Hello!

This is my 'new' blog, called "The Dark Scientist". I say new, but it's more of a rebirth of my previous blog, which was also called "The Dark Scientist", and so I've imported all my old posts from there to here, too.  Anyway, I'll try to keep this one short, as it's really meant to be an introduction of sorts :)

Why "The Dark Scientist"?

The reasoning behind my blog title is three-fold:

  1. I'm currently pursuing a PhD in Astronomy and Cosmology to do with Large-Scale Structure and Modified Gravity theories, and in my specific area I'm focussing mostly on how "Dark Matter" affects the universe around us today, but may also try to describe and characterise some of the effects of "Dark Energy" in future. So I'm doing research in a scientific field that happens to have the "Dark" label attached to it at the moment (I plan to write more about the research I do in future, so watch this space!).
  2. I'll probably also write a lot about topics that are typically shied away from in some cultures/societies (so far), usually because social conventions deem them either unpleasant (such as Death, depression, loss, etc.) or controversial (such as religion, politics, ethics, etc.), but I'm very interested in them/consider them highly relevant. Regardless of the topic, I always hope whatever I write and discuss is done so in as rational and logical a manner as possible - just as the scientific method is meant to be, too. So I will likely talk about 'dark/difficult' topics, but try to maintain a 'scientific' composure throughout.
  3. Lastly, and this is a much less serious reason than the above two: my skin tone is [kinda] 'dark' and I'm trying to become a scientist (I feel I can consider myself one if and when I contribute back to the scientific field i.e. publish and pass my PhD). So it's also a literal description. Maybe there's some dark humour there, too. I don't know. Though I don't intend to offend anybody, just so you know!

Why blog at all?

I'm rubbish at talking in person, especially about anything personal to myself. I try to improve my public speaking skills with practice. When it comes to discussions or 'opening up', though, I can struggle a lot, be it because I can't seem to communicate my points across clearly enough, my points are considered irrelevant for whatever reasons (usually prejudice comes into play here, sadly), or, in the case of talking about personal matters, I'm so used to having my guard up that it's almost impossible for me to express myself.

As such, I thought I might as well just write about it here to a faceless audience. Anybody who's interested in whatever it is I have to say, whether what I say has any worth or not, can read it if they want to. Or not. I don't want to impose or take up anybody's time unwillingly. And as much as I'd like to be able to freely talk to an actual person about whatever thoughts and feelings I'm having, i.e. not worry about being judged, about making them feel bad or sad, or that I'm burdening them with my problems and whatnot, I currently seem incapable of it. I get this is a problem with me, and I'm working on it. But in the mean time, maybe writing about it somewhere will help me deal with it. Maybe it will help others deal with their things. I don't know, but I'll try. And in a way, without trying to glorify this website or anything, what I express on it - my photos, sounds, videos, writing, or anything else - might be the only contributions I leave behind. A legacy, if you will. And hopefully it'll be a helpful/useful one. I guess that's it in a nutshell, really - ideally I'd feel like I can talk to somebody about whatever stuff in a rational and understanding manner, but for various reasons I don't, so I'll settle for writing here in the hope that it might be helpful/useful for others, at least.

Anywho, that's all from me.  Thanks for reading, and take care :)
Ridwan

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