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Postgraduate Research Festival 2017
Postgraduate Research
Festival2017
Message from Professor Mike Phillips, Pro Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation, Enterprise and Commercialisation)
Introduction to the RIES Team
To become more effective researchers and to succeed in your future careers you need to develop a range of professional skills (from public engagement, writing and presentation skills to project management and organisational skills). These will not only help in making the most of your studies and in developing your knowledge and intellectual abilities, but also will help you to achieve a wide audience for you research and open up possibilities for collaboration and the generation of research impact.
This is a significant and growing part of our provision for you as a research student at The University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and I am very pleased to announce that the University has made considerable investments in this area. Opportunities, which we will introduce through this week’s proceedings include: the annual Postgraduate Engagement Fair, the Postgraduate Interdisciplinary Research Conference and this event, the newly launched Postgraduate Research Festival, a new suite of online training and development sessions from October 2017, and the opportunity to use Vitae’s excellent online Professional Development Planner. Your own schools, faculties and research groups, will of course continue to offer research seminars and local events which are directly tailored to your research projects, while we will continue to support you with public engagement activities such as the national 3MT (three minute thesis) competition and the Brilliant Club.
Whatever future career choice you make, engaging with this Researcher Development Programme and other opportunities relevant to you will enhance your future employability. Taking part also represents a great opportunity to meet researchers from outside your own discipline and to develop networks that will be useful to you in the future.
I look forward to meeting with many of you over this week’s proceedings.
Mike
A very warm welcome to the inaugural Postgraduate Research Festival. This new event is building upon the previous Summer Schools and is part of the expanding provision that the University is offering for you - our postgraduate research students, from each of our campuses in Lampeter, Carmarthen, Swansea and London, as well as those of you based overseas. We are also very pleased to welcome students from the University of Wales, based both in Aberystwyth at the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies (CAWCS) and Cardiff in the Wales Centre for Equity in Education (WCEE).
During this academic year the organisation and development of the University’s postgraduate research environment was taken up by Research, Innovation and Enterprise Services (RIES), who are responsible for the wider development of research, researcher development, research funding and research infrastructure across the University. The core RIES team that you will come across in the course of your studies are Dr Matt Briggs, Dr Catriona Ryan and Nicola Powell (our contact details can be found below). Our colleagues in the Postgraduate Research Office will continue to support you in navigating your way through the University’s administrative process, such as admission, ethics approval, submission and examination.
We hope to meet you all during the week and discuss your needs and our future plans, and wish you a productive and stimulating festival.
Matt, Catriona and Nicola
Dr Matt BriggsExecutive Research Development Officer [email protected] 481199 (4282)
Dr Catriona Ryan Senior Research Fellow [email protected] 481000 (ext. 3022)
Nicola Powell Administrative Officer 01792 [email protected]
The UWTSD Researcher Development Framework
All of the UWTSD Researcher Development Programme activities are mapped to the Researcher Development Framework (RDF), a national initiative to promote the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of successful researchers. You will find this mapping listed in the details of each session.
The RDF has been designed to help research students identify their strengths and priorities for professional and career development. The RDF provides a helpful tool to enable researchers and their supervisors to review training and development needs. The University now subscribes to the Vitae online Personal Development Planning tool, and over the 2017-18 academic year you and your supervisory team will be able to use this to effectively identify and plan for your wider development as a researcher.
Information about how the Postgraduate Research Festival’s proceedings will develop key areas identified on the RDF for you can be found inside this leaflet, while a new website and information about a new suite of online training courses will be available shortly (Summer 2017).
