I think I knew it for sometime now

I could tell how far the apple has fallen off the tree...why? I don't know. But I know it has. I could tell.

Why do we research - Conference Day 3

What is the point in being part of a research that has a more capitalistic approach than a humanistic approach? If we research and write papers just to build our profile and be among the brightest minds, or just to land in a job that makes our lives comfortable...or just to graduate with some sense of accomplishment, I think we seriously need to rethink our motives.

I wanted to start writing about events of day two, but they pale in significance to what I learnt at the end of day 3. On day 2 I listened to a lot of talks and got to meet a lot of new people, but I didn't learn the essence of being called great in your field.

Greatness is not about the volume of work you do. Greatness is not about how revered your work is in your field. It is about the difference your research makes in others lives. I'm not speaking in a capitalistic sense of the tone. Yes. Some one or the other will benefit from your research if it is substantial, but that should not be the extant of your accomplishments.

This is what I learnt from the final talk of the day, and it was not a technical talk. It was a eulogy about a great person, a great scientist Dr. Kane Kim. Listening about him from Dr. Bharat Bhargava was really the best talk of this conference. I have made some acquaintances, I got to know new people, but I am more than glad I have learnt something substantial. Something that will constantly drive me into having a clear conscience. I have always had this feeling, but never so profound.

Today, I am a nobody writing a blog after attending my first conference, but some day I hope I grow to a level where I make a significant difference in someone else's life. I hope to become a great person in my field, where people recognize me not just for my professional accomplishments, but in the true sense of the word.

Cheers to all the greatness that lies ahead for me to grab. Cheers to all the greatness that lies ahead of us. Cheers to great people.

Kashyap

Random thoughts running in my mind

One of the worst feeling is the one where you realize the truth and although you want to confront it, you cant; you want to avoid it, you can't. So that makes you very unsure.

Things change so suddenly so soon we yearn to live in the past. Life NEVER gives you what you want. But come to think of it, dont our actions decide what life actually gives us?

You can NEVER see the truth if you live in a state of denial.

I'm at a conference, and I don't seem to enjoy it anymore.

~Kashyap

My first conference -- day 1

I should ideally start talking about my first conference by talking about my presentation, but me being me, I will talk about some observations I made :)

1) Blue shirt seems to be the obvious choice of the panelists, presenters and attendees.

2) Professors dont really bother about how they come dressed (even if it is a conference)

3) Academic rule 1 : you become a professor only if you wear formals with white sneakers and carry a backpack.

4) I dont know what some people learn from the workshops; helps grad students like me, but, these workshops are more of a PR platform for the professors. (ofcourse it depends on the level of the conference)

NOTE: I might change my opinion tomorrow.

On a more important note, I had a good first day. Spoke to a lot of new people from my field. Got some  answers to questions that had been haunting me. I think I can take my research to a nice new level from here. I have to be more selective and cautious now and at the same time be more efficient.

Sat through a discussion which led to nowhere even after about an hours discussion as the professors were talking about something which is really really very relative (the concept of privacy and trust). Looking forward to tomorrows presentations. (definitely not the registrations)

The theory of mexican food tasting better as one goes down south is TRUE. I had amazing mexican food today. Irvine seems to be the anime capital of America :D

Cheers until tomorrow
Kashyap