This semester I have to teach the semicon fab subject which I never touch for the past 10 years (am I that old??) :-))...Student feedback after second week is the most interesting hehehe
-Of course not directly to my face. A friend of mine had discussion with a few final yr students about final year project. They asked permission fr their supervisor to leave early to attend a class or else the lecturer will close the door. Of course the supervisor asked who was the lecturer, and she did list down all the 'nightmare' lecturers e.g. Prof Z, Dr A, etc..hehehe...she was surprised when they mentioned my name hahaha-I wasn't surprised though!
In the beginning of the class I already told them what are my expectations. Why should I tolerate 10 minutes late when I can make 10 minutes early? Why can't I bombarded them with quizzes, exercises, assignments and group discussion when I know those were the right things to do to make them study ?..hehehe...If I have to award them even 5% marks, I'll make sure they deserve it. There's no such thing as 'FREE marks' in my class...hahahha...up to now, I have heaps of things to mark from my weekly quiz, group exercise and group project hahaha...Now, I guess most of them pay attention in class because the question may come out anytime. That's life....
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Sunday, 12 August 2007
My Romeo
Ahaks...my Romeo's air conditioned was sicked few days ago..After changed its condenser, it works well. I just realised, I forgot to change the gear oil which was overdue nearly 3000 km hehehe...really need to find time to do so..
Next on my wish list: change front shock absorber, find paint for touch up..My Romeo has pimples from sand truck...really annoying....
Next on my wish list: change front shock absorber, find paint for touch up..My Romeo has pimples from sand truck...really annoying....
Ikan bilis vs Dewa
Well...characters in my office..First, let me introduce the character..
DEWA
- A group of 'untouchable' seniors aka old folks hehehe..
- Main interests:
- Advantage: Well-known name
Ikan bilis
- Young generation (mostly less than 5 years service, can be up to 10 yrs service)
- Main Interest:
-Advantage: have connection with outsiders
If I write a plot of these two groups it will be exciting. Just don't understand why DEWA feels insecure with ikan bilis?
DEWA
- A group of 'untouchable' seniors aka old folks hehehe..
- Main interests:
- how to stay on top without doing work
- how to manipulate ikan bilis
- How to make sure ikan bilis do everything
- how to make sure ikan bilis do not act against their will
- Advantage: Well-known name
Ikan bilis
- Young generation (mostly less than 5 years service, can be up to 10 yrs service)
- Main Interest:
- How to finish all works
- How to involve in school, uni, community activities
- How to obtain more research grants, publish more papers
- How to do their work without interference from DEWA
-Advantage: have connection with outsiders
If I write a plot of these two groups it will be exciting. Just don't understand why DEWA feels insecure with ikan bilis?
Academic life
Some people keep ask me:
* How's my academic life
* What I've been doing almost 3 months now
* Why I seem don't have much time to socialise
* Why I don't contact them and lots of why..why...and why...
First and foremost, I would like to apologise to those that I keep their emails for ages, never write an email, hardly reply their txt messages, hardly call, etc..etc...I'm just a human being and I still need time to adjust my life.
Since I came back, I've been busy mainly with my academic life. If you think academician life like 10-15 years back, you are completely wrong..:-D Nowadays, there are so many things that we need to do although I have to admit some of them are 'unnecessary' BUT I still have to do hahahaha...
Classes- Back to the topic, on paper I only teach 1 subject, but I have 2 labs for 1st yr and 3rd yr to take care of. Each lab is about 4 hours, which up to the lecturer to just brief the students and leave them alone, or stay with them and help them to understand what are they doing. I would say, it's very hard for them to relate the theory that they learn in class, with practical and real life...
Unnecessary subject- In the next couple of weeks, I'll have to do tutorial on "thinking technique". Don't ask me what's the subject about hahahha...I wonder if I use the right thinking technique throughout my life...well, heaps of reading to do...Last few weeks I was asked to attend Entrepreneurship Course. I still against the idea of teaching 1st students Entrepreneurship Course...I wonder what MOHE guys were thinking? Normally 1st year students need time to adjust their campus life. If we dumped the Entrepreneurship Course, how bad their academic result will be? If we look closely into the course outline, we can predict that their academic performance will slump...hahahaha...wait and see...2 unit course, but require so much time...what a moron...
