• Question: can you remember one of the most peculiar solutions you had to work on to fix a problem?

    Asked by eMmA11:-) 00 to David on 18 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: David Nunan

      David Nunan answered on 18 Nov 2015:

      Hey, Great question.

      as part of my PhD I studied heart rate variability which is a way of measuring the activity of the autonomic nervous system. One of the measurements of heart rate variability uses something called fast Fourier Transformation.

      This is a mathematical algorithm invented by Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier (he also discovered the greenhouse effect from greenhouse gases and CO2!). It’s very complex. I had to use computer programmes to help and then try and understand it.

      I had great help from my supervisor and managed to sort of understand it enough to defend it in my viva voce exam for my PhD! Phew!

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