Adebola,
many thanks for your kind words. Perhaps I can offer you a memory of a
past experience, concerning money for study and research. I believe the
list won't dislike these considerations, as they affect(ed) virtually
anybody trying to pursue a scientific goal where costs are involved.
In 1994, a year before I got my first degree (in Italy), I wanted to
present a proposal for the Ocean Drilling Project. A wild idea for an
utterly ambitious objective (some italian members on this list who know
me will remember) yet something worth trying. A dream to battle for, to
use your appropriate words.
The venue to orally present it was in Switzerland, an expensive train
ride in those days (well, even today..!).. Actually, I could have found
the money but I also had another need: buying a modem to get connected
to the Internet, another far away image in those days in Italy. The
venue was immensely expensive so, ticket, hotel etc were about 400 USD
(of 1994..). The same to buy a modem, net connection (no free accounts
in 1994..!), long-distance calls (no local POPs..).
Eventually, of course, I decided to drop the modem and got to
Switzerland. I went on my own, unaware of the italian team who was
already there. I arrived totally unknown, a kid from the lower province
with such adventurous an idea.. "Who's this guy?", you can imagine the
mixed feelings within these experienced and long-run scientists..
Additionally (and with good reason!), the italian team was somewhat
worried that I could, unwillingly, weaken the image of the Ocean
Drilling Projects personnel in Italy, since they knew absolutely nothing
about me, my tutors, my degree of knowledge...
How did it end? The presentation, in itself, the first of my life (and
in a language other than my own) went absolutely OK, the italian team
was extremely helpful and supporting... and, eventually, they decided to
refund me for all expenses.
Sometimes it works, Adebola. Keep on battling for your dreams about
becoming a scientist in tectonics.
With best wishes,
Umberto
--
Umberto Fracassi
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Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
Via di Vigna Murata, 605
00143 Roma
Italy
Tel: +39-06-51860485
Fax: +39-06-5041181
Email: [log in to unmask]
WWW: http://www.ingv.it/paleo/fracassi/
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"This is what you should do: Love the earth and the sun and the animals,
despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid
and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue
not concerning god, have patience and indulgence toward people, take off
your hat to nothing known or unknown, or to anyone or number of people
....reexamine all you have been told at school or church, or in any
book, dismiss what insults your soul, and your very flesh shall be a
great poem."
Walt Whitman
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