Ph.D Welcome Function

Few pieces of wisdom:-

Prof. Phatak:
D - think Deep
E - Enjoy
W - Work hard

Prof. Ranade and Nagarajan:
Aim for beauty, utility and originality in your work.

Prof. R. K. Joshi:
If you feel you are working hard, it means you are really struggling or beating your head on a wall. Then its time to take a break or get a chai. In fact, when you start making progress, you wont feel the stress of hard-work and work will become enjoyable for you and you will be able to work really long hours, which will finally make others feel that you are working hard!

The exact opposite of my life's story right now

Check this.

Edit: Interestingly, by a curious play of events, this seems to have become a mirror of my life's story right now, rather than being the opposite :-)

Dealing with expectations

As Sanjana sat there with the feeling of disorientation sinking in, images flashed in her head of her parents, her friends and family crediting her with high standards, placing her on a high pedestal, practically imploring her to not let their expectations down.

The thought was frustrating that she was indeed letting everyone down. What was she? Was she really capable of fulfilling their expectations or was it just that their judgement was clouded? Was she ever worthy of being placed on that pedestal? Was it just their well-wishing nature that made them build her up like that?

And what about herself? What did she want to do? Was she gonna take up the challenge or not? Did it really matter what others thought or didnt, as long as she was willing to take it up and follow it through?

With this thought, she decided to shake off all negativity and start anew. So, she stopped staring at her 5th standard report card, put it away and grabbed her social science notebook to study for the next impending exam.

Plasticity - The Influence of Environment on Human Brain

Researchers use the term plasticity to describe the way the brain creates, strengthens, and discards synapses and neuronal pathways in response to the environment. The brain's "plasticity" is the reason that environment plays a vital role in brain development.

The early over-production of synapses appears to be the result of evolution that has led our brains to expect certain experiences. Our brains prepare us for these experiences by forming the pathways needed to respond to those experiences. For example, our brains are "wired" to respond to the sound of speech; this is how we learn to talk. But these early synapses are weak; we must be repeatedly exposed to the expected experiences within a certain time period to activate and strengthen them. If this does not happen, the pathways developed in anticipation of those experiences may be discarded, and the development of the related functions will not occur as expected. This is often referred to as the "use it or lose it" principle.

In addition to strengthening or discarding existing synapses, researchers theorize that some synapses may be newly developed in response to unique environmental conditions. It is through these processes of creating, strengthening, and discarding synapses that our brains adapt each of us to our unique environment.

The ability to adapt to our environment is a part of normal development. Children growing up in cold climates or rural farms or large sibling groups learn how to function in those environments. But regardless of the general environment, all children need stimulation and nurturance for healthy development. If these are lacking-if a child's caretakers are indifferent or hostile-the child's brain development may be impaired. Because the brain adapts to its environment, it will adapt to a negative environment just as readily as it will adapt to a positive environment.

Source: http://www.enotalone.com/article/9967.html

Plasticity - The Influence of Environment, on Human Brain

Researchers use the term plasticity to describe the way the brain creates, strengthens, and discards synapses and neuronal pathways in response to the environment. The brain's "plasticity" is the reason that environment plays a vital role in brain development.

The early over-production of synapses appears to be the result of evolution that has led our brains to expect certain experiences. Our brains prepare us for these experiences by forming the pathways needed to respond to those experiences. For example, our brains are "wired" to respond to the sound of speech; this is how we learn to talk. But these early synapses are weak; we must be repeatedly exposed to the expected experiences within a certain time period to activate and strengthen them. If this does not happen, the pathways developed in anticipation of those experiences may be discarded, and the development of the related functions will not occur as expected. This is often referred to as the "use it or lose it" principle.

In addition to strengthening or discarding existing synapses, researchers theorize that some synapses may be newly developed in response to unique environmental conditions. It is through these processes of creating, strengthening, and discarding synapses that our brains adapt each of us to our unique environment.

