PhD chat

12 Sept 2013

Cecilia’s office

Discussion triggered by my inability to decide whether to incorporate BIM.

Result: Lets leave it for now and be practical and honest. City Information Modelling has already been invented. I would be too removed from ‘action’.

I want to live where I do research - on site.
- in a colonia


Funding considerations:
- work on site - mechanical labor allows for thinking
- fellowship (ask Duygu)
- teach at TAMU branch
- scholarship

Funded research:
- water conservation (WDB) - Water Development Board
- transport - mobility (walking)
- energy conservation
- Habitat for Humanity
- Obama - tech hubs - intermediate technology

- Vista volunteers

Academic considerations:
- need to keep excellent GPA
- need to have excellent references
- allow for time
- summer is easier to take 'time off' than spring/fall

Topic considerations:
- may and may not be tied with funding
- a comparative study - might be too easy (Mexico - Texas colonias differences)
- public space, infrastructure
- transfer of cultural habits over the border, but not the built environment
- what are the characteristics of public space in Mexico? What are the reasons for it?
- Where from Mexico migration happens?

Locations:
- Laredo
- El Cenizo
- Las Lomas
- drive around
- Brownsville
- Mexico - Texas
- South America
- South Africa



look up:
Lia Vasconcelos: Nueva Lisboa
Public Space of Migrant Brazilians in Lisbon

CBR - Community Resource Group (NGO)
John Squires

Remember: How this all started.
Me in Mexico in Colonias Gerardo Perez wondering about rainwater collection!