Bridging the gap between industry and academia is a task that I struggle with every week.  I work as a systems architect leading the development of large scale solutions.  I research sensor networks, studying ways to optimize large scale deployments.  To accomplish more with less time, I try to find the synergy between my two dimensions.

The search to find synergy and narrow the gap is my way of fostering greater cooperation and collaboration.  Issues dealing with scaling are common across dimensions.  How can I leverage the private and academia sectors to advance my research, education, and technology goals?  Is there a way to work them together to become more effective and accomplish more?  What can I do in academia that will help the industry?  What can I do in industry that will help academia?  Where to from here?

This week, I have been dealing with multi-objective optimization in my research.  This is the process of simultaneously optimizing two or more conflicting objectives subject to certain constraints.  My industry and academia dimensions are conflicting objectives.  I’ve come to realize there is no single solution.  What I’m now looking for is a solution where each of my worlds are optimized to the extent that if I try to optimize it any further, then the other will suffer as a result. 

From my previous post, this is where balancing life must be addressed.  When I was out of balance, one side or the other did suffer.  So I’m working on a sufficient solution where I may satisfy both worlds and have time for my family.  I will keep you posted on my progress.

Thank You for listening.