OBE-Last 2 month I attended a course on Outcome-based Education (OBE)..The new requirement from Board of Engineer and Engineering Accreditation Committee to all engineering course. Technically, we have gone through OBE for ages without proper documentation. Now it's time to adapt OBE in our coursework-well planned and documented...
Research University- who says it is good to be a research university? In reality more work to do. The bad thing is it RU is not well-planned e.g. 50 million allocation is still in the newspaper and of course the way they are going to distribute the money is unclear. Everybody is trying to get a piece of cake, but who's going to cook the cake? And the war begin DEWA vs ANAK BILIS...hahaha...If anak bilis win, I guess anak bilis already become piranha hahahaha...will write about "untouchable DEWA" later...
Publications- another story....keep forcing...Before I came back, I vowed that I will hibernate the first 6 months..hahaha..that's what I'm trying to do...HOWEVER, seems like almost impossible to do so. To date, I manage to write a paper for bulletin (paksa-rela), send abstracts for conferences end of this year.
Research grant- hmm I managed to get the incentive grant already. To date, I'm still preparing for a short term grant.. Another story with DEWA...Sciencefund next on the list..hahaha...
Final year projects- I was given 5 students to supervise. As usual, I have to think about the projects...My Partial Head Damage (PhD) becomes more obvious hahahaha
Master student- I'll supervise a master student from Indonesia next semester under AUN-SEED net program. New challenge...
Short course- We are going to have nano short course next week. Hmmm spend lots of time to prepare...
will continue later...
* How's my academic life
* What I've been doing almost 3 months now
* Why I seem don't have much time to socialise
* Why I don't contact them and lots of why..why...and why...
First and foremost, I would like to apologise to those that I keep their emails for ages, never write an email, hardly reply their txt messages, hardly call, etc..etc...I'm just a human being and I still need time to adjust my life.
Since I came back, I've been busy mainly with my academic life. If you think academician life like 10-15 years back, you are completely wrong..:-D Nowadays, there are so many things that we need to do although I have to admit some of them are 'unnecessary' BUT I still have to do hahahaha...
Classes- Back to the topic, on paper I only teach 1 subject, but I have 2 labs for 1st yr and 3rd yr to take care of. Each lab is about 4 hours, which up to the lecturer to just brief the students and leave them alone, or stay with them and help them to understand what are they doing. I would say, it's very hard for them to relate the theory that they learn in class, with practical and real life...
Unnecessary subject- In the next couple of weeks, I'll have to do tutorial on "thinking technique". Don't ask me what's the subject about hahahha...I wonder if I use the right thinking technique throughout my life...well, heaps of reading to do...Last few weeks I was asked to attend Entrepreneurship Course. I still against the idea of teaching 1st students Entrepreneurship Course...I wonder what MOHE guys were thinking? Normally 1st year students need time to adjust their campus life. If we dumped the Entrepreneurship Course, how bad their academic result will be? If we look closely into the course outline, we can predict that their academic performance will slump...hahahaha...wait and see...2 unit course, but require so much time...what a moron...
OBE-Last 2 month I attended a course on Outcome-based Education (OBE)..The new requirement from Board of Engineer and Engineering Accreditation Committee to all engineering course. Technically, we have gone through OBE for ages without proper documentation. Now it's time to adapt OBE in our coursework-well planned and documented...
Research University- who says it is good to be a research university? In reality more work to do. The bad thing is it RU is not well-planned e.g. 50 million allocation is still in the newspaper and of course the way they are going to distribute the money is unclear. Everybody is trying to get a piece of cake, but who's going to cook the cake? And the war begin DEWA vs ANAK BILIS...hahaha...If anak bilis win, I guess anak bilis already become piranha hahahaha...will write about "untouchable DEWA" later...
