The Conference Archetype

On Friday 28th March I was selected to present my dissertation research poster at the UFAW Universities Federation Annual Animal Welfare Conference at Writtle college, Essex. I was pretty proud to have had my work selected, I was one of eight lucky people to have been picked. It felt good knowing that my research was something that people might be interested in, seeing as I picked what would be considered as an odd animal choice.

Going to a conference was a completely new experience for me, I wouldn't say it was daunting, but it was rather stirring. The day started off rather early, I stirred at 5am & realised something was up. I had only gone and made myself ill, woke up with virtually no voice! This trend of not feeling well continued for the rest of the day but hey, you just have to get on with it really, no point moping about. Not to forget I had to suit up for the first time in 3 years, me in suit clothing is a rare sight for those who know me. It always reminds me of what my nan used to say, "no matter what you dress in, you will always look like a sack of potatoes", quite accurate looking back at it, I don't think I suit the business clothing very well, its just rather 'meh'. Our coach left at 7:45, but was more like 8:00 when the driver arrived, then onwards for a 2/2 and a half hour journey down to Essex. I do quite like coach journeys mind, an opportunity to just put the headphones in and let the world pass by. 

We finally arrived at Writtle at about 10:30am, the speakers and presenters all signed in, including me. We were very kindly allowed to take free copies of the Animal Welfare journal, which will make a nice read down the road. I must say, it was very good to see my poster printed in A1 up on the wall, that was my work, up there for anyone to look at and read.

The poster!

The conference began at 11:30am with a welcome from the colleges principle and then a guest lecture of the special guest speaker Dr Steven Wickens from UFAW. It was interesting to learn exactly what UFAW offer to students and post-graduates in terms of master degrees and scholarships, but I am slightly wary of carrying on with the education system after my BSc in all honesty. The day continued with lectures all day, including a few from friends at Moulton who did a sterling job, I know how nerving and unsettling it can be to stand up in front of a crowd like that and present but they all did a great job & handled some unnecessarily, tenacious questions with disarming precision. In between some of the lectures we got a chance to stand by our posters so we could answer questions about our research if needs be, but truth be told I had very few questions/ if any at all thrown my way. It seemed that  some people were genuinely interested in reading the posters and looking around but the vast number didn't seem at all bothered, diminishing the atmosphere a little bit. I'm sure it was not a reflection of my work, but it did send some of the insecurities flying about my head, standing there for a good deal of time with people reading and moving on without a word gets disheartening very quickly, by the end of it I found it difficult to see the point in me standing there, It riled me up a little bit, most likely because I couldn't gauge whether it was a good or bad thing. It did pick up at the end of the day though, as one of my classmates won the award for best poster at the conference, something which seemed to just delight the other colleges/unis *sarcastic tone*. It drew the day to an upward conclusion as we geared up for the long drive back home. 

I would like to go to more conferences in the future, it was certainly interesting, but I imagine going to a full scale conference would be more rewarding if you were presenting then to a small scale event. Some of the research I read about was very interesting, it fulfilled a thirst for knowledge that I require.

I must also admit, I wasn't overly fond of the competition element, I'm fed up of everything being a race these days, science is about cooperation, its about like minded individuals praising and constructively criticizing fellow scientists work for the betterment of the field, not a "my works better than your work". Its such a disjointed way of bringing a darkened tone to an event which is designed to celebrate the work conducted by an amazing group of undergraduate students, but that's just my 2 cents. Overall, it was definitely worth it, although it wasn't anything like I expected it to be in my head.

+ Just an extra note, the results from the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch are in, with some pretty surprising results, check it out at the link below. Events like this all help to raise awareness of our UK wildlife & help organizations such as the RSPB get some sort of a measure on wild bird populations in the UK, something that is very difficult to do without the continued help of the British public.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

Birdman

Put on your War Paint = Fall out Boy

FoB at the NIA 16/3/14

 Young Volcanoes

Sunday 16th was a very special date. This was my one weekend where I did no work & it was insane. Music once again in all its glory took the weight of the world away for a night. I went to the NIA in Birmingham to see Fall out Boy. Ever since they announced they had returned from haitus this time last year I vowed I would get tickets to see them and I did. I waited 6 years for last night as I never got the chance to see them before they disappeared back in 2009.

Me (Far left) & our group of 'Youngbloods' in the queue.