If you would like to talk about the support that is available to you for your postgraduate research, please contact a member of the team in RIES (Research, Innovation and Enterprise Services)
Spirituality, Therapy and Wellbeing
One-day conference of the Religious Experience Research Centre and the Research Cluster “Spirituality, Health and Wellbeing” of the Faculty of Humanities and Performing Art
16th July 2017 (Old Hall, Lampeter)
10.00 Tea/coffee
10.30 Welcome by Prof Bettina Schmidt, Director of the Religious Experience Research Centre
The Alister Hardy Lampeter Lecture
10.45 Dr Wendy Dossett, Chester University‘Spiritus contra spiritum’: Spirituality and recovery from alcohol use disorder
11.30 Discussion
12.00 Prof Bettina Schmidt and Dr Jeff Leonardi, UWTSDSpirituality within a Therapeutic context: A comparative study
12.45 lunch break (lunch will be not provided)
2.00 Dr Lymarie Rodriguez, UWTSDTo thine own self be true: Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Care of the Self
2.45 Patricia R. Souza, PUC SP, BrazilSpeaking to Gods: The Role of Food in Candomblé’s Healing Rituals
3.30 Dr Thomas Jansen, UWTSDEmbodied Spirituality: Food and Fasting in Chinese Buddhism
4.15 End
The conference is open to the public. No charge.
Welcome Introduction and Buffet - 6.30-9 - Founders LibraryAnnouncement of the winner of the Art and Research poster competition
Registration - 8.30am-11.00am - The Old Hall
Library presentation: ‘The Informed Researcher’ - 10.30am-11.45am (Old Hall)
What is research if it is not about finding, creating, absorbing and disseminating new information? Interacting with information is at the very heart of your research. Informed researchers are both consumers and producers of information. While this will differ at different stages of your research career, you will need to develop key skills in information literacy, such as managing, evaluating, presenting, gathering, identifying, planning and scoping information. This session will explore these ideas and give provide guidance on how the University’s Library and Learning Resources can assist you in your research.
Speed date your research - 11.45-1.00pm - Old Hall
This highly interactive session will allow you to come together with fellow students from all the University’s discipline areas, to discuss your research interests and find others with similar (or different but fascinating) interests or ideas and experience you can draw on. It will be particularly useful in allowing you to identify and solve specific problems you are addressing in your own research or writing, or to share ideas and build connections through which future research collaborations can be developed.
Tea and coffee - 11amLunch 1-2 Lloyd Thomas Hall
Workshop 1 - 2pm-5.30pm (All workshops in the Old Hall)
Tea and coffee - 3.30
Research Collaboration: Forging 'Pathways to Impact" (RDF: C2, D1, D3) Dr Matt Briggs
Research excellence is no longer solely defined as a ‘contribution to knowledge’, but now increasingly on the benefits (or ‘impact’) this has beyond academia. These benefits can be wide ranging, for example addressing industrial, social, economic and environmental problems, improving quality of life, informing policy, captivating and inspiring communities, and so on. Not surprisingly however, it’s not realistic to expect benefits simply to emerge from the research once published and disseminated. Rather expectations are now placed on researchers and their Universities to work collaboratively, in partnership with impact partners, before, during and after the research. This workshop will explore what research impact might look like in your subject area, how this adds to the research robustness and integrity, and how you might start thinking about forging fruitful pathways to impact.
Research and Entrepreneurship (RDF: B2, C2, C3, D1, D3)Prof Kathryn Penaluna
The research environment offers many opportunities for enterprising individuals. As a researcher you have already probably developed relevant knowledge and skills which are relevant to entrepreneurship, which can be defined as ‘a set of capabilities and attitudes that can enable a culture of innovation, creativity, risk taking and opportunism that underpins employability, enables entrepreneurship and facilitates knowledge transfer’. This workshop will give you a chance to explore some of the ways in which you might develop your confidence, energy and ideas, identify and reflect on your current enterprising ideas and think about how you might use your enterprising capabilities creatively for your own benefit and that of others.
Break out sessions
Workshop 3- 3.45-4.30 (Blue lab)
Introduction to NVivo (RDF: A1, A2)Dr Nicola Welton
This course covers a basic introduction to NVivo. The participants will gain a practical introduction to software designed to help with the analysis of qualitative software data.