Publications- another story....keep forcing...Before I came back, I vowed that I will hibernate the first 6 months..hahaha..that's what I'm trying to do...HOWEVER, seems like almost impossible to do so. To date, I manage to write a paper for bulletin (paksa-rela), send abstracts for conferences end of this year.
Research grant- hmm I managed to get the incentive grant already. To date, I'm still preparing for a short term grant.. Another story with DEWA...Sciencefund next on the list..hahaha...
Final year projects- I was given 5 students to supervise. As usual, I have to think about the projects...My Partial Head Damage (PhD) becomes more obvious hahahaha
Master student- I'll supervise a master student from Indonesia next semester under AUN-SEED net program. New challenge...
Short course- We are going to have nano short course next week. Hmmm spend lots of time to prepare...
will continue later...
Friday, 22 June 2007
Home sweet home...and yet soooo busy...
I'm home for more than a month now..home sweet home....:-) my blog nearly 'die' since last month..well, I need sometime to adjust my life with new environment. I was out of my parents house since I was 13. Well, need to cope well with my mum's nagging (not at me though), visit family and relatives during weekend, and also my social life (although I'm a bit anti-social) hehehehe..
About my work, I start work in USM for a month. Unlike 10 years back, academic life becomes busier. There's no such things as go to university after 10am, and go back at 3pm like my lecturers hahahaha...I still wonder if only at USM or all universities??
ok, I will continue later...need to prepare myself for 'weekend ronggeng' with my fellow friends hahahaha...
"things happened, and you can't change..why bother??"
About my work, I start work in USM for a month. Unlike 10 years back, academic life becomes busier. There's no such things as go to university after 10am, and go back at 3pm like my lecturers hahahaha...I still wonder if only at USM or all universities??
ok, I will continue later...need to prepare myself for 'weekend ronggeng' with my fellow friends hahahaha...
"things happened, and you can't change..why bother??"
Monday, 14 May 2007
My journey...not my destination...
After attended several farewell lunch and dinner, I become a bit sad to leave New Zealand. After sometimes, I guess I become comfortable here....Well, I know it's not my destination, it's just part of my journey through life...
I'm thankful to my family for their support, to my friends who always being there for me, to my mentors who never give up on me..
I really look forward for my 'return journey'! :-D
I'm thankful to my family for their support, to my friends who always being there for me, to my mentors who never give up on me..
I really look forward for my 'return journey'! :-D
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Acknowledgements
Yihaaaa..after such a long and dark tunnel, it's finally OVER!
Syukur Alhamdullillah..I have passed my viva on 8th May 2007..my examiner said "Now you can carry on with your life" :-) He's absolutely right on this. After years of sacrifice, I'm glad it's finally over...
Thank God for His blessing...for giving me enough strength...
I thank my parents, my brothers and sisters and my relatives for their support throughout my study..
My sincere gratitude to my friends for always being there for me..
Thank you for your endless courage, help, patience and love...
Detail acknowledgments as follows:
This thesis would not be possible without the invaluable support and guidance from various people throughout my academic journey at the University of Auckland. First and foremost, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Wei Gao for his appreciable guidance in both academic affairs and personal matters throughout my study and my stay in New Zealand. I would like to express my hearty appreciation to Dr Alec Asadov for his endless help, guidance and valuable discussion especially in the works related to XRD and structural studies.
Special thanks also go to Dr Zhengwei Li for the valuable discussion and especially in the technical support in magnetron sputtering throughout my study. I also appreciate the technical supports from the people from the Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, especially Catherine Hobbis and Steve Strover. I would like to extend my thanks to Dr Adrian Turner and Dr Yulung Chiu for their help on TEM. I acknowledge the fruitful discussion with Dr S. Parnov from the Chemistry Department.
Associate Professor Kazuhiro Kusukawa and Mr Fujiwara from Kochi University of Technology Japan also deserve my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the collaboration in the work related to PZT film by high temperature hydrothermal. It is an honour and a great pleasure to work with them throughout the project.
