About me - Tiffany Brown

Uni:

BA/BSc (Hons) Monash Uni.

I'm currently researching my way towards a PhD in chemistry. I'm studying the thiosulfate-copper-ammonia system for gold leaching, a green alternative to cyanide that is currently used for most gold leaching. Specifically I'm studying alternatives to ammonia, and how these effect the kinetics of the undesirable side reaction of copper with thiosulfate. If we can inhibit thiosulfate decomposition without preventing gold leaching, we can drastically improve the economic viability of the gold leaching process. I've just come back from a conference in Vancouver, where I got to present a paper. (Photo's of touristy stuff.)

Well with only about a year left on my PhD, people keep asking (actually they have been for years) "what will I do when I grow up?" (well they say finish, but...). Well maybe more of the same, or maybe I'll get a real job (why is it that people seem not understand that PhD by research is basically the same job as a researcher does except with a qualification at the end?), or maybe I'll become the most overqualified SCA merchant in the country (hmm, actually I think that's the second most - I've seen another merchant with a PhD).


Clubs:

I'm a member of the fellowship of middle earth, which I was thain (president) of a few years ago. It's the Monash University Science fiction and fantasy fan club (and if that sound's interesting I heartily recommend you go join up now).

I'm a member of the College of St Monica in the SCA. They've nicely let me not take any committee positions this year, but I'm a former arts & sciences officer, general busybody, organising person and the person who does audits when no-one else will. I'm fairly proud of my logistics ability - I've co-feastocratted, and autocratted St Monica's day feasts for the college, and also organised the 2003 Lochac Ball D'Argent. I'll often be found at events (where I'm called Lady Teffania Tuckerton) learning or teaching about 12th century clothing, fibre arts and "cool stuff". I've just come back from Pennsic where I took lots of photos and got really enthused about oil lamps.

I'm also a regular korner sitter.


Crafts:

I'm an almost obsessive craft learner and costumer (I say almost because I have met people who are worse). The SCA has helped me locate more craft forms, more uses for the products of my crafts, more teachers of obscure craft forms, and a lot more places to wear costumes.

I love learning fibre arts including tablet weaving, fingerloop braiding, and almost anything else that involves string. I also love researching and making authentic 12th century clothing. It's amazing how much bad scholarship about this period is still circulating, especially on the net. (for good scholarship see: marjerie d'jancourt's practical bliaut making instructions, and also a little 12thC garb mailing list that has developed a life of its own.).

I'm working on putting up a showcase of some of my costumes and also of the products of my crafts.



For more enquires mail Tiff at tbro3[nospam]@student.monash.edu.au
(yes you'll need to remove that [nospam] if you want it to get to me)