make great scientists. I smiled most at the last line of the acknowledgements: "The project was funded privately by Lottolab Studio, as the referees argued that young people cannot do real science"

Thanks everyone for your replies, I definitely feel much more calm about it now :-) Hopefully it will wokr out in the end!

:-)
seven

Hi Florence,

I hope you wrap up warm and take care of yourself! Working when ill is never fun, but it's good to try and make yourself feel nice and warm. I know it's just a 'silly home remedy' but I always find that a mug hot milk and honey, along with a blueberry muffin (though not a chocolate one....), helps we work when I have a cold. :-) I always try and take effervescent vitamin C tablets too (I don't think these really work, but it seems to help psychologically!). Just don't put them straight in your mouth, as I once found out.....(my lab book pages still have bright orange foam stains on them :$ ).

Best wishes
Seven

Hi Costate and Satchi :-) Thanks so much for both of your replies.

@ Satchi, My report is going OK thanks. Just trying to put everything together - most of my graphs look terrible though and I haven't done enough repeats :$ but I guess this is something that I have to point out in my report. I think you're right about explaining all the mistakes in my report. I've been trying to lay out everything I think i've done wrong, then suggest on how I will improve these. Thanks for your suggestions! :-) Are you currently writing a similar report, or are you writing your final dissertation?

@Costate. All the other PhD students in my dept that I've spoken to have said the same which is slightly reassuring. They said their reports were basically ripped apart and that they were really put down after their mini-viva, but none of them failed despite big mistakes being pointed out. I guess I can't just get the thought out of my head that maybe I'll be the first one who fails :$ . Though I know that I still have to submit a decent report to get a pass. Costate, have you also done a first year transfer report?

Best wishes
Seven

Hi everyone,

I've searched through old threads to find similar questions but wasnt successful (but I apologise if this has been discussed before)

I've been doing a science PhD for about 8 months now, but today was the first time it all really hit me. We have to submit a 1st year progress report before christmas (with a mini-viva in january). Now I have been collating all my data, I realise how badly I've been doing everything (not writing down key details, not doing enough replicates, making really simple mistakes). I think my interpretation of the results is horrendous and am seriously thinking about failure. My supervisor gave me back a first draft with red pen pretty much through everything, though they have given a lot of advice to sort out my report and make it submittable. I'm certain I've just had some sort of panic attack and really seriously am on the verge of crying. I just wasn't expecting this much worry. It sounds silly as its nothing compared to what the final dissertation will be, but is this common for a first year progress report? Did anyone else get this stressed or worried at the end of the first year?

Thanks for any responses! :-) Back to writing now.........:-(

Thanks for your reply! That has certainly reassured me! :-)

I am starting a PhD soon so thought it would be OK to post in this forum -apologies if I was wrong!

I'm starting a science PhD at cambridge in a couple of weeks and the nerves are really starting to hit :S. I have a couple of questions that I was hoping some folks on this forum could help me with as I cant seem to find much info anywhere else on the web!

First, did you guys do any preparation for your PhD before you started? I mean in terms of reading, planning etc? I really havent done much apart from read a few papers and learn some new drinking games, but thats it. Will my supervisor expect me to have done lots of project planning and research?

Second, the other thing that really worries me is how to make friends there. I wll be living in private accomodation with two other postgrads I dont know, until september when I can move into college halls. I'm seriously worried how I will be able to make friends, meet people and socialise. During my undegrad, the friends I made were people I met in halls and who I lived with, but Im not sure if it will be the same with a postgrad, especially as Im starting at a weird time, not during freshers. Im also not sure how much one would socialise with other lab or department members? Did you guys have similar worries when you started, or have any similar experiences?

Sorry if I rambled a bit but I look forward to any responses!! :-)