Wednesday, September 11, 2013

I'm moving to the UK

On November 24th, 2012 my life was changed by receiving a single phone call. Walking in a Christmas parade, wearing a rapidly disintegrating cardboard plane - I was told that I had been selected as a Rhodes Scholar Elect for Maritime Canada. Unbelievably, I had won one of the worlds most widely recognized merit scholarships. My first instinct was disbelief, followed by a rather unsuspected flood of tears. I quickly called my girlfriend, parents and siblings. Dancing along the dotted line of Queen Street in Truro, Nova Scotia - My adventure had really just begun.

Celebrating in the middle of a downpour
The next few weeks were busy. Trying to juggle end-of-term assignments, and tests was difficult with lovely distraction of friends congratulatory wishes, along with interviews with different media groups. Soon the excitement began to die down a little, and I started the quite confusing application process for Oxford. Below is a quick list of how it all went down.

a. Wrote request, and received written permission from Dean of Agriculture to apply for Rhodes Scholarship
b. Submitted statement of intent & CV to Dalhousie Research Office
c. Given a preliminary interview with Dalhousie AVP Academic
d. Had six reference letters submitted by coaches, professors, mentors.
e. Had a second interview with a team from Dalhousie University
f. Was given support by Dalhousie, application  moved forward to Maritime Rhodes Committee.
g. Received notice of interview in late November
h. Carried out an interview w/ the Regional committee. Met the 8 other finalists.
i. Selected as 1 of 2 recipients by the Regional committee.
j. Celebrated
k. Application to Oxford submitted (Research proposal, reference letters, final transcripts)
l. Granted interview with Oxford Department of Zoology
m. Prepared a formal presentation for head of department, and proposed supervisor via Skype.
n. Accepted to Department of Zoology
o. Accepted as a member of Magdalen College
p. Applied for and received a Confirmation of Academic Studies #
q. Applied for and received an International Student Visa

On September 27th, I'll be heading to Ottawa to meet this years group of Canadian Rhodes Scholars. We will leave together on September 29th for Oxford. As our weekend in Ottawa is referred to as 'Sailing Weekend", I selected fish as my menu option. Thought it was fitting.


How germane

My research at Oxford will be focused on food webs within agriculture ecosystems. It will have particular emphasis on host-parasitoid interaction and the roles of non-arable land upon ecosystem function (but more about that later).

I've been spending my last few weeks of 'funemployment' reading, and getting things together for the big haul. I'm building a wealth of knowledge on conservation biological control, herbivore induced plant volatiles, and hedgerows. There's a lot to learn. There are a lot of pay-walls. I've even started along with my very first MOOC.

Between reading, and messing about with R - I've been spending time with my favourite people, exploring the Maritime provinces, and taking time to think, exercise, and create.

I am excited, and nervous, and ready to face the opportunities, and challenges that grad school will indelibly bring. I'm feeling energetic, and creative. Life is good. I think I might just be ready for this. Wish me luck.