…for the time being.
I spent the week:
• Finishing off the slumped glass insert for a cylinder piece.
• Sorting out my desk, going through all my amassed written stuff, rationalising all the catalogues, essays etc. that I had collected over the 2 years.
• Meeting up with Nadia and Jeremy from InnovationRCA to discuss other sources of funding as I had narrowly missed the Materials Innovation Fellowship. There’s an AHRC Knowledge Catalyst scheme that seems to be perfect for our project. It is going to take some organising as The College and the ‘Enterprise Partner’, i.e. the French company have to complete the application form. I will be the ‘Employee’ so don’t play an official part in the process.
• Packing all my work, tools, materials etc. and finding a van hire company who charge less than £200 for a one-way journey to Kendal!
• And saying good-bye to fellow students. I’m sure I’ll see many of them again and really hope our paths will cross, as they have been a great bunch of talented people.
• Giving a bit of help to Ray and Jeannette by moving pots & furniture around the house in preparation for the replacement of some floorboards and all the carpets.
• Driving the van north for over 6 hours. It felt a bit strange to have to find places for all my London bits and pieces, especially as I don’t know if I’ll be needing to take it back down there in October.
The weekend was spent sorting it all out, then mowing the lawn, picking raspberries up in the woods and generally easing myself into Parkside life again.
Wednesday 16 July 2008
27.06.08 – Research funding
My first weekend at home for many weeks was blessed by terrible weather, cold, strong winds, grey skies and rain. My brother, sister-in-law and new nephew were over from Austria and though they had had a couple of pleasant days, the weather didn’t help in finding things to do with them on Saturday.
Back at College on Tuesday I met Martin to discuss the Innovation Fellowship application. It originally had to be in by Wednesday, but the deadline was extended during the day to Thursday. In one respect I was disappointed as I thought it might reduce my chances, but it meant that I had a bit longer to complete it.
Wednesday was a hectic day, attending the 3D technologies discussion day at the University of the West of England. I gave a short presentation at the end of the day, which attracted some attention, particularly from David Huson, a researcher from Bristol who is specialising in the 3D printing of ceramic materials. At some point in the near future we plan to discuss our projects.
The remainder of the week was focused on the application, Thursday passed in a blur and when Friday came I ran through my application, got some pieces ready for the interview and waited to be called. Eventually the phone rang and down I went to InnovationRCA. Geoff Hollington who I’d met at MaDE was the first of the panel to greet me. From my perspective the interview went well, I think I enthusiastically communicated the important points. Sat writing this on the train north I’m waiting to hear their decision. I’m really not sure of what chance I have, there could be some bright spark who has discovered some whizzy new material, all I can do is wait. It would put my mind at rest to get the Fellowship as I have been promised funds from the French company in order to develop a UK branch of the business. Together I should have a financially secure year ahead, with a very good chance of developing some interesting projects. If I don’t get the fellowship, then it’s back to looking for sponsorship.
Back at College on Tuesday I met Martin to discuss the Innovation Fellowship application. It originally had to be in by Wednesday, but the deadline was extended during the day to Thursday. In one respect I was disappointed as I thought it might reduce my chances, but it meant that I had a bit longer to complete it.
Wednesday was a hectic day, attending the 3D technologies discussion day at the University of the West of England. I gave a short presentation at the end of the day, which attracted some attention, particularly from David Huson, a researcher from Bristol who is specialising in the 3D printing of ceramic materials. At some point in the near future we plan to discuss our projects.
The remainder of the week was focused on the application, Thursday passed in a blur and when Friday came I ran through my application, got some pieces ready for the interview and waited to be called. Eventually the phone rang and down I went to InnovationRCA. Geoff Hollington who I’d met at MaDE was the first of the panel to greet me. From my perspective the interview went well, I think I enthusiastically communicated the important points. Sat writing this on the train north I’m waiting to hear their decision. I’m really not sure of what chance I have, there could be some bright spark who has discovered some whizzy new material, all I can do is wait. It would put my mind at rest to get the Fellowship as I have been promised funds from the French company in order to develop a UK branch of the business. Together I should have a financially secure year ahead, with a very good chance of developing some interesting projects. If I don’t get the fellowship, then it’s back to looking for sponsorship.
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