Rik Wisselink He already got the PhD! :-) Just a wonderful guy, very powerful and courageous, if I had just 1 teaspoon of his energy, dedication, focus etc. etc. I bet it would be the same as having 1 teaspoon of matter from a neutron star if you get my point :P I'm still lazy on my exams and just wasting time...
Not going to lie.....James story is heart wrenching and inspirational all at once. I am in a similar situation in that I am 38 and heading back to school this spring.....for Applied Physics with an Aerospace concentration and a minor in Chemistry. His story inspired me even more to succeed. :-)
keep going man I don't even know you and I would be proud for you anybody that dedicates themselves to help evolve mankind I respect.. we lack intelligence here in the U.S compared to other countries
This is one of the most important videos Brady's made. Just shows how dedicated academics have to be to make it. James' situation is particularly tough. I feel for him. I hope things have turned well. Brady, we need an update video!
I think it is beautiful and deeply aesthetic to see a phd student earning his degree in this environment. Physics is so fundamental and affects the entire Universe, even down to our very bodies. Physics is one of the most brilliant and profound topics, and to see Dr. James Clewett producing a work of reason in this setting is beauty itself. I am sure Dr. Clewett understand with deep empathy what it is like to suffer, to be human, and to overcome challenges. Wishing him the best, and I personally feel I benefited from watching his video. Thank you, Dr. James!
Physics don't affect the universe it rather helps us understand the universe ,universe would be in the same place with or without our approval .Liberal politics are invading scientific circles downgrading their credibility ,PhD thesis have to be made in concordance with liberal views of universities or be rejected .Many real talents are discouraged by it and never pursue further education .
I come back to this every few years - for the first time since first seeing this a decade ago, I'm now beginning my own PhD journey - if I manage to have half of the dedication James has I'll consider myself successful, wonderful interview!
I love that your girlfriend is a primary school teacher. I am busy with an MSc in Human Genetics, and my girlfriend is a teacher to four year-olds. Our paperwork also sometimes lie side-by-side :)
I have watched this video many times and this channel has always been a huge inspiration for me. Back when I was an undergrad I was very much inspired by this story in particular and James' passion. Now I am nearing the end of my own PhD. Thank you for everything!
I can answer how some people write physics textbooks: They are simply more interested in didactics and the teaching process. They are not in the business of finding out new physics, they are in the business of conveying a message.
I'm watching this video after watching the video where James finally passes his VIVA, and I admire this guy so much. It really takes a lot to be able to finish this whole thing having other things going on in life. It's truly inspirational. Thank you
James, we know times are tough now, but all of your fans here are right behind you and your amazing work. I hope that your father gets to feeling better and life smooths out for you and your family in the near future. You seem like a bright, happy, and intelligent guy and this work and effort will take you far, as you have probably already realized.
This man is clearly very passionate and eager to use what hes learned. Would be fun to watch his career progress. Braidy, you should do updates every few years!
That's very kind... I'm not sure James would be comfortable with that... I'm sure he'll get around to scanning the comments at some stage though and I will ask him! ;)
"I just want to sleep." That's a perfect summary. I got my Ph.D. a week ago, but, I'm still not sleeping well! Hang in there James, it's almost over. Though I warn you, an existential crisis awaits!
This video had me completely engaged, thank you so much for sharing this stressful time in your life. I wish James (A cooler Heston Blumenthal?) the best of luck in completing his PhD, and for his future. He's earned it.
thank you for making these videos. I think first hand PHD information is very useful and this is the first micro-documentary about it. I am a physics major and i find these very helpful for the future.
I think I speak for everyone when I say I'm absolutely enthralled by James' story! I want to hear a lot more about him. I think he's such a fascinating and amazing person. I follow all of your channels, Brady and out of all the amazing people you are so lucky to work with, I think James is the most intriguing of all. I wish him all the best and can't wait to hear the next chapter in his story!
I remember that one of the first nottinghamscience videos I watched was the one where James talked about hand writing his PhD thesis and it was at the same time when I got accepted on the Chemistry Department on my university, changing from a engineering career to a science career. This inspired me so much on loving what I was doing and really feel the numbers and the fenomena on my experiments. Thanks to both of you, James and Brady. I hope to hear about Dr James Clewitt on a while.
At first, I was going to be silly and say James, tell the truth, how much Tetris have you been playing when you should have been writing. Then when he told about his dad my heart went out to him and now I just want to give him a hug and tell him it's going to be all right. We know how driven he is. This is a really tough time for him. James, don't be afraid. Just put one foot in front of the other and you'll get through this. All the sixty symbols viewers are cheering for you!
I'm so envious, I'd love to do a phd, I love science, but due this this, that and the other, things didn't work out, I ended up working in security for a physics place, which has worked out to my advantage, I can talk endlessly to people and the department donates their old lab equipment to me, leaving me to reseach at an amateur level, so in a way, I'm happy :o)
Brady, you create such engaging narratives with your videos. Thank you for your effort and skill. I sincerely hope that James finishes his thesis and is able to sort his situation with as little stress as possible.
I'm finishing my own PhD thesis off and so much off this makes sense, taking a full-time job got rid of my financial troubles but made the writing tricky. A great video, thanks.
I can relate to him but I'm only last year in university. I study part time beside jobs. My dad passed away start of the year, a weak later I quit my relationship with my gf and lost my full time job shortly after. Stressful times but as he said life is happening and I chose to carry on.
Austin Nguyen mate keep it up. Life will throw you all sorts of test infront of you. I'm amazed that how much punishment one can take and still feel glorious after. I read about a marine and his 40 percent rule. When he was about to give up the 40 percent rule kicked in which meant that he only was at 40 percent at his actual capabilities or something similar. I'm happy with 75 percent rule lol Look it up.
