[{"content":"Most students I’ve met at UT see their time here as a step on the path toward their future career. I see this development as part of the trend of schools becoming places where you learn how to work rather than how to live. Students should take advantage of the freedom of college to explore themselves and the world, instead of going to classes for the sake of an overpriced credential.\n“I chose to come to college because my parents would always tell me that you needed that higher education, help you in life, get better jobs, get better experience. So it was more about a practical mindset,” said Ananth Rangan, an electrical and computer engineering senior.\nAccording to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn 74 percent more than those with a high school diploma, demonstrating why so many people see college as a practical investment.\n“I think that one of the things that’s happened certainly over the last 10 to 15 years is a greater focus on the financial return on a college education, and when I was going to go into college, there was a belief that college would help you to get a good job, but I don’t think it was cast in stark financial terms of I’m investing this amount of money, how much money am I making on the other end of it,” said Art Markman, professor of Psychology and vice provost for Academic Affairs.\nWith this mindset, school feels like a company, with students doing everything and anything they can to maximize their shareholder value — GPA. Parents wait every semester to see the earnings report. Ultimately, students sacrifice understanding of material and toe the line of academic honesty in order to get that sweet 4.0.\nStudents practice the skills they will use in the workplace, such as meeting deadlines, sitting in meetings for hours on end, and figuring out the bare minimum to finish work, instead of embracing the opportunity to understand what they really want from life in a deeper sense.\nFocusing only on the hard skills that you can claim and demonstrate in interviews takes away from the value of soft skills that are essential to progression in life.\n“I think one value of a college education is from the social aspect, there’s a lot of ways for you to join different clubs, join different orgs, kind of find your people and I guess put yourself in an uncomfortable position,” said informatics freshman Rushil Vankamamidi.\n“A lot of what an effective college education does, it does two big things, it teaches you how to learn and it makes you a disciplinary thinker,” said Markman.“Most people don’t know how to talk about [those skills]. They’ll say, ‘ell, I have good people skills’ but what does that mean?”\nStudents can learn most of the information taught at UT on their own, but one of the irreplaceable things about coming to college is learning how to think about ambiguous issues and make them into concrete problems, whether it be dealing with difficult relationships, complex academic questions or what makes you happy.\nYou can’t stop working and start living if you haven’t figured out how you want to live your life.\n","permalink":"https://etcasketera.github.io/posts/whatiscollege/","summary":"\u003cp\u003eMost students I’ve met at UT see their time here as a step on the path toward their future career. I see this development as part of the trend of schools becoming places where you learn how to work rather than how to live. Students should take advantage of the freedom of college to explore themselves and the world, instead of going to classes for the sake of an overpriced credential.\u003c/p\u003e","title":"What is college for?"},{"content":"This semester, my friend convinced me to attend an event called “Creating Knowledge in a Fragmented World,” featuring Jonathan Haidt and Jonathan Rauch. While both speakers were unfamiliar to me, I’m glad I was able to hear their thoughts on the importance of unconventional viewpoints on campus.\nStudents should make an effort to start off the next academic year by attending on-campus events to expand their worldviews, take advantage of the University’s resources and engage with opposing viewpoints.\nUT offers students free entrance to its events, giving them greater access to speakers and enabling them to meet like-minded peers. Since many seminars are expensive to attend in person after college and lose their luster when watched online, attending them now is worth the effort. In-person experiences like live question-and-answer sessions encourage audience participation and allow students to tangibly engage with the ideas being presented.\nUT’s many events are often hosted by centers, institutes and programs, each with its own philosophy of inviting guests to learn about its intended mission.\nFor example, the talk I attended in February was hosted by the Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center.\n“We promote scholarship, academic conferences, student endeavors, debates, dialogue, thought, on all things related to the First Amendment,” said Steven Collis, a clinical professor of religion and law and director of the Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center.\nDave Junker, an associate professor of instruction in public relations, advertising and communications and director of the Moody College Honors Program, often invites guest lecturers based on the topics he wants to tackle in class.