[ExI] trust the fake science?

[William Flynn Wallace]

I got my Ph.D. in basically three years, mostly because I was not required
to do any teaching or anything else (in fact I was required not to).  That
turned out not to be the benefit it seems to be.  bill w

On Sat, Jun 8, 2024 at 10:11 PM Adrian Tymes via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> On Sat, Jun 8, 2024 at 4:36 PM efc--- via extropy-chat <
> extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
>> What is your vacuum balloon idea and how can it be commericalized?
>>
>
> A vacuum balloon is a stiff balloon, strong enough to contain vacuum
> against 1 atmosphere, l9ght enough to float from the mass of the air
> displaced.  The idea's been around since the 1600s but no one's found
> structure and materials that can quite pull it off.  It was once widely
> thought impossible, but there've been studies recently getting close.  I
> think I have the answer - or at least, an answer.
>
> If it works, it would be a far less expensive and better performing
> alternative to helium balloons, so it would make airships less costly -
> both to build and to operate - and give advantages, such as ability to
> repair in the air without carrying spare lifting gas (since one can
> manufacture vacuum on the spot) and better tying down in the face of
> windstorms (they can dismiss the vacuum and be in no danger of floating
> away, then remanufacture the vacuum afterward).  Commercialization is
> straightforward if I can get an airship manufacturer interested...which is
> the step I've not been able to do yet.  I'm more of an engineer than a
> salesperson.
>
> Is it possible to do a Ph.D. in only 3 years?
>
>
> Heh.  This takes some finangling.  It's usually supposed to take at least
> 4-5 years (and I've heard that some have taken over a decade), but I did my
> BS in 3 years and my MS in 9 months.  I'm looking to apply the same tricks
> here; see below.
>
> I have reason to believe that certain others have done a PhD in 3 years
> before, even without a relevant MS (done before the PhD and not counted as
> part of the PhD) shaving a year or two off the program.
>
>
>> In sweden it will take you
>> at least 5 due to demands of having to teach a certain amount of hours
>> as well.
>>
>
> How many hours can you teach, maximum, per quarter or semester?  Can you
> teach some over summer?  Can you get credit reducing this requirement from
> other things you have done, particularly previous academic work?  Is the
> length set by anything other than literally just the teaching hours?  Will
> you be spending a significant amount of time on anything else during your
> program, such as a job to pay the bills?
>
> As I understand it - I have to research this a little more - the
> university I am considering, North Carolina State University (Mechanical
> and Aerospace Engineering), has three primary requirements:
> 1) A PhD dissertation and defense.  No specific time requirement; it's
> merely uncommon to write fast.  I have decades of experience in writing
> fast.  I'm also starting from a basic writeup of the math, which I suspect
> will give me a significant head start on the dissertation.
> 2) 72 credit hours.  No apparent maximum credit hours per semester.  9
> credit hours per semester (including summer) times 8 semesters comes to
> 72.  Most classes appear to be 3 credit hours, meaning I would be taking 3
> classes per semester, which I should easily be able to handle.  There are
> some further requirements as to the exact distribution, for instance a
> certain number must come from the "class" (MAE 895) that represents working
> on the dissertation and defense.  It is not yet known if I can transfer in
> any from my MS or BS work; I am planning for the case that I can't, but any
> that I can will reduce this.
> 3) At least 8 semesters.  This is normally intended to be
> Fall-Spring-Fall-Spring-Fall-Spring-Fall-Spring, but I asked and
> Fall-Spring-Summer-Fall-Spring-Summer-Fall-Spring is allowed.  I may tack
> on another Summer to the start or end, if it turns out I can only take 6
> credit hours during a Summer semester (so the credit hours, rather than
> 9+9+9+9+9+9+9+9, would be 6+9+9+6+9+9+6+9+9).
>
> Whatever university you might consider doing it at, apply this same
> analysis.  There is no teaching requirement in my case, but I suspect that
> might be accelerated and/or reduced in your case in the same manner as #2
> above.  It will not always be possible at every program at every
> university, but regardless of university and program, it is not possible
> save by accident if you do not investigate and plan in advance.
>
> If you have ever written some long work, such as a book or a long article,
> you probably know the importance of starting with an outline before you
> start writing.  The same principle applies here.  (Doubly so: outline your
> intended path before applying to the program, and outline your dissertation
> before writing it.)
>
>
>> If 3 years is possible, that might make it possible given the right
>> arrangements and a flexible school.
>>
>
> Indeed.  Start by reading what the university and department you are
> looking at, publish online about their requirements.  Then, talk to some
> faculty and staff there.
>
> When you do so, ask about suitable dissertation topics.  As I understand
> it, usually any PhD topic has to be something the university already has
> funding to let you pursue - or something that it doesn't take much funding
> to pursue, often something along the lines of what your dissertation
> advisor is investigating anyway.  Constructing a vacuum balloon (which is
> not something anyone at NCSU appears to be pursuing at this time) will take
> money for a prototype - possibly more than the tuition, thus why getting
> grants to fund everything is more critical in my case, but if I can supply
> that funding to the university then I just have to make a case for academic
> suitability.  (In NCSU's case, their criteria is that it "advances the
> research".  Building something once thought impossible and still not yet
> accomplished, and publishing exactly how I did it along with rigorous math
> showing how it all works, should hopefully qualify.  Even if my theory
> turns out to be wrong, publishing proof that the particular approach I am
> investigating can not work - with emphasis on the proof - should also
> qualify.)  Whether you're bringing the funding to let you pick a topic
> (within bounds of what the university finds acceptable), or you find some
> agreeable topic that a faculty member is willing to advise you on, knowing
> what you want to focus on can help lay out your coursework and let you
> start your research before you even formally apply to a PhD program.
>
>
>> Ahh... this was my follow up question you anticipated. If any meaningful
>> contributions in the 21st century have been made by amateurs?
>>
>
> For this, I defer to
> https://www.google.com/search?q=amateur+science+breakthrough+21st+century
> .  The answer appears to be "yes".
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