Enthusiasm on a Friday afternoon!

It was really interesting to observe the levels of enthusiasm displayed by all present at the afternoon sessions today, especially since it was Friday - a time of week when we usually seem to be dragging our tails behind us!

Stimulating and thought-provoking as usual, the variety of speakers that we have heard has left us speechless at times, but also forced us to see research from their perspectives - step into their spheres of existence for a short time and get some insight into what makes them tick. The more I learn about their research, the more I understand why individuals from certain domains are the way they are, and my resolve to not take personally interactions with them that I may otherwise have perceived negatively strengthens considerably.

So, the way forward? An open mind, a fresh perspective and a whole lot of insight into the world of academia - utterly refreshing!