Processing of Zinc ores and concentrate '10

I've just came back from Cape Town, South Africa last Thursday, presented my paper entitled ' The evaluation of ammonium chloride for the extraction of zinc from steelmaking dusts' in the Processing of Zinc Ores & Concentrate '10 Conference. The venue was in Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa.

Alhamdulillah, it went well..more updates and stories to come..at this moment..this is the quick update!

What u have learnt....what's the difference?

Today my project leader asked...after long good chat..'What u have learnt so far upon completing this task...at this stage...What's the difference with the way u work here..with all the supervisions...compare back to your home country?"..

Owh I have so much to tell..

Quaterly Progress Presentation & Zinc Processing '10

What I've been doing all this while?Right..after the last 3rd Cleer User Conference.when was that?Ah..last June....just usual works...lab works..more labs..n of course..more information searching...hehehe..while ...(mostly..FBing!)

Glimpse.Right after the conference, all of us went to dinner together at this beautiful Lebanese style restaurant...despite jokes and laughters... we got some tips from Devin (Cleer Lab Director) on undergoing our PhD...he told us some  stories of several people who can still make it through..to survive in the PhD process...it was really a wake up call.on how we shouldn't give up of EVERTHING that happened along the journey..

So the next day..I received email from Devin; CC to Tony, Keith and Andrew..Devin said he forgot to mention and asked me during our dinner if I'm interested in attending and presenting in this conference of Zinc Processing  '10 which will be held at Capetown, South Africa, sometime in November. As he felt that my work has a good chance to be accepted and presented in the conference; moreover...the organizer is of one of this outstanding journal in Metallurgy; Minerals Engineering Journal that is..so as selected paper will be published.so Devin said...I should really take this opportunity..

So...I asked Andrew, Tony and Keith.and the matter now was whether the company I've been working with, for my research , would permit the paper to be published..mean to say the data to be known...So then I consult with Andrew, Julian, Tony and Keith..so they said..supposedly no problem..but still the authorization persist..so whilst waiting for the permission that Andrew going to manage, I started my draft abstract..

I felt so appreciated...basically the company permit the paper to be presented..and after discussion with Julian and Andrew..and shown them the abstract (always before any discussion with either Tony or Keith, I initially discuss with Julian, Andrew or Martyn..and that's what Andrew asked me to do...so that I know what Tony and Keith would expect.).as always..Andrew and Julian made few comments and amendment..

So finally, after a few amendment from both of them and finally last 'touch up' from Keith..I submitted the astract..and a month later..I've received notification of the abstract has been accepted for 30mins presentation...Alhamdulillah..

And last  28/7, I've presented in the Quaterly Progress Presentation at site..I couldn't sleep the night before the presentation..all those technical people will be there..then of course I felt so nervous!!But alhamdulillah...it went well..few questions..but I'm getting more confidence this time..and good comments from the site team..as well as from Andrew, Julian and Toby...and most importantly I can carry on with my future works plan...

I felt...few presentations that I was required to deliver from lab users group, research team as well from site..had somehow made me more confidence..not only confidence in delivering whatever i've written in the slide..(of course...about my work).but most importantly, confidence to respond to any questions and comments audience have uttered..Not like before, I had this typical thought of "owh...another presentation.".."another meeting"..."another discussion"...then I realized..the reason why I felt that way was because I wasn;'t prepared enough...so positively speaking...it is indeed a research..and research is all about asking  questions..every actions has to be justified..and for the researches to find the answer..and I learned to get self motivated..and to give the best..as in one of my fridge magnet..stuck on my bedroom's wall : "YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION!"..So there's no way to escape...but to prepare as thoroughly as you can and do your best!

So now..I'm struggling to conduct more experiments ..in order to be put in the draft paper..whilst writing the draft paper itself that has to be submitted end of this August... Quite stressful..but still..I've got to do this!!!!!!

May this blessing Ramadhan grant me more strength!Amin!

3rd Cleer User Conference

Presented in the 3rd Cleer (Characterization Lab for Environmental Engineering Research) on 9th June 2010. What i can say is that after  presented in the previous 2 conferences, the nervousness was less, I felt much more comfortable. I'd presented calmly and able to respons to all the questions and comments more confident this time.

'Just do it..do silly mistakes..!..'..and so I did..

Remember previous post.. I mentioned Tony asked me to just embark whichever experiment I'm trying to do?When I told him I was quite slow as I need time to assure what I'm going to do..he told me..just do it..you'll find the answer along the process...do silly mistakes...don't worry..because you will always learn..