The ability to adapt to our environment is a part of normal development. Children growing up in cold climates or rural farms or large sibling groups learn how to function in those environments. But regardless of the general environment, all children need stimulation and nurturance for healthy development. If these are lacking-if a child's caretakers are indifferent or hostile-the child's brain development may be impaired. Because the brain adapts to its environment, it will adapt to a negative environment just as readily as it will adapt to a positive environment.

Source: http://www.enotalone.com/article/9967.html

Badminton G.C sob story..

Premise: Initial meeting of H-10 and H-11 sports secretaries and Institute Girls Sports Nominee and Institute Sports Secy, decides badminton GC rules, alongwith all other games rules also.

Story:
1. As the day for badminton G.C nears, Institute Girls Sports Nominee mails:

> The rules we had decided were as follows:
> There will be 3 groups of 3 players each.
> In each group, 1 player will play 1 double and one single. The other 2
> players will play one match each( either 1 single or 1 double).
> Only one group can consist of Inter- IIT players(some or all may be
> Inter-IIT players in that group).
>
> Since infy people play baddy, it shouldn't be a problem getting players,
> so
> I hope I won't get any cribs for this from the hostels :)
> Please mail soon if anyone has any questions.
Our Conclusion: There have to be minimum 9 players and not 6, like last year. This is to encourage maximum participation on both sides (as decided by mutual consent by H-10 and H-11 representatives et.al. in the above-mentioned formal meeting.

2. On a later date, Institute Badminton secy mails, but messes up the Girls GC and Boys GC rules, later apologizes for the confusion.
Our Conclusion: Rules stay as decided (pasted) above only, there is no change.

3. One member of the H-10 badminton team (apparently their NEW sports secy), mails:
> Hi,
> So, are we meeting at 7 p.m.? That's fine wid me.
> Also as regards the rules, we'll stick to the rules decided.
> viz. 3 teams per hostel, exactly 1 of them may have Inter IIT players,
> singles, doubles, reverse singles format; best of 3 games of 21 points each.
Our Conclusion: The pre-decided rules are being followed and there is no change, since she has clearly written that "we'll stick to the rules decided"

4. Day of the badminton G.C arrives
After playing the first singles match, we learn that the next match compulsorily has to be a doubles match (because in the mail above she has written singles, doubles, reverse singles - so apparently thats like the order of matches to be conducted. Was I expected to read their minds? I thought all of us were mature enough to write dis-ambiguous mails.). We oppose their high-handedness quite a bit but all in vain. They are hell bent on playing the doubles before the second singles. Fine, we give in.

After the doubles match, we observe that they dont have a third player and are instead repeating the second player also. We obviously raise the issue that rules are pre-decided and we havent been informed that we are not going with those decided rules. As per decided rules, they have to play minimum 3 players in a single team but they are prepared with only minimum 2. This is grossly unfair and inspite of being straight-forward and forthright about things, the only thing we got in return was mocking, discouragement, indifference and plain visible support for H-10 on the part of the authorities present there (even an in-call was given in their favour though it was clearly out and there was no chance that the referee could have seen it from where he was sitting. The only fair thing might have been for him to call it a re-serve but ofcourse, if he gives a re-serve, H-10 might end up losing. Oh ya! that cant be allowed right?)

After more than an hour of discussions (H-11 v/s everyone else present there), finally we gave in and decided to play by whatever rules they suggested. We were given some time to make new teams of minimum 6 players. Ya our brains had been numbed into submission by then maybe, coz we made the wrong decisions at such a crucial time and ended up losing the G.C to them.

H-10 has definitely won the badminton G.C points tonight. But if whatever happened today on that court, is history, then it is a challenge to H-11 to ensure that this history NEVER repeats.

Talk about having an Asura star!

The concept of having an Asura star gets to me sometimes; I wonder whether I really am an evil person inside, but just havent recognized my talents yet. :-D

But then I meet some relatively "normal" and I realize that I am much much more plain and innocent than most people around me. Atleast I am simple enough to say and do the same things, and not the diametrically opposite things.

Btw, talk about blowing your own horn! Ya lets reserve that for another day...