Special thanks are extended to Professor Ma Jan and Dr Li Tao from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore for the valuable insights and technical support during my visit to the university.
I am grateful to all my colleagues in Professor Wei Gao’s research group, both present and former, for their valuable comments, technical and personal supports. Working beside them has been an honour and a true pleasure.
I acknowledge the financial support from Universiti Sains Malaysia through the Academic Staff Training Scheme Fellowship (ASTF). I would also like to thank the New Zealand government for sponsoring this project through the NERF research grant and the University of Auckland’s Graduate Research Fund for the traveling fund (2005 and 2006).
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof JJJ Chen and W.G. Ferguson, former and current Head of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Auckland and Professor Ahmed Al-Jumaily, the Director of the Diagnostics Control and Research Control, Auckland University of Technology. I appreciate their help and advices during my early days in New Zealand.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my family, my father Abdul Razak Lazim, my mother, Sabariah Daud, my brothers and sisters, without whom this thesis would not materialise. I am deeply grateful for their endless love, patience and courage throughout my academic experience in New Zealand. To my friends and relatives, thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being there for me in the ups and downs of my journey. Thank you for being a significant part of my PhD experience and my own personal achievement and development.
Syukur Alhamdullillah..I have passed my viva on 8th May 2007..my examiner said "Now you can carry on with your life" :-) He's absolutely right on this. After years of sacrifice, I'm glad it's finally over...
Thank God for His blessing...for giving me enough strength...
I thank my parents, my brothers and sisters and my relatives for their support throughout my study..
My sincere gratitude to my friends for always being there for me..
Thank you for your endless courage, help, patience and love...
Detail acknowledgments as follows:
This thesis would not be possible without the invaluable support and guidance from various people throughout my academic journey at the University of Auckland. First and foremost, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Wei Gao for his appreciable guidance in both academic affairs and personal matters throughout my study and my stay in New Zealand. I would like to express my hearty appreciation to Dr Alec Asadov for his endless help, guidance and valuable discussion especially in the works related to XRD and structural studies.
Special thanks also go to Dr Zhengwei Li for the valuable discussion and especially in the technical support in magnetron sputtering throughout my study. I also appreciate the technical supports from the people from the Chemical and Materials Engineering Department, especially Catherine Hobbis and Steve Strover. I would like to extend my thanks to Dr Adrian Turner and Dr Yulung Chiu for their help on TEM. I acknowledge the fruitful discussion with Dr S. Parnov from the Chemistry Department.
Associate Professor Kazuhiro Kusukawa and Mr Fujiwara from Kochi University of Technology Japan also deserve my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the collaboration in the work related to PZT film by high temperature hydrothermal. It is an honour and a great pleasure to work with them throughout the project.
Special thanks are extended to Professor Ma Jan and Dr Li Tao from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore for the valuable insights and technical support during my visit to the university.
I am grateful to all my colleagues in Professor Wei Gao’s research group, both present and former, for their valuable comments, technical and personal supports. Working beside them has been an honour and a true pleasure.
I acknowledge the financial support from Universiti Sains Malaysia through the Academic Staff Training Scheme Fellowship (ASTF). I would also like to thank the New Zealand government for sponsoring this project through the NERF research grant and the University of Auckland’s Graduate Research Fund for the traveling fund (2005 and 2006).
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof JJJ Chen and W.G. Ferguson, former and current Head of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Auckland and Professor Ahmed Al-Jumaily, the Director of the Diagnostics Control and Research Control, Auckland University of Technology. I appreciate their help and advices during my early days in New Zealand.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my family, my father Abdul Razak Lazim, my mother, Sabariah Daud, my brothers and sisters, without whom this thesis would not materialise. I am deeply grateful for their endless love, patience and courage throughout my academic experience in New Zealand. To my friends and relatives, thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being there for me in the ups and downs of my journey. Thank you for being a significant part of my PhD experience and my own personal achievement and development.
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