Assignment Problem Set 1
by Nicki Agron-Olshina

My Housemates

My Interests

I have an eclectic set of interests. Basically I'm interested in everything except fashion, TV soap operas, and entertainment celebrities. Between work, family committments and now course work I have little time for hobbies. When I do get free time it is spent reading anything interesting, crocheting lace, sewing, painting, or just standing around looking at nature do its thing.

I have a wonderful job with the CSIRO managing the X-ray Diffraction Services Laboratory. My duties include the operation and basic maintainence of three Philips diffractometers, sample preparation, sample measurement and data analysis, including both phase identification and Rietveld analysis. I work with a team in the design, construction and testing of novel XRD instruments and applications. I am also curator of a mineral collection of about 1500 specimens. Basically I go to work and play all day long. I am a very lucky person.

What I hope to get out of this course

1. Formal learning about X-ray Diffraction to complement my informal XRD knowledge.
2. Increased professional capabilities.
3. New professional contacts.
4. Pleasure from learning.
5. Maintain brain cell population through intellectual challenges.
6. An Advanced Certificate in Powder Diffraction from Birkbeck College, University of London.