Presentations

Since September I have given 3 oral presentations in various places. It was a relief to finally give the last one last week (the last for this year, that is). You can imagine the time spent on preparing the presentations, and trying to improve them, to fit within the time allotted, to anticipate questions, and to be able to present something that will give the audience an idea of what is going on with my research. The first 2 presentations were on the same topic, but the way they were presented was quite different from each other. Because the audience was different and the time given was also different. The 3rd one was on a totally different topic and it was quite a task because it is based on an on-going work, with the first phase done and the remaining 2 phases still under preparation. Again the audience and format of presentation were much different. So after these 3 I felt quite relieved, as I can continue with the other things I need to do. Although of course all these materials for the presentation are part of the papers and chapters for my dissertation so it is a good exercise to do them, as I get some lead way to analyse the data and information, think about them, find other relevant references, and get comments and opinions from others especially from my supervisors.

back to uni

I've been back to my uni for nearly a month now. As a returning student I had to find a new place to stay, which took a lot of my time, really. Finally I was able to find one that is good enough. And for my research work ... I had to wait about 2 days to get a desk in the PhD room. That settled, I had to take out my stuff from 3 different places where I stored them when I left last Dec.

I have a list of things that I have to do while here for 5 months. In general:

• Update my PhD publication plan
• Implement my PhD publication plan

More specifically:

• Conduct more data analysis
• Create outlines for the papers/chapters
• Finalise paper drafts for submission to supervisors/journals
• Meet with supervisors regularly!
• Read more papers!
• Present papers and posters

My study corner

field work

I have been here nearly 4 months after I came back from UoS. What have I done in relation to my own research? I have been doing more project management and research related to others rather than mine. Everyday I tell myself I need to set aside a time for my own work. Soon it will be done! Now after recruiting a few more staff members who will handle most of the work I have been doing, I will have more time to devote on my own work.

What I have done so far is related to the action research on impact assessment of posters. The posters have been distributed and responses on immediate impact have already been obtained. The data are with me and they need to be analysed. The posters need to be distributed to a more diverse audience and posted in public places. This will be the next step I have to do. Then the impact assessment 2-3 months after distribution of poster is coming near. Most of this will be done by phone. I will need to orient the staff who will assist me with this. Of course in situ assessments will also be done, wherein we will observe those who are reading the posters in public places and approach the people to inquire about what they think of the posters.

The next research I need to be working on in terms of the technical aspect is related to the action research on off-flavour of tilapia. We have gone to discuss with a commercial farm willing to conduct the trials with us. The next step is for me to design the trials along with other activities such as awareness raising about tilapia flavour quality among groups of farmers, and in collaboration with processors and buyers. A colleague Doug Waley who is also a PhD student at UoS and helping out with the action research, will attend the Brussels Seafood Show in April and will also conduct some surveys among the Europeans re: perceptions and needs related to fish quality. 

Then the writing ... for my own publications, then the conference posters, and the chapter in the SEAT book. Among others... 

    

now. 2012

So another year has come. I am more than a month late in blogging about it here. It's just that I have been deep into project and research work since I returned from UoS. With travels for project meetings and for field research with stakeholders.

I have been busy working on the research protocols for action research specifically on the impact of posters and the off-flavour of tilapia.

For the poster impact, the posters had been pre-tested, revised and distributed to relevant stakeholders. Distribution is on-going for the shrimp value chain poster and some initial feedback on immediate impact have been collected during the Shrimp fair in Chanthaburi. This coming weekend we are going down to Surat Thani for a similar activity. Other stakeholders not reached during these events will be contacted face to face or by post to send the posters and obtain feedback.

As for the tilapia value chain poster, I am still planning the schedule to coincide with the team's field work so I can join them.

For the off-flavour tilapia, I and the team have visited one of the main sites for the field trials, i.e. Namsai Farm in Prachinburi. I have to come up with the research design in discussion with action research manager based at KU (Doug Waley) and also with the rest of the team and UoS supervisors.

Of course, in addition to all these, I have also been involved with the running of the project itself. We are recruiting more staff to assist us specifically in field surveys for livelihood and chemical use in farms, LCA through the value chains, ethical framework workshop, and other relevant field work.

Shrimp feed of various sizes

Grill your own shrimp at the fair

i am back ...

I arrived back from the UK last Sunday. It was a hectic week there before I left, as there were so many things to do, both on the academic side as well as personal aspects. My data analysis seemed to be ok according to my supervisor, esp the stats and we discussed how they can be better presented in a paper. As well, there were other things to wrap up with the team related to the project for eg the submitted reports, posters, database, papers 1 & 2 drafts. On the personal side, I had some lots of packing to do. And some shopping, even to the last day as I had no time during the other days. I had to schedule my packing as a friend was coming to visit me on my last day there. So I told myself everything should be clear before she came! And I was able to accomplish it. Packing my stuff both in the office and in the flat was tiring and made me sweat, which was also ok considering that the weather was so cold, and getting colder. In fact there was a storm (strong winds and rain) as well as snow during the last few days!

Burning the midnight oil ... 

I had to leave some stuff with the uni.

During my stay there, from August to early December, I was able to complete the following: scoping and state of the system workshop reports, first paper draft on “A systems overview of four commercially important farmed seafood species with an export focus in Thailand” to be submitted to Reviews in Aquaculture Journal, information posters on “Sustaining the Shrimp and Tilapia Value Chains in Thailand”, analysis of data from scoping, integrated survey and SOS workshop related to sustainability issues, and, second paper draft with a working title of “Shrimp and tilapia value chain actors in Thailand: their perceptions on sustainability”. During this period I was also able to discuss with the rest of the SEAT project team in Stirling regarding the action research (WP9) deliverable protocols for Thailand, and specifically for my own PhD field research on sustainability factors identified from our field research. In addition, I continued to provide management and technical inputs to the Thai team for work related to other WPs. Now I am back in Thailand, with several work responsibilities both in project management and in the planning and implementation of action research work related to my PhD, such as: the impact of posters on various stakeholders, the causes and detection of, and means to reduce or eliminate off-flavour in tilapia, and developing approaches in integrating gender aspects in aquaculture research. 

It's surely good to be back, with the warm and sunny weather (no more layers of clothing and jackets), and delicious Thai food, among other reasons!

things to do

what i need to do tonight, as tomorrow will be friday already!

1. work on the comments on the scoping report, including data formatting
2. data analysis re: statistical analysis of generational and sustainability perceptions data
3. complete the list of potential contacts for EU innovation newsletter for WL
4. draft a research protocol for action research on poster effectiveness for WP9
5. write more content based on data analysis and some discussion on draft of paper2

but my mind is now on preparing for my packing as i will be leaving next saturday!

messy work table at the flat!

have been doing lots of these!

... and this...

...and this!

one more month ...

a month more to be here ... now i am mentally organizing my activities as the count down starts. one of these days i really have to sit down and put the planning on paper as time will really be tight. another writing workshop coming up end of this month, and assessment of what i have achieved during my stay here - there are at least 6 expected outputs during the 4 months of stay. (status message, FB, 8 nov 2011)