On the research front, it looks like I am becoming very successful at publishing *side projects*, which is not bad, but my thesis research, the part where I make a *contribution* is mega-sucking. The good news is that I have one renewable energy publication, and then I was accepted to a green energy conference which I presented at in June. I had since forgotten about the conference, but this morning I received an email that the conference proceedings were judged and I was selected to submit to an international publication. Awesome! So that will be two publications in one year, entirely unrelated to my own thesis.
On the thesis front, I have pretty much come up with an in-depth, never before done conceptual framework where I’ve identified the elements affecting the desirability and use of “smart grid” options for consumers. Great. The unfortunate part is that I have been in an elaborate dance of negotiation to get any damn data from anything, and according to schedule, I really should have started collecting data by now. For this, I am not pleased. I have had to take stock, and now I have planned a negotiation with the powers that be to help me get this data, and if it’s not possible, I shall be switching subjects. Perhaps my first two publications will be of use, however, they are both kind of random. They are good research, but I don’t think they are *contributions*, or at least I am not sure I can defend them as such. Hopefully I can just channel the frustration energy towards getting something out of what I’ve worked on for the past eight months.
