Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by the wonders of space. Call me a geek, but it's true. I had always wanted to study astronomy (astrophysics, in particular) in university, but never got to, living in a developing country with a curriculum more geared towards business and the "practical" sciences. At the time, studying astronomy abroad just for the sake of it seemed a self-indulgent pleasure that neither I nor my parents could afford.
I enjoyed chemistry in high school, thanks to a wonderful teacher (Miss Tess Santos) who opened my eyes to the art and the beauty which lies beyond the science of chemistry. And I thought I was pretty good in maths, too. So I studied chemical engineering in university.
But the more I studied it, the more I realised it was not for me. It was such a pollutive field, these chemical process and manufacturing industries, and so man-made. But I did discover that I had a heart for the environment through one of the ChE courses I took: Waste Management/Intro to Environmental Science. If I could have shifted courses and gotten a degree in Environmental Sciences then, I would have, but inertia proved too strong to battle.
And then I started studying for an MSc in Environmental Studies. I finished all my coursework with high grades and got a high pass on my comprehensive exams, but have yet to begin my thesis, since I took an extended study leave right after my son was diagnosed. But it was during that period that I discovered meteorology, climate studies, the physics of the atmospheric environment. I realised that atmospheric physics (e.g. climate modelling, global warming issues) is probably what I wanted to put my energy into in the future, out of all the urgent and important environmental concerns today, like solid waste, water pollution, renewable/alternative energy, resource recovery, recycling and what not. But I realised that the institution where I was studying Environmental Studies would not be able to support me in this goal, since they do not have the facilities or the research infrastructure for atmospheric sciences.
Late last year, I applied for the PhD programme of one of the leading UK research institutions in meteorology and the atmospheric sciences. They rejected my application, saying that my five-year Philippine BSc in Chemical Engineering with a "magna cum laude" attached to it was not the equivalent of a UK honours degree, which was required for admission into the programme. My Philippine degree was judged to be just an ordinary UK degree, according to their assessment. Their educational system is quite different here, as you may have guessed by now. The Philippine higher education honours system is more similar to that of the US, with its laudes and all. Here in the UK, they have no clue what a "magna cum laude" degree means. So I was not eligible for a funded place on the PhD programme in Atmospheres, Oceans and Climate, but I was invited to take the one year MSc, provided I could pay my own way. Ten thousand pounds (PHP 1M) for an MSc? From my own husband's pocket? No way! We have children to feed and rent to pay.
I was crushed by the news, initially. It was a blow to my intellectual pride and my already-wobbly unemployed housewife's self-esteem, I suppose, but any rejection, when distilled properly by the Lord through prayer, produces a very raw, pure dose of humility which strengthens character for life. As my wise and loving husband said to me, "Do not think of it as a rejection, but a re-direction from the Lord." If He wanted me to get into that PhD programme, it was within His power to do so. But that would have meant uprooting my family and moving to a different city, and God probably thought it was not the right time to do that. He loves me, and knows what's best for me. It was a very clear "No, not yet" from a loving God. He has a better plan.
But I have lately been getting the itch to study again, though, especially since our youngest started going to nursery and I have been enjoying a couple hours a day to myself. So I looked at the website of the UK's well-respected Open University (a leading institution on distance learning) and discovered that they are offering a free 10-point course called "Science Engineering and Technology: A Course for Women Returners." It's an online, distance-learning course meant for women with a background in science, engineering or technology, women who have had to take a career break to raise kids, women who want to return to the field and use their SET skills again. I reserved a place on it, and now the registration papers are sitting on my desk, waiting to be filled up and posted back. I am quite excited about it, but it's a pity, for apart from a tight cluster of long-distance friends, I have no one else to tell and be excited with me.
I have been looking at the OU's website in more detail and I see that they offer credit transfer for previous study. I'm planning to apply for this, using both my BSc and MSc from the Philippines, and use it towards a second undergrad degree, most probably a BSc honours degree in Physics, with courses geared towards astrophysics and atmospheric physics. I'm not sure about this yet, I'm not certain if we can afford it, since I do not bring in any income to our tight household budget, but if I can get some major help from the OU in paying for the fees, I would register for this degree in a heartbeat.
Then what? A research career in atmospheric physics or astrophysics, probably, when the children are both old enough to be in school all day. A PhD? Only God knows, and I am content to take it one day at a time, to wait quietly for His will to unfold in my as-yet-earth-bound life.