\n“I try to find the issues and speakers that are relevant and maybe even carry a sense of urgency for student audiences,” Junker said. “Now, it’s not always the case. Sometimes what I feel students should be paying attention to, they may not be, and in some cases, I might try to introduce a topic that I think is important for them to be thinking about.”\nNot every opportunity for learning and growth has to be about getting a job. Instead, students should look at events and talks as breaks from their academic obligations and ways to understand the world a little bit better.\n“Being a CS major and business major you’re not going to get a lot of interactions with history majors,” said Hemant Kanwar, a computer science and business honors sophomore. “That doesn’t negate the fact that I’m interested in history nevertheless. And so I go for my own personal satisfaction.”\nSince students and faculty are constantly discovering new things through their research, attending one of these talks could even help you find a new passion that pays dividends down the road.\nFurthermore, attending campus events gives students the opportunity to engage with ideological opposition in a controlled and civilized manner, as opposed to the single-minded worldview often delivered by social media algorithms online. When going to these talks, students should put aside their egos and seek to understand where the guest lecturer is coming from and the experiences that shaped their worldview.\nAlthough students are often pressed for time, spending a few hours participating in campus talks could produce outsized gains for their long-term intellectual and personal growth. Moreover, doing so could contribute to a more cohesive and less polarized campus community.\n","permalink":"https://etcasketera.github.io/posts/dontjudgetalks/","summary":"\u003cp\u003eThis semester, my friend convinced me to attend an event called “Creating Knowledge in a Fragmented World,” featuring Jonathan Haidt and Jonathan Rauch. While both speakers were unfamiliar to me, I’m glad I was able to hear their thoughts on the importance of unconventional viewpoints on campus.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudents should make an effort to start off the next academic year by attending on-campus events to expand their worldviews, take advantage of the University’s resources and engage with opposing viewpoints.\u003c/p\u003e","title":"Don't judge a talk by its title"},{"content":"The Evolution and Future Prospects of Nuclear Energy: Addressing Challenges for Global Deployment Summary Global sentiment toward nuclear energy has shifted positively, leading many nations to commit to tripling worldwide nuclear capacity by 2050 to meet climate and energy security goals. However, realizing this potential faces significant hurdles spanning economics, supply chains, waste management, and regulatory frameworks. The industry is navigating a mix of deployment strategies—extending existing large reactors (LTO), building new large reactors (LRs), and deploying Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—requiring careful technological and policy consideration.\nConcepts [[Nuclear Energy Transition]], [[Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)]], [[Energy Security \u0026amp; Climate Goals]], [[Regulatory \u0026amp; Economic Challenges]]\n[[Index]] | View Raw Source\n","permalink":"https://etcasketera.github.io/researchwiki/sources/nuclearinsights/","summary":"\u003ch1 id=\"the-evolution-and-future-prospects-of-nuclear-energy-addressing-challenges-for-global-deployment\"\u003eThe Evolution and Future Prospects of Nuclear Energy: Addressing Challenges for Global Deployment\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"summary\"\u003eSummary\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlobal sentiment toward nuclear energy has shifted positively, leading many nations to commit to tripling worldwide nuclear capacity by 2050 to meet climate and energy security goals. However, realizing this potential faces significant hurdles spanning economics, supply chains, waste management, and regulatory frameworks. The industry is navigating a mix of deployment strategies—extending existing large reactors (LTO), building new large reactors (LRs), and deploying Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—requiring careful technological and policy consideration.\u003c/p\u003e","title":"Nuclear Insights"},{"content":"These reflections will be a series of thoughts, ideas, and learnings that I will come back to reflect on in a designated period of time in order to improve my ability to think and reason about the future.\nMy hope is that my recording my thoughts, feelings, and logic, I will be able to understand why I made the decisions I did with more clarity, and use that information to improve my thinking for the next time I face a similar choice.\nThe End of College Era As I prepare to leave college and enter the working world, I want to reflect on the major aims that will drive this early career phase of life.