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Outline of my Lectures

Shreepad Karmalkar Professor, Electrical Engineering Department Core Team Member, Teaching Learning Center Indian Institute of Technology Madras karmal@ee.iitm.ac.in
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We discuss answers the following questions


What are the motivation and objectives of a course such as Introduction to Research ? What are the differences between Course based UG / PG and Research Education ? What are the habits, skills and attitudes required for research and how do I develop them ? How can I develop my thinking to generate ideas ? In how many different ways (tabular, graphical or other) can I present the data ?
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We discuss answers the following questions


How can I find a problem and formulate a hypothesis ? What, how and how much literature should I read ? What are the essential elements of scientific methods ? How do I design set-ups and experiments, and ensure accuracy in measurements ? How can one be an effective and efficient oral / written communicator ? Where and how do I publish / patent my work ?
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We discuss answers the following questions


How do I manage stress, time and my guide / research student ? What are the ethical issues in research ?

And any other questions you may have please feel free to interrupt and ask me questions or make comments
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Activities during the course

When I hear, I forget When I see, I remember When I do, I learn

Activities during the course


Group discussion

based on the talk

YOU AND YOUR RESEARCH


by Richard W. Hamming Bell Communications Research Colloquium Seminar 7th March 1986 Available on the Internet
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Activities during the course


10 min Power Point Presentations by two participants on topics of their choice but of general interest to the audience 10 min thinking exercise to gain appreciation of the levels of thinking A number of assignments

And taking notes !!!!


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Reference Material
E. M. Phillips and D. S. Pugh, How to get a PhD a handbook for PhD students and their supervisors, Viva books Pvt. Ltd., (price Rs. 165). (with due acknowledgement to Prof. M. V. Satyanarayana) G. L. Squires, Practical physics, Cambridge University Press, (price Rs. 185). Handbook of Science Communication, compiled by Antony Wilson, Jane Gregory, Steve Miller, Shirley Earl, Overseas Press India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, First edition 2005 (price Rs. 130).
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What are the motivation and objectives of a course such as Introduction to Research ?

Status of Research in India

Vision Excellence in research

Gap
Low impact of the large scientific manpower Low average drags the peak down or drives it away

Ground reality
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An IIT Teachers doubt: We are proud of our B.Techs. Are we equally proud of our PhDs ?

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There is an urgent need to strengthen research culture instill confidence and professional pride in research scholars

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Teachers
Guide

The PhD Educational Process - A Model

Human Peers

Material

Resources Attitude B.Tech M.Tech student PhD Education PhD scholar Skills
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Knowledge

Teachers
Guide

The PhD Educational Process - A Model


Planning /Organizing Motivating Controlling (optimally) Human Material

Peers Resources Attitude B.Tech M.Tech student PhD Education PhD scholar Skills
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Knowledge

Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways. The point, however, is to change it !

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The course aims at seeding research attitude and skills.


Seed Layer Plating Substrate

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The course aims at seeding research attitude and skills.


Introduction to Research course Research attitude and skills Research Scholars

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To undertake an exploration it helps to have a map. This course can be regarded as a map for undertaking research.

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There is no substitute for experience, in understanding of the research process. But, experience without thought is a slow and painful way of learning.

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The course has two components: one that will be of immediate use, and another, whose significance will be apparent in the long run.

Your research career does not end, but rather, begins with an MS / PhD.
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We discuss answers the following questions


What are the differences between Course based UG / PG education and Research education ? What are the habits, skills and attitudes required for research and how do I develop them ?

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Degrees
Bachelors: General education Masters (by course work): Possession of advanced knowledge Doctorate or at least Masters (by research): License to teach and guide others

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One can teach and guide others when one has a knowledge of what is being discovered, argued about and published in a subject all over the world an ability to evaluate the worth of what others are doing an ability to identify areas where one can make a useful contribution an ability to communicate ones ideas and results effectively in international professional circles
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To get the license to teach and guide others, one should be a MANAGER OF ONES OWN LEARNING and an INDEPENDENT THINKER. In bachelors and masters education, a students learning is managed by her teachers.

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Manager of ones own learning take initiative in choosing the research area and courses to be undergone Independent thinker not only solve a problem but also define it; this involves asking new questions not only generate data but also interpret it. Research education, blurs the distinction between a student and her mentor.
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Unlike in an examination, in research, you do not get well-defined problems to solve. It is your job to define the problem as well as to solve it. PhD / MS is like a time-unbound examination, in which problems are different for different people, the final marks have to be more than a minimum which is fairly high, but you are allowed multiple attempts to achieve this result.
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Flawed Perceptions About Research


The role of a scholar and his guide Meaning of a Thesis

A thesis is not merely description but analysis and explanation of a topic. It is a position that you wish to argue about, defend or maintain.

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Research entails prolonged and arduous labour and needs - doubt rather than ready acceptance - extensive reading: a researcher must be much broader than his special line - persistence, i.e. management of boredom and frustration - good relations with your guide and fellow scholars
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Research
Go back and search until we find explore

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path. Ralph Emerson An objective and systematic effort to gain new knowledge
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Research
Criteria - newness, truth, accuracy, good technique, keen analysis, sound reasoning. Involves - questioning, doubting, verifying, sifting, testing, and proving that which has been handed down; observing, and measuring the phenomena of nature.

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Why research ?
All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention. If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts. But if he will be content to begin with doubts, he will end in certainties. - Francis Bacon Research promotes the habits of logical thinking and organization.
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Why research ?
swagruhe pUjyate mUrkhah, swagrAme pUjyate prabhuh swadeshe pUjyate rAjA, vidvAn sarvatra pUjyate. Service to society. Intellectual satisfaction of doing creative work. Face the challenge of solving unsolved problems. Enhance career opportunities and earning. Not having any real aims and not knowing what to do.

Aims do not remain the same throughout the PhD duration.


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Who is a scholar ?
A greedy person can be won over by money A proud person by cowering before him A fool by agreeing with him, but A scholar can only be won over by speaking the truth. - Chanakya

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Who is a scholar ?
We should not forget that the solution of any worthwhile problem very rarely comes to us easily and without hard work. It is rather the result of intellectual effort of days or weeks or months. Why should the young mind be willing to make this supreme effort ? The explanation is probably the instinctive preference for certain values, that is, the attitude which rates intellectual effort and spiritual achievement higher than material advantage. - Gabor Szego
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Successful completion of any major project requires integrated application of multiple skills and habits.

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SKILLS NECESSARY FOR RESEARCH


Thinking Knowing Comprehension Problem solving Critical thinking Creative thinking Problem finding Literature search Experimentation Modeling Time / stress management Interpersonal skills
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Technical communication Oral Written Publishing / Patenting

NECESSARY HABITS

Documentation Reading Participation in technical meetings

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No procedure, technique, skill etc which is relevant to your thesis should be exercised by you there for the first time. You should have practiced it beforehand on a non-thesis exercise, which is therefore going to be less stressful and allow you greater learning.

If you have 10 hours for chopping a tree, spend 5 hours sharpening the axe.
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