For now, though, I am content just to be part of an exciting Galaxy Zoo project which I read about yesterday on BBC. I help astronomers by categorising some of their 1 million satellite images of farflung galaxies, just by going online and looking at the pictures.
Anything to keep me looking at the stars.
I enjoyed chemistry in high school, thanks to a wonderful teacher (Miss Tess Santos) who opened my eyes to the art and the beauty which lies beyond the science of chemistry. And I thought I was pretty good in maths, too. So I studied chemical engineering in university.
But the more I studied it, the more I realised it was not for me. It was such a pollutive field, these chemical process and manufacturing industries, and so man-made. But I did discover that I had a heart for the environment through one of the ChE courses I took: Waste Management/Intro to Environmental Science. If I could have shifted courses and gotten a degree in Environmental Sciences then, I would have, but inertia proved too strong to battle.
And then I started studying for an MSc in Environmental Studies. I finished all my coursework with high grades and got a high pass on my comprehensive exams, but have yet to begin my thesis, since I took an extended study leave right after my son was diagnosed. But it was during that period that I discovered meteorology, climate studies, the physics of the atmospheric environment. I realised that atmospheric physics (e.g. climate modelling, global warming issues) is probably what I wanted to put my energy into in the future, out of all the urgent and important environmental concerns today, like solid waste, water pollution, renewable/alternative energy, resource recovery, recycling and what not. But I realised that the institution where I was studying Environmental Studies would not be able to support me in this goal, since they do not have the facilities or the research infrastructure for atmospheric sciences.
Late last year, I applied for the PhD programme of one of the leading UK research institutions in meteorology and the atmospheric sciences. They rejected my application, saying that my five-year Philippine BSc in Chemical Engineering with a "magna cum laude" attached to it was not the equivalent of a UK honours degree, which was required for admission into the programme. My Philippine degree was judged to be just an ordinary UK degree, according to their assessment. Their educational system is quite different here, as you may have guessed by now. The Philippine higher education honours system is more similar to that of the US, with its laudes and all. Here in the UK, they have no clue what a "magna cum laude" degree means. So I was not eligible for a funded place on the PhD programme in Atmospheres, Oceans and Climate, but I was invited to take the one year MSc, provided I could pay my own way. Ten thousand pounds (PHP 1M) for an MSc? From my own husband's pocket? No way! We have children to feed and rent to pay.
I was crushed by the news, initially. It was a blow to my intellectual pride and my already-wobbly unemployed housewife's self-esteem, I suppose, but any rejection, when distilled properly by the Lord through prayer, produces a very raw, pure dose of humility which strengthens character for life. As my wise and loving husband said to me, "Do not think of it as a rejection, but a re-direction from the Lord." If He wanted me to get into that PhD programme, it was within His power to do so. But that would have meant uprooting my family and moving to a different city, and God probably thought it was not the right time to do that. He loves me, and knows what's best for me. It was a very clear "No, not yet" from a loving God. He has a better plan.
But I have lately been getting the itch to study again, though, especially since our youngest started going to nursery and I have been enjoying a couple hours a day to myself. So I looked at the website of the UK's well-respected Open University (a leading institution on distance learning) and discovered that they are offering a free 10-point course called "Science Engineering and Technology: A Course for Women Returners." It's an online, distance-learning course meant for women with a background in science, engineering or technology, women who have had to take a career break to raise kids, women who want to return to the field and use their SET skills again. I reserved a place on it, and now the registration papers are sitting on my desk, waiting to be filled up and posted back. I am quite excited about it, but it's a pity, for apart from a tight cluster of long-distance friends, I have no one else to tell and be excited with me.
I have been looking at the OU's website in more detail and I see that they offer credit transfer for previous study. I'm planning to apply for this, using both my BSc and MSc from the Philippines, and use it towards a second undergrad degree, most probably a BSc honours degree in Physics, with courses geared towards astrophysics and atmospheric physics. I'm not sure about this yet, I'm not certain if we can afford it, since I do not bring in any income to our tight household budget, but if I can get some major help from the OU in paying for the fees, I would register for this degree in a heartbeat.
Then what? A research career in atmospheric physics or astrophysics, probably, when the children are both old enough to be in school all day. A PhD? Only God knows, and I am content to take it one day at a time, to wait quietly for His will to unfold in my as-yet-earth-bound life.
For now, though, I am content just to be part of an exciting Galaxy Zoo project which I read about yesterday on BBC. I help astronomers by categorising some of their 1 million satellite images of farflung galaxies, just by going online and looking at the pictures.
Anything to keep me looking at the stars.