\nBecoming a Subject Matter Expert (SME) In a world with artificial intelligence, I believe that becoming a subject matter expert is more important than ever. Generalist skills and thinking can be rapidly emulated by artificial intelligence. Being able to push back against an LLM and recognize its mistakes will be crucial for creating differentiation.\n","permalink":"https://etcasketera.github.io/posts/reflections/first/","summary":"\u003cp\u003eThese reflections will be a series of thoughts, ideas, and learnings that I will come back to reflect on in a designated period of time in order to improve my ability to think and reason about the future.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy hope is that my recording my thoughts, feelings, and logic, I will be able to understand why I made the decisions I did with more clarity, and use that information to improve my thinking for the next time I face a similar choice.\u003c/p\u003e","title":"Reflection #1"},{"content":"A Texas Student Advertising Competition Table of Contents Competition Overview:\nTimelines:\nOrganization Timeline:\nCompetition Timeline:\nEvent Format:\nEvent Promotion:\nTemplates:\nCommunication Templates:\nEvent Templates:\nTeam Formation:\nWorkshops:\nFinancial Management:\nBudget Items:\nPrice Setting:\nJudge Management:\nPre-Event:\nDuring Event:\nPost-Event:\nOther Notes:\nIn Case of Emergency:\nCompetition Overview: This document is meant to function as a guide for planning and hosting Texas Ad Pitch (TAP), a Texas Student Advertising Competition.\nThe goal of TAP is for students to build their portfolios, pitch to a real client, and employ their skills for a practical challenge, while meeting peers in their major and interests. For clients, TAP offers them fresh, new ideas for marketing their products/services, as well as direct access to young talent at UT Austin.\nTimelines: Organization Timeline: Listed in relation to competition date\nItem Time Description Client First Contact As soon as you have the date planned Sending emails to potential clients and sponsors asking if they are interested in participating (see Templates) Room Bookings As soon as you have the date planned Booking the room(s) for the competition. In the DMC if possible, but other buildings are available. Administration First Contact As soon as you have the date planned Reach out to Dr. Lewis to let her know that you are hosting the event and ask for specific areas where she can help (booking the Lab for workshop or intro, etc.) Judge First Contact 6 weeks prior to competition Reaching out to past judges, or attempting to secure new judges through industry contacts or professors Creation of Promotional Materials 4 weeks prior to competition Creating materials to send to professors, share on social media, place around campus, etc Beginning of Event Promotion 3 weeks prior to competition Beginning to promote the event to students in the target demographic End of Event Promotion 1 week prior to competition Closing the form for applications Team Assignments 5 days prior to competition Assigning teams for those that did not come with a pre-formed team, see Team Formation Day of Competition 0 days till competition The actual start of the competition. Competition Timeline: Item Timing Description Start of competition Explain the case to competitors and answer all questions in a public manner so that no team has more information than another. Have everyone sign up for presentation slots (or assign randomly) During competition Competitors work on their presentations Start of Judging Have competitors all turn in their presentations to ensure an even playing field Judging Communicate effectively with judges and competitors about any timing, delays, and expectations Deliberation After judging is over, allow for at least 30 minutes for the judges to decide their top picks (depends on number of participants) Award Ceremony Keep it short and sweet, take pictures, and give people time to meet the judges. Event Format: TAP is a 24-hour advertising competition similar to a hack-a-thon. At the start of the competition, there is a short meeting introducing the case, with teams having the opportunity to ask clarifying questions. This meeting should have catered meals for the participants. During this meeting, the case details will also be released, including competition guidelines, judging score sheet, etc. Students will work independently until presentations begin. All decks must be turned in prior to the beginning of presentations to ensure competitive integrity.\nPresentations:\nTeams will be given a certain amount of time (12 - 15 minutes) to present to the panel of judges. After presenting, judges will have the opportunity (4 - 5 minutes) to ask questions about the presentation. Teams must bring their own laptops for the presentation, as well as any other technology they would like to use.\nEvent Promotion: Student Organizations:\nTAG: TM\u0026amp;A: Comms Council: UT Platforms:\nCanvas The Lab Moody Career Newsletter McCombs Career Newsletter Professors:\nNatalie Brown-Devlin Lisa Lewis Theresa Andrews Lisa Dobias E. Ciszek Rohitash Rao etc. Other:\nFlyers/Posters Templates: Communication Templates: Texas Ad Pitch Blueprint\nTeam Formation: To form the teams of students that entered without a team, I used Google Gemini in Google Sheets to create teams of 4 - 6 students, taking into account major, year, and category of interest, and then made adjustments to ensure there was a good distribution of experience and everyone had one of their preferred roles. I think in the future, you could consider forcing people to sign up with a team, but I felt that it would limit the number of people interested in participating.