RF2

Tomorrow is a very big day in my PhD. It’s the 1 year milestone, and I have to present my reflection and reading to this point. It’s a funny sort of time, because I’ve been reading, thinking and writing but not doing a whole lot of sketching, making or producing… It seems the culture of PhD’s varies so radically between institutions. Here at Sheffield Hallam, I’ve found the focus very much being one of wandering and learning.

Anyway, it was July last year that I finally nailed a focal point- open design in health, and since then (and after becoming a dad in July too) I’ve been reading and focussing on this. So tomorrow is when I defend my methods and such to a panel, much like a mock viva. A 40-60 minute presentation and another hour for open questions, from a panel that includes Prof Paul Chamberlain, Prof Sue Mawson & Dr Leon Cruickshank. As well as my director of studies (Dr Paul Atkinson) and supervisor (Prof Andy Dearden).

To say that I’m nervous is an understatement. I’ve put together a plan of what I’ll be doing, but as is always the case before I have to deliver a presentation or deliver a well-reasoned & researched piece, I find myself under a black cloud. I suppose it’s just the nerves, I always feel like I’m not working hard enough, so I suppose I should look back and see what this report and presentation show about my work. I’m one third of the way through; it’s time to create something on the foundation I’ve built.