A Curious Life
"Learning has never been my profession. It has always been my hobby."
Some people believe there is something unusual about me, and perhaps they are right. Whenever I discover a subject that interests me, I immerse myself in it. I want to understand not only how it works, but also how to simplify it, improve it, or use it to create something of added value. For me, learning has never been an obligation; it has always been one of life's greatest pleasures.
This curiosity has shaped both my academic and professional life. My formal education included a PhD and an MBA, but my learning never stopped there. Over the years, I have completed many additional courses through institutions such as the Open University, University of East Anglia, University of Bath, and others, simply because I wanted to understand more. My academic interests eventually centred on environmental engineering and sustainability, but my career took me through engineering, offshore drilling, safety systems, energy, environmental research, and many other multidisciplinary fields. Each experience broadened my perspective and taught me to look at problems from different angles.
“A curious mind never retires.”
My years working on offshore oil and gas rigs also shaped how I think. Life on a drilling rig requires handling many responsibilities at the same time, making decisions quickly, and constantly adapting to changing situations. That environment suited my personality. While many of my friends prefer to master one subject before moving on to another, I have always enjoyed working on several projects simultaneously. I like to think deeply about each one, even if they belong to completely different disciplines.
Of course, learning is only one part of my life. Like everyone else, I enjoy spending time with friends, sharing meals, laughing, watching films and football, and, with seven grandchildren, more children's programmes than I ever imagined! These moments remind me that life is about people as much as ideas.
One person who has always kept me grounded is my wife. Whenever I enthusiastically tell her about a new subject I have explored or another course I have completed, she smiles and asks one simple question:
“So what?”
It is a wonderfully practical question, and one that has stayed with me over the years. It reminds me that acquiring knowledge is not an end in itself. What matters is what we do with that knowledge, how we apply it, and whether it can make a positive difference to others.
Her simple question made such an impression on me that, when I came to write my memoir, there could hardly have been a more appropriate title:
So What?
I once had a friend who criticised my habit of constantly learning. He suggested I should spend my time on more ordinary hobbies, such as walking or following a daily routine. I replied that I already enjoyed walking, meeting friends, watching television, reading books, and many of the same activities as everyone else. Learning was simply another hobby, one that gave me enormous satisfaction. By the end of our conversation, he laughed and admitted,
"Perhaps you're right. Maybe I should start learning too."
Looking back over the years, I realise that my greatest hobby has never changed. Whether I was measuring structures with photogrammetry, working offshore, studying environmental engineering, writing books, or supervising research, the motivation has always been the same: to understand something deeply, simplify it where possible, and leave it a little better than I found it.
That is also the purpose of this website. It is a place to share experiences gathered over many decades, in the hope that they may inspire students, young engineers, researchers, and anyone who believes that learning should never stop.
"If, after reading these pages, someone is inspired to learn something new today, then this website has achieved its purpose."
"Knowledge only becomes valuable when it is shared."
Email: rbmahani@gmail.com
