SOMETIMES, THE RESEARCH JOURNEY HAS ITS OWN TIMELINE

I actually read this thesis much earlier this year in preparation for my role as the External Examiner for a Master candidate at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

The viva date was already fixed earlier this year. Everything seemed ready.

Then, about a week before the viva, the student, Tharshini, came down with dengue and the viva voce examination had to be postponed.

We tried to arrange another date, but somehow it took longer than expected. We waited, and waited again. At one point, I started wondering what had happened.

Later, when I checked with USM, I learned that her father had recently passed away.

At that point, the delay became completely understandable. Research is important, but sometimes life gives us something much bigger to deal with. Emotionally, she probably needed time to recover before facing an important academic examination.

So we waited again.

Until today.

Finally, Tharshini completed her viva for the thesis titled “Integrated Geospatial and Finite Element Modelling of Rainfall Induced Landslides with WebGIS-Based Risk Visualisation: A Case Study of Penang Island, Malaysia”. 

The research integrates geospatial analysis, finite element modelling and WebGIS to better understand rainfall-induced landslide risks and communicate those risks through an interactive spatial platform.

And the good news, she passed with minor corrections. 🎓

Congratulations Tharshini. Considering everything that happened along the way, completing this viva is an achievement that carries a little more meaning.

This experience also reminded me of something.

We can plan our research schedule, submission, viva, graduation and everything else. But we never really know what life will bring tomorrow.

So, to those who are still studying, especially postgraduate students, try not to procrastinate too much. When you have the opportunity to move your research forward, do it.

Finish what you can, while you can.

#VivaVoce #PostgraduateJourney #GeospatialResearch #LandslideRisk #AcademicLife