PhD

Doing fieldwork:

• Catching seals (x 10), putting GPS and dive loggers on them, letting them go (Part 1).
• Let them do their thing, come back at a later date to retrieve the loggers (Part 2).
• Also weigh a bunch of pups for a cross-sectional sample of their autumn mass and lengths.
• Also re-capturing the pups I’ve tagged in summer to get another measurement of their mass and lengths.

I’ve just finished part 1, now on to part 2 (begins 1st June). If you’re interested in my daily life at camp, follow me on Instagram and maybe snapchat @appleschmapple.

I’m also occasionally working on a side project with Crittercam, dive, accelerometer and GPS data from Australian Sea Lions. Trying to apply machine learning techniques to detect successful prey capture dives from diving behaviour. Still very much in the works, progressing slowly. Because most times I feel like this:

But I try.

Non-PhD (I’m not just a PhD student)

Doing:

• Learning programming particularly R, and soon going to dive more into Python. More interested in using Python for web designing actually!
• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – trying to develop a self-training program, physical and mental, I can do in the field when I can’t actually be in the gym training! I think I will join the Tasmanian State Jiu Jitsu Championships in the 1st week of July, which is a week after I return from my fieldwork! It’ll be interesting to see how I go without much time on the mats (but on the sand/rocks and in my mind, with seals as company…).
• Vlogging. Trying to be more consistent with video uploads to my YouTube channel. I was pretty good with uploading short daily vlogs under 2 minutes BEFORE I left for my fieldwork. Now I’m just wayyyyy behind! Hard to upload in a remote area!

Reading:

• Start with Why by Simon Sinek, and re-reading The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin.

Listening: 

• Tim Ferriss, Rich Roll and Joe Rogan podcasts (particularly good listening when traveling/driving for fieldwork!)
• FREEDOM audiobook by Adam Kokesh.

Developing good habits:

• Listening to a guided meditation daily. I’m currently using the app called Insight. It’s excellent!
• Daily exercise: I’m looking into it. As in, finding the optimal training program that can bring me closer to fitness goals in a smart way. I’m thinking of getting the Vitamin program (essentially movement training) by GMB.

Pondering on:

• The serenity prayer. I’m not religious but open to what works. It’s essentially the same as the stoic mindset, which I try to live by everyday.

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference

• Living out of a vehicle in between couchsurfing and housesitting. WHY?
  • practice poverty and reduce fear of discomfort  – inspired by this Tim Ferriss podcast
  • I’m moving between Tasmania and South Australia a lot for fieldwork for this year (2016) and next year.
  • Save money to put into self-funding a bit of my fieldwork costs… it seems inevitable (I’ve applied for more grants, not sure if I’ll get them  yet)! This is when I turn to the serenity prayer.

“There is a noble manner of being poor, and who does not know it will never be rich.”
– Seneca

This is part of the nownownow project by Derek Sivers.