Jeees, I'm sat here getting stressed and worried about my A-Level maths and physics exams over the next two weeks, you've really helped put things into perspective and give me that last bit of determination to get into Uni aha, and Good Luck! Hope everything turns out great in the end! :)
I start my PhD program (Clinical Psychology) in September. I've known many people completing dissertations, and this seems to generalize so well. Thanks James, for your candor, and good luck. See you in five to seven years.
Man that seems like a ton of things crashing down on you at once. Good luck James, and I hope all goes well. You've got our sympathy and we know you'll do great! :)
Poor bloke, looks like at the verge of tears during the whole interview. Really reminds me of difficult times during my thesis. Dont wanna know how hard it is to go for Ph.D with money and family issues... Big, big props for your successful Viva! Was so happy!
James! You are doing wonderful things for the greater good. Someday soon you will look back and remember how hard it was and be grateful for everything. Hang in there!
I know exactly what you are going trough, with a parent sick and needing allot of help, and the other recently deceased. And all that during a time where you have allot of work to do for yourself aswell. It is not easy and can make even the best of men burst into tears. I hope that everything works out for you. Best of luck!
This dude is by far my favorite person at Nottingham (aside from the prof. of course, but that's too obvious). He really inspires me, I've just recently gone back to school to get my degree at the age of 25, and it kinda freaked me out that I wouldn't be graduating until i was 31 or 32. But after seeing James go back later in his life, and be so close to finishing, it really makes me feel like my journey is going to be all worth it in the end, and that it IS possible no matter how late you start
Good luck to you James! You CAN write a thesis that could help us understand areas in physics that are a bit mucky to many of us.I am not understanding very much in physics,But by watching you guys here giving it a go i may still have something to offer the science community.I will have to look into the possibilities of entry-level courses here in my home town, maybe a AS and possibly a BS would be something for me to work towards. YOU CAN DO IT!!! Looking forward to seeing Dr. James Clewitt!
Respect to you for the effort you are putting into this. As a software developer working in industry I am thankful that much of what I do is practical - the painful part is the documentation although in the end it really does pay off. The good news is that you are sincere and finding it difficult - I am sure because of this it will be a fantastic thesis. I wish you all the best with what you are doing and look forward to hearing more about your thesis.
Up to the middle sounded like my masters degree, professors not giving a dam about how you will do, i even had to change topic in the middle of it, but at the end i realized that i was dam lucky I only got my head into masters, i had a job that could pay the rent, food, taxes, o had saved up 60 payed days of vacation and i had an understanding boss who gave the opportunity to sit down for months at a time to finish up. I can't even compare my self and my situation to yours. I feel bad just thinking about how messed up our teaching, learning and higher education system is. Stay strong, most of who had a taste of this are with you.
I worked here for a little while when it was an NHS Admin centre (although weirdly it was still called Mapperley Hospital), good to see the place as it is now and some of the old stories about it were amazing. :)
Same here, I am not 25 yet but lets put it this way, my high school friends graduate with their bachelors degrees this month, and im still in community college, messing around, I have already put my head towards the school and am planning on taking it seriously, but it does slap you in the face when you look at the numbers, but again, this kinds of people (James) really open your eyes and prove its possible! Good luck to you my friend
I wish you the best of luck, James. And don't worry too much about the thesis results. You know what you're doing, having studied this subject for 7 years. You will pull this off. :)
A few seconds into this video I kind of felt like "meh, who cares" when I realized James wasn't in a working lunatic asylum but luckily I decided to finish watching. I really love how earnestly he speaks. As one of the top comments already said, he is inspiring and seems very humble. Now that it's been six months since this interview, I hope he is employed in a non-quiche-packing position where he can put his years of study to good use!
I haven't done a phd, but I went to a college designed to train students to be successful in a phd program, and my senior project was a thesis. Obviously not on the scale of a phd program, but it had all of the required components. Original work in the field, writing the thesis, drafts, et cetera. Oh man was that a learning experience. I relate with everything James is describing here (including ailing father), and I can only imagine the stress compounding with it being an ACTUAL phd.
I'm literally writing my penultimate chapter to my PhD behind this window - it is 2am and eerily quiet outside my window. I can relate on so many levels to him. Thanks Brady. A few broad brush strokes I've discovered on this journey. 1. A PhD will never be finished, only the best draft will be submitted. 2. Research is messy. 3. The people around you whilst writing are unsung heroes. 4. Asking a PhD student 'how long until you finish?' is very irritating. 5. It consumes your every waking moment.
simply. stunning. I take it he's an experimantalist; i wonder if any of the students are near their PhD and doing theoretical work, and might be able to do a similar video. I feel like a person who wants to be a theorist would have a different perspective i want to get my phd in theoretical physics, so this has been really great thanks so much to james for putting this out there
what a nice nice guy. i really really like james. i think you are doing a fantastic job holding it all together, where many couldnt. its always hardest at the very end, so just hang in, day by day, hour by hour.
It's a scary thing that I look at your comment, completely aware of how horrible that amount of debt it, but still envy you as I have well over half of that amount of debt in my first year at uni
I'm just in college right now. I can't wait to go to University so that I can get my masters in physics. I am also planning to get a phD in theoretical physics. Seeing this video has allowed me to know that the path I have chosen is not an easy one. I hope I can still smile like to-be-Dr.Clewett when times gets hard.
My dad is writing his PhD thesis now. This opened my eyes. Ive finished my bc. thesis few days ago. Its funny how one minute you dont understand, and few seconds later, you do.
James you are an inspiration for the optimistic youth of today! Keep going lad, may a strong wing lift your sails, and hopefully soon we will be calling you Dr. Clewett.
