Graduate Journal in 2006

This year has been a rollercoaster, both personally and professionally. I've left a relationship, bought a flat and started writing a popular-science book. I've participated in a choir competition and a ski trip to Slovakia. And somewhere in between, I've managed to finish a PhD.

Evaluating PhD progress both highlights accomplishments and suggests daunting challenges ahead.

Sometimes I wonder what I'd do instead of science.

With my dissertation defence finally done, I can get on with my life.

How I fell in love with plants on the way to a PhD.

Communicating science has its perks.

Technology can liberate or enslave graduate students.

Sometimes dedication in the lab leaves little time for personal relationships.

After years of preparation, dissertation day looms large.

Facing the reality of being a graduate-student supervisor.

Scheduling a thesis defence can be harder than writing the thesis.

Giving the lab a new look.

Sorting through the clutter to retain the big ideas.

Cricket games teach science lesson.

Distractions multiply as thesis work intensifies.

Thesis excitement rivals the World Cup.

Manuscript writing presents challenges.