| Hello! I'm Kripa, an undergraduate Physics student. This summer, I had the opportunity to work in Natalya's group through a McGill NSERC award. Since we're nearing the end of the summer, I want to take this time to reflect on my experience. My project involved modeling sea level rise due to the melting of the Antarctic ice sheet. It was a big departure from what was familiar to me! I had minimal prior experience |  |
in earth sciences and my research project last year was in theoretical particle physics. Last summer, I had the opportunity to visit Greenland and Northern Canada (crazy cool, I know!!). That experience reminded me that I have been really interested in earth sciences for some time. I’m so glad I took the leap and tried something new.
It’s never easy to step out of your comfort zone and I was hesitant when I started: would I be able to understand the new content? How much could I really contribute to this project? Slowly, I became more accustomed to the project and saw that it really wasn't that far away from physics. Another benefit of trying out a completely different field of research is that I have a clearer picture of what to prioritize when deciding on my master’s project. Since I’m going into my last year of undergrad, master’s applications are right around the corner and this summer has reignited a passion for physics research. I wasn’t sure if I loved doing research but the change of topic and the more “real-world” nature of this research pulled me back in!
Before I started research, I constantly heard that “research is nothing like school” but no one ever explained what they meant. After two summers and one semester of doing research, I definitely agree. Research tends to be a bit of an uncomfortable experience at first. It isn't easy to learn how to manage your time, figure out what questions to ask, and realize that no one has the right answer. However, a lot of the strategies that I use in research have helped me with completing my assignments: finding different methods to solve a problem, deciding how much time I want to devote to a task before asking for help or moving on, and maintaining an organized space to store files and information are just a few examples. I will say that I really love the “no homework” aspect of summer research! Having my evenings and weekends free to enjoy the summer sun and engage in my hobbies will definitely be missed when the school year brings problems sets and exams.
Kripa
It’s never easy to step out of your comfort zone and I was hesitant when I started: would I be able to understand the new content? How much could I really contribute to this project? Slowly, I became more accustomed to the project and saw that it really wasn't that far away from physics. Another benefit of trying out a completely different field of research is that I have a clearer picture of what to prioritize when deciding on my master’s project. Since I’m going into my last year of undergrad, master’s applications are right around the corner and this summer has reignited a passion for physics research. I wasn’t sure if I loved doing research but the change of topic and the more “real-world” nature of this research pulled me back in!
Before I started research, I constantly heard that “research is nothing like school” but no one ever explained what they meant. After two summers and one semester of doing research, I definitely agree. Research tends to be a bit of an uncomfortable experience at first. It isn't easy to learn how to manage your time, figure out what questions to ask, and realize that no one has the right answer. However, a lot of the strategies that I use in research have helped me with completing my assignments: finding different methods to solve a problem, deciding how much time I want to devote to a task before asking for help or moving on, and maintaining an organized space to store files and information are just a few examples. I will say that I really love the “no homework” aspect of summer research! Having my evenings and weekends free to enjoy the summer sun and engage in my hobbies will definitely be missed when the school year brings problems sets and exams.
Kripa
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