A. Humanities/Art and Design - Old HallB. Computing and Engineering - Founders LibraryC. Education and Communities - Ryder Room
Library Twilight session (optional) - ‘Using Referencing Software’ 5.30-6.30 Guided walk around Lampeter 5.45-6.30Dinner Lloyd Thomas Hall 6.30-7.30
Day 218th July
Day 117th July
Workshop 2- 2pm-3.45 (Blue Lab)
Introduction to SPSS-Statistical Package for Social Science (RDF: A1, A2)Dr Christine DaviesDr Stephanie Meyer
This is a hands-on session for SPSS beginners, and will cover entry of data from surveys and other research methods, and also key descriptive and inferential statistics.
Day 319th July
Workshop 1 - 9.30am-1.00pm - Old Hall
Tea and coffee at 11am
Academic Writing Skills for Doctoral students (RDF: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, D2)Dr Catriona Ryan
Writing a thesis seems a long, difficult task. That is because it is a long, difficult task. Fortunately, it will seem less daunting once you have a couple of chapters done. Towards the end, you will even find yourself enjoying it---an enjoyment based on satisfaction in the achievement, pleasure in the improvement in your technical writing, and of course the approaching end. This session will give simple and practical advice on the problems of getting started, getting organised, dividing the huge task into less formidable pieces and working on those pieces. It will also explain the practicalities of surviving the ordeal, and hopefully of making it a pleasurable and rewarding process. There will also be tips on how to write a good literature review and how to plan each chapter in a way that will reduce writing anxiety.
Break out sessions
A. Humanities/Art and Design - Old HallB. Computing and Engineering - Founders libraryC. Education and Communities - Ryder Room
Lunch 1-2 Lloyd Thomas Hall
Workshop 2 - 2pm-5.30pm - Old Hall
Tea and coffee at 3.30
Qualitative Research (RDF: A1, A2, A3, B2, C1, C2) Dr Ceri Phelps
There are many types of qualitative research, but often they deal with questions of meaning, interpretation and experience, rather than that of hard ‘facts’ and ‘data’. The uncertainties and slipperiness of these aspects of the social world mean that researchers should aim for methodological rigour and reflection. This interactive session will provide an overview of some of the key skills involved in conducting high quality, qualitative research. By the end of the session participants should be aware of both the complexity and importance of the following key skills needed including: data collection skills, data analysis skills, writing skills; the ability to be reflexive and the ability to manoeuvre around philosophical and critical debates.
Quantitative research (RDF: A1, A2, A3, B2, C1, C2)Dr Paul Hutchings
What’s involved in generating robust quantitative data, and what tools and resources can you use to process, interrogate and interpret it? This interactive workshop will explore the uses and abuses of this method and pose questions which will be of use to research students from a broad range of disciplines and research topics.
Break out sessions
A. Humanities/Art and Design - Old HallB. Computing and Engineering - Founders libraryC. Education and Communities - Ryder Room
Library Twilight session (optional) - ‘Troubleshooting-Access to Resources’ 5.30-6.30
Trip to Aberaeon Port 6pm-8pmFish and Chip supper
Dinner in Lloyd Thomas Dining Hall for those not attending the Aberaeon trip. 6pm-7pm
Pub Quiz in Students Union Bar- 9pm
Workshop 1- 9.30am-12.30pm - Old Hall
Tea and coffee at 11.00am
Presentation skills in presenting a research paper (RDF: B1, B2, D2, D3)Dr Katharina Zinn
Most postgraduate researchers benefit from giving presentations about their research by gaining feedback, sharing their findings, and raising their profile in the research community. It is often an area that fills students with dread however! Therefore, learning how to present your research effectively is an important skill to develop during the course of your doctorate. As a result of this workshop participants will: gain a better idea of how to plan and choose the appropriate content for your presentation; learn how to create a well-rounded presentation that flows; discover how to use your individual strengths and style to their best effect when presenting; discuss how to make effective visual aids that enhance your presentation and receive tips on how to confidently deal with questions. This session is ideal for postgraduates who present their research to their faculty and at conferences. The session will be particularly useful for students interested in entering the 3MT (three minute thesis) competition.