And last Monday..the silly mistakes??Yes I did!As it's quite been a while since I last did the experiment (before I went back hometown)..err..this was just reason!!I think I was not quite myself...I didn't know what was I thinking...I randomly put the crucibles for the sample roasting..RANDOMLY in the furnace..regardless the  sequence number of the crucibles which every unit I've weighted before the roasting...owh..what a waste of time!. I couldn't proceed with the rest of the samples.the rest of the day..as the experiments needs a total of at least 5 hours to be completed..and the time after the first stage roasting was already 1.15 pm...I can't stay in the lab until 6++!!(with the permission procedures..bla..bla..which I didn't prepared beforehand..)So that was it..lessons learned..

Don't wait...Don't waste your time!

Earlier this week; Monday..Julian has asked me about my work..and maybe all of us in the research team could discuss about our work together, .since it has been a while we have not sit together chat about our research ..Alhamdulillah...I'm blessed...since I came..Andrew, Julian and Martyn have been very helpful and supportive of us..

Yes..this realization made me think of God's miracles..whenever I felt lose, He heard me, and at that very moment, whenever I have this confusion about my literature reading, whenever I felt stuck and lost, felt like I do not know how to move on. or I can't move on... always Andrew, Julian or Martyn asking me how I've been...

So we're going to have our discussion together with Toby and Syrish sometime this week...informal discussion...Julian said : 'let's help each other.me and Martyn...we're here to help.."..Coincidentally, last 2 days..miraculously, just before Julian asked me about that, I've just met Keith, mentioned to him that I need consultation regarding my research as I felt lost...and today..we had our meeting, together with Tony..

I always had this fear to see them if I felt I'm not ready or...I don't really have any progress to show...but yes..actually I do...right before I went back to my hometown, I did this one trial experiments, got some results, but didn't manage to discuss with them...and I recalled, when I presented the data during my annual progress assessment the other day, Tony and Keith did mentioned we have to sit down and discuss the result further..it's just that...after that assesment..have been 3 weeks since..but I didn't do anything except, literature reading that brought me to nowhere!I felt that I'm, very...very slow..

Anyhow, despite the 'fearness' of meeting and discuss with them, I felt so relief..after the an hour discussion this afternoon..We discussed about the research direction..what to focus next...and more indepth about the research...everything gets so clearer now....I  learned that I shouldn't drag my confusion for long...as Keith always mentioned...if u wait for us..you will not get to see us...you  have to knock and remind us..you have to guide us as well..and Tony always said..I'm busy yes..but I always have time if u need it..and indeed when I met Keith to set up our appointment, Keith told me..'Don't keep your confusion, if you're stuck..you have to tell us right away..'..yes..I shouldn't have drag for too long...time doesn't wait.

So today..I learned that...no matter how you felt about your research , you stuck somewhere, and you fear to see your supervisor (s) just because you felt that you're not progressing well, so be it. Eventually, you still have to see them anyway. Don't drag the matter for long..or you will ended up, wasting your time, drag something not worth the time, as you could have done something really valuable to fill the time gap u've wasted lingering...because at the end of the day..this is your work, your PhD!

So start from tomorrow..I  know now what to do!

Ya Allah, I thanked you...blessed me with such  good people surrounds me in my PhD journey..I should appreciate this..and speed my work...like Tony always said..."Roll your sleeves!"..

Alhamdulillah..

To get back the momentum...

Right..here we are..

Now I'm on my 3rd week after returning from my hometown..

For last 2 weeks..coping with jet lag..the annual review presentation.I must say..life goes on...it's not easy to get back to the mood..but this laziness must be fought...I must..I shouldn't waste my time..

So to start off the 2nd year...I've open a new logbook..for 2nd year..since there're only several pages left..well this is a good sign and a good start isn't it??To start a new book for a new year!What a timing!!

Besides, since last week I took a text books on thermodynamic and chemisty which I've loaned many2 weeks ago, laid neatly on my desk..'trying' to finish some chapters on chemical metallurgy..and there the literature writing again...

And so this week..I'm stuck with another 2-3 books I've loaned...and hopefully I'll have my full mood, spirit and strength to at least understand all the related topic more clearly..to get clearer fundamental knowledge of thermochemistry, reaction kinetics, mineral separation, metal extraction..refining...and the lists goes...argh...!!but i must..the target???regard them as novels of my fav authors, I should finish 'extract' and 'absorb' the story in the book at the end of next week.And so.. for next term...I'm planning to join the thermodynamic lectures of Tony and Keith, so that I'll get better picture of the subjects..which I've never learn before..

Eventhough it's hard..having all the comments and recommendation from the annual review presentation session, I should appreciate as now I got clearer focus and direction to begin my 2nd year...

But hang on..today I'm going to start by reviewing my 1st year log book at least for once..to refresh!

End.