First up was a band called New Politics, they were alright, a few catchy tunes but I felt that the singer and guitarist tried to over compensate by flying around the stage and doing impressive (but unnecessary) break dancing during songs, I get that bands want a stage presence but this just took it to the 'why?' region of the spectrum. lets just say they aren't a band I'd listen to out of choice but if they popped up on shuffle I wouldn't not listen to them. Once they had disappeared the night started to get exciting, the next support was a band I've been wanting to see for quite some time. The Pretty Reckless, they were awesome, gritty guitars, epic drumming and Taylor Momsen, what more could you possibly ask for! Their new album came out this week, I recommend you check it out!

The Pretty Reckless

 

Finally it was time for the main attraction, we ended up central to the stage with not a lot of people in front of us, everything was calm until they erupted onto stage with the violins of The Phoenix echoing around the arena. It was a glorious noise, the whole set was a barrage of hit after hit, from 'Sugar we're going down', 'Dance, dance' to 'This ain't a scene' 'My songs know what you did in the dark' and 'I don't care'. Its hard to describe how it makes you feel to finally see a band that has inspired you, creatively, for so long. Even the encore was mind blowing, they played Save Rock & Roll and the sense of unity around the arena was something that I have been lucky enough to experience at a few gigs in the past, its the best of feelings. Its eye opening. Even songs like Young Volcanoes united everyone, its a song that speaks directly to our generation. Overall it was a superb night, the set was great, the company was top rate and Fall out Boy were on top form, they have never sounded better live then they have on this tour, my brother even managed to get a load of videos which will be attached to this post.
I've heard a lot of people moan about how the latest Fall out Boy album 'isn't rock' and how it 'most certainly hasn't saved rock & roll' & its these people I pity. They have failed to realise what its about, rock & roll isn't just a genre of music, its an ideal, a concept. It is quite simply... unity.

 Videos

The Phoenix

This ain't a scene, its a god damn arms race

Alone Together

Death Valley

Sugar, we're going down

Young Volcanoes

Dance, Dance

My songs know what you did in the dark (light em' up)

Save rock & roll, Thnks Fr Th Mmrs & Saturday

Call to Arms - The Gyps Salvation

I was actually going to do an animal of the week this week, but something else, something utterly disturbing has captured my attention, so that is taking the forefront & it involves the avian chaps in the photo below.

Hooded Vulture - Gonzo

Me & Gonzo

It is indeed the vulture. They are one of the groups of animals I am devoted to and its safe to say they are in trouble, well even more trouble then they already face. There are 23 species in total, but 14 of these are considered threatened, endangered or at major risk of extinction. Each species fills its own vital ecological niche of cleaning up carrion and preventing the spread of disease. There is such a negative stigma surrounding these birds, they are always depicted of harbingers of death and desolation because of their ecology and how television and film has chosen to depict them. This has given them unfavorable public opinion. I have been very lucky to have gotten up close and personal with a few vulture species. I have aided in the training of one (Gonzo the hooded vulture in the picture above and to the side) and helped fly numerous others, they are truly brilliant animals. They are  ecological recyclers essential to the health and well-being of any ecosystem they live in.

Fall from grace - The vicious circle

Now we can move onto the problem at hand. Diclofenac is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug that has virtually decimated vulture populations in India, Pakistan and Nepal. The problem began in Asia back in the 1990's. Diclofenac was a readily available drug used to treat cattle for various problems; when the animals died the drug remained in their system. Cultural factors mean that vultures are welcome to feast on the bodies of the fallen cattle, when the vultures ate the carcass the drug would cause almost immediate death to the birds. It is now known that the drug is mercilessly poisonous to vultures. It caused one of the most shocking and steep animal population declines known, in under 10 years vulture populations fell by a staggering 99%. This in turn led to an increase in stray dogs and spread of disease such as rabies, as there were no vultures to clear up the rotting carcasses. Paramount efforts by conservation groups led to the drug being banned in India with signs of recovery beginning to come into view, with the first releases planned for 2016.

A repeat of this ecological disaster is now threatening European vultures. Despite the fact that safe, alternative drugs are readily available, Diclofenac has been authorised for use in domestic animals in Italy and Spain, the 2 countries that happen to house 80% of Europe's entire vulture population. As I write this, it is becoming available on European markets. In Europe there are 4 rare vulture species, including the Egyptian vulture and cinerous vulture. These vultures are already facing other problems which are currently being combated by devoted groups. Years of conservation and millions of  euros have ensured the survival of these species, but all of this is now threatened.