Personal and Professional Development as a Researcher (RDF B1, D2)Dr Caroline Lohmann Hancock
This workshop will explore strategies on how to build confidence; to adapt and be flexible in an increasingly diverse, mobile and global research environment.
Break out sessions
A. Humanities/Art and Design - Old HallB. Computing and Engineering - Founders libraryC. Education and Communities - Ryder Room
Lunch 1-2 Lloyd Thomas Hall
Day 420th July
Workshop 2 - 2pm-5.30pm - Old Hall
Tea and coffee at 3.30
Student Symposium
This is an opportunity for students to present their research and exchange research ideas with other colleagues. The forum will be open for students to present 10-15 min research papers on their research area. If you are interested in participating in the symposium please send a title and brief summary of your research area to Dr Catriona Ryan. Her email address is [email protected]
Library Twilight session (optional) - ‘Research Data Management’ 5.30-6.00Careers Session - Careers advice available in LibraryFormal Dinner Lloyd Thomas Dining Room 6.30pm-9pm
Day 521st July
Workshop 1 - Practice Based research - 9.30am-1.00pm - Old Hall
Practice-Based Research (RDF: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3)Dr Nicola Welton
This session will look at key elements of practice-based research, situating it within the wider academic context and explore its uniqueness and transformative potential. Issues explored will include: What is the relationship between the ‘question’ and research? How do questions frame and drive the research process and what is the ‘contribution to knowledge’? During the workshop you will be asked to think about the relationship between research methods and methodologies and describe your methodological intentions, identifying the different modes of research you will be using, and how these will contribute to a coherent process. This workshop will also consider the role of documentation in practice-based research. We will explore the ontological status of the document, per se, and also look at specific methods of documenting practice. We will reflect on the role of documentation in your own research, and consider how documentation, itself, can be part of a reflective creative and critical practice.
Writing for Publication (RDF: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, D1, D2) - Old HallProfessor Catrin Williams
Whatever your field, turning your research into publications is a vital academic enterprise. This is important as academic careers are built on the foundation of regular and substantial publication. Making publication a habit from the commencement of your research degree is a good idea, especially if you think you want to pursue an academic career. More importantly, debate and discussion in a field takes place largely through publications. New ideas, questions, methods and practises emerge from the dissemination of research. In short, to develop as a researcher or to create a research profile for yourself as an academic, you need to subject your research ideas to the testing and scrutiny of your peers and experts in your field. This workshop will explore what’s involved in the process, in practical steps (of putting pen to paper) but also, in terms of thinking about your audience and of approaching publishers and journals.
Tea and coffee at 11am
Break out sessions
A. Humanities/Art and Design - Old HallB. Computing and Engineering - Founders libraryC. Education and Communities - Ryder RoomD. Welsh Language-Writing for Publication - Wolfson
Lunch 1-2 Lloyd Thomas Hall
Workshop 2 - 2.00pm-5.30pm - Old Hall
The Viva (RDF: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, D2)Dr Caroline Lohmann Hancock and Dr Thomas Jansen
Once you have submitted your thesis you will be invited to defend your doctorate at a ‘viva voce’ (Latin for ‘by live voice’) or oral examination. The thesis defence can be a daunting prospect, but many people really enjoy this experience of discussing their PhD research with genuinely interested experts. It can also be a useful networking opportunity. While it is the culmination of your research degree, many postgraduate researchers are unsure what to expect and what they can do to prepare. Here we want to take away some of the mystery - allowing you to take control and look forward to the viva exam as a positive experience.
Tea and coffee at 3.30pm
Break out sessions
A. Humanities/Art and Design - Old HallB. Computing and Engineering - Founders libraryC. Education and Communities - Ryder Room
All sessions are taking place in the Old Building.
