On Mon, 16 Sep 2002 08:08:09 +1000 Kerry London
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> I'd be interested to hear of others experiences in supervising
> across disciplines.
>
I have so far supervised two PhDs to completion, with another two
in the final stages due to complete this year.
One candidate is completing in ceramics technology, and this is a
long long way from my own expertise, deep or otherwise. However,
the other supervisor is a subject expert working in a highly
rated materials science department in another university. My
role is more general, and has really come into the construction
of the thesis. Along the way I have in fact learned a good deal
about isostatic dust pressing as well!
However, in a sense I always feel that supervision is at, or
beyond the mnargins of my expertise. Even with a subject area
that I know well, within a year or two a competent PhD candidate
will be working deeply and independently beyond my close
knowledge. Supervison is therefore more about advising the
candidate about the general aspects of being rigorous in the
research, being a sounding board, being challenging, and
communicating the results clearly to the target audience.
I am not sure how others feel about this, but being a supervisor
at this level is quite tough, but always interesting.
David
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Dr David Durling / \ | | )
Advanced Research Institute ____ \ __ /
School of Art & Design / \ | \ |
Staffordshire University _/ _\ _| _\ _|
Stoke on Trent, ST4 2XN, UK
voice: +44 (0) 1782 294556 email: [log in to unmask]
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