Attached to this post is a link to a petition, one i would like you all to sign, an immediate ban on Diclofenac is needed if European vultures are to stand a chance. It will also help set a precedent to African countries to stop the spread of this drug which has already begun to systematically destroy populations in a repeated fashion to their Asian cousins.

This is a call to arms, a Vox Populi! Only with support and education can the vulture survive. You can all have an impact and you can help. Signing the petition is the first step to helping these birds. The tale of the vulture is not one of blame, but one of a lack of drug trialing and a severe lack of education. Many animals learn from past experiences so why do some humans have the inability to do the same? This is not right, it is  animal cruelty wrapped up in legislation and must be halted.

Links

PETITION: https://www.change.org/petitions/european-union-diclofenac-the-vulture-killing-drug-is-now-available-on-eu-market 

Vulture Conservation Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/vultureconservationfoundation?fref=ts 

Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction (SAVE): http://www.save-vultures.org/  

King Vulture

Ruppell's Vulture

University - Endgame *Updated*

Just a wee update today to keep you all in the loop. this is a post that I'll probably keep adding to over the next few weeks.

It most certainly doesn't feel like it has been three years since I started university. After all this time, I can't believe its coming to an end. My last ever assignment was handed in yesterday, leaving me with my dissertation and 2 exams. It has dawned on me today that this really is the endgame. The last few years of work rest solely upon the next 2 months and that is frankly startling. 

My dissertation is due in April 4th so the next few weeks are going to be work, work and more work. This is the single, most important fixed point in my timeline. Everyone at uni says not to worry, don't get too stressed but for me this dissertation means everything, to fail it would be to fail myself. People may think this type of pressure is unhealthy but stress is the only thing that is keeping me ticking over lately. I'm presently tweaking my introduction and finishing off my results (now my stats have finally been given clarity) and then its onto the discussion next week. Its also a worrying prospect knowing that I should start looking at job opportunities, this is it come July I will out in the world with 2 paths in front of me, I follow my dreams no matter how long it takes or I become a slave to the system that entraps so many.

The other big thing is a conference we are going to on the 28th March. 8 of us will be randomly selected to present/ display our dissertation posters (outlining our research) in some sort of competition between unis. It sounds great in terms of networking and getting recognised but on the other hand its a prospect that terrifies me. Just thinking about it unnerves me, I honestly do not know how I'll react if I'm picked. There's so much I want to say about subjects like this but they are things I will never post publicly. All in all, its a pretty weird time, but on the bright side I'm seeing fall out boy next Sunday!

Update

Dissertation is still going well, need to re-tweak my introduction again which is taking forever, but it is the most important part of the whole document in my eyes. If the introduction isn't right the whole study falls flat on its fac, it is the section where i need to capture my audience, it needs to make people care, make them want to read on. All in all its pretty much there, primarily structural issues that need to be sorted. My results are also done, thanks to some very appreciated help of one of the lecturers at uni who helped un-confuse the issue. Good news is that the figures are all right, again its just the structure and layout that needs altering. Its now onto the discussion as well, I can start talking about my results, its time to draw conclusions from my study.

All in all I am happy with the progress being made. I need to buckle down again the rest of this week as I'm losing Sunday due to Fall out Boy! 

This is how it goes

Still working hard. I've returned from Fall out Boy, check out one of my newer posts for that (link). I'm still working on the dissertation, introduction is practically done, and results are looking good now. Onto the discussion. Although its another large section of the project is should be easier now I have an understanding of my results. At the moment I'm still classing it as on track, I'm roughly where I want to be. The majority of this week has been focusing on the poster for my dissertation project, which has been taking longer than I expected. Not only have i got to chop out thousadnds of words that are in my actual project but it all needs rewording as it is actually possible to plagerise ourselves. Never knew that, guess I'll be seeing myself in court...

Update Mk2

Getting so close now, under 2 weeks to get the dissertation done, although I want it done this week so I can actually find some papers to use for my time constrained assignment which is looming before the Easter break. The dissertation is so close to completion, the draft discussion section is done and now it just needs fleshing out; after that its just editing and formatting getting it ready for me to print and hand in. I've also gotten my assignment back on the black-footed ferret and I must say, I am pleased with the result, did a lot better than I thought I would. The only other bit of news is that my dissertation poster has been selected for the animal welfare conference coming up. I'm not presenting it in front of an audience though, my poster will be printed and put up and all I have to do is stand next to it and answer any questions thrown my way by people who fancy my research. Sounds like an alright deal to me!

Birdman