If you've ever been curious about what people in academics do, here are 5 hints -
1) The first thing they do is complain about the number of emails. Never approach a scientist after they've returned from a vacation.
2) They can give impromptu presentations. They are so used to explaining their results that they don't even need time to prepare most of the time. However, tell them to explain it in short, and they'll be lost.
3) They are always busy. Writing grants. Attending meetings. Teaching. And doing administrative work. Science, you ask? Somewhere in between.
4) Airports are their frenemies. They travel all the time. For conferences, for workshops, for meetings... You name it, they have travelled for it.
5) Most of the times they are working to figure out why something is not working rather than why it is.
However, one important thing to remember while interacting with them is to never insult their topic. They have spent far too long a time studying and working on it. They are naturally very sensitive to it and will defend it with all they have (which basically means they'll eat you alive)!
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| "Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham www.phdcomics.com |
Shivangi Sharan is a third year PhD student at the Laboratory of Planetology and Geosciences in France. Her research focusses on the study of the magnetic field of planets and to infer their internal structure from it. She is an active member of the IAGA Blog Team and can be contacted via e-mail here.
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