\nWorkshops: This year, we held a short workshop prior to the competition to help participants understand the different roles. We also showed an example deck, but I feel that it may have influenced student’s thinking too much. I think keeping it more high level and allowing space for questions would be a better method.\nFinancial Management: Budget Items: Item Cost Food for students Aim for \u0026lt;$6/student Food for judges ~$20/judge Certificates $20 Competition Materials $20 Awards Organizer Discretion Price Setting: In general, the price of entry should be the minimum required to run the competition. However, it is also my belief that the price should not be zero, because when people spend money they value something more and it gives them a disincentive to quit the event. However, I think efforts should also be made to accommodate students with complicated circumstances. Even with a sponsor, some nominal fee should be charged and then returned on successful completion of the competition or stored for a rainy day fund.\nJudge Management: Pre-Event: Reach out to judges in accordance with the timeline. Ensure that all necessary information is coordinated effectively, including: dates, times, parking/transportation, case information, and judging information. You should also attempt to meet with the judges for a short call beforehand to allow time to ask questions and prepare them for the event. Also, depending on catering situation, ask them what they would like for their meal.\nDuring Event: Ensure that judges show up early and walk them through the judging documents. Give them enough time to get settled between each presentation so that they can come to a consensus on how they feel (5 minutes). Try to get them to give scores so that teams have something for feedback. Give them enough time to deliberate about the awards.\nPost-Event: Thank the judges, pay any transportation costs, and maintain good relationships.\nOther Notes: Do not stress.\nIn Case of Emergency: 4699314042\n","permalink":"https://etcasketera.github.io/research/texas-ad-pitch-blueprint/","summary":"\u003ch2 id=\"a-texas-student-advertising-competition\"\u003eA Texas Student Advertising Competition\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cdetails \u003e\n  \u003csummary markdown=\"span\"\u003eTable of Contents\u003c/summary\u003e\n  \u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#competition-overview:\"\u003eCompetition Overview:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#timelines:\"\u003eTimelines:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#organization-timeline:\"\u003eOrganization Timeline:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#competition-timeline:\"\u003eCompetition Timeline:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#event-format:\"\u003eEvent Format:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#event-promotion:\"\u003eEvent Promotion:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#templates:\"\u003eTemplates:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#communication-templates:\"\u003eCommunication Templates:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#heading=h.hquko64srami\"\u003eEvent Templates:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#team-formation:\"\u003eTeam Formation:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#workshops:\"\u003eWorkshops:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#financial-management:\"\u003eFinancial Management:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#budget-items:\"\u003eBudget Items:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#price-setting:\"\u003ePrice Setting:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#judge-management:\"\u003eJudge Management:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#pre-event:\"\u003ePre-Event:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#during-event:\"\u003eDuring Event:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#post-event:\"\u003ePost-Event:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#other-notes:\"\u003eOther Notes:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"#in-case-of-emergency:\"\u003eIn Case of Emergency:\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003c/details\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch1 id=\"competition-overview:\"\u003eCompetition Overview:\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis document is meant to function as a guide for planning and hosting Texas Ad Pitch (TAP), a Texas Student Advertising Competition.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe goal of TAP is for students to build their portfolios, pitch to a real client, and employ their skills for a practical challenge, while meeting peers in their major and interests. For clients, TAP offers them fresh, new ideas for marketing their products/services, as well as direct access to young talent at UT Austin.\u003c/p\u003e","title":"Texas Ad Pitch Blueprint"}]