Graduate School of Life Sciences course timetable
September 2016
Wed 14 |
Research Data Management
Finished
Come over to our introductory workshop to research data management and learn how not to get lost in our own research data (and how not to lose your data!). The workshop will cover the following aspects of research data management: • Data storage and backup; • Data organisation; • Strategies for file exchange with collaborators; • Sharing research data; • How to create data management plans. The workshop is open to all students and postdocs, and refreshments will be provided. About the trainer: The course trainer is managing the Research Data Services in Cambridge (http://www.data.cam.ac.uk/open-data-team) and was a PhD student in life sciences at the Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge. |
Tue 27 |
This day workshop will help you publish your research paper in the most effective way, so that many people will read, cite and build on it, thus progressing your career. The course is for PhD students and postdocs at any stage, whether or not you have already written or published a paper. It focuses on how to write your research paper, how to navigate the peer review process and how to choose a journal for it. Trainer Anna Sharman PhD is an experienced researcher trainer who has been an in-house biology journal editor and scientific publishing consultant. She can give insider insights into how to write and publish scientific journal papers most effectively. Cancellation and Non-attendance Policy Due to high demand the GSLS will not accept cancellations within 48 hours of the start of the course. Cancellations must be registered by 10am on Sunday 25th September. Any cancellations after this point will be treated as non-attendance. Non-attendance on this course will result in you being invoiced for £50 to cover expenses. By booking on this course you are accepting these terms. |
November 2016
Wed 2 |
This workshop, led by Understanding Animal Research, provides advice and practical information on how best to talk about the use of animals in your research in line with the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research. This course will be held in L2, The Gurdon Institute http://www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/about/travel |
Mon 7 |
Your Research Story
Finished
Turn your research into a story that both excites and enthuses your audience. Explore how your research ideas can be translated and discussed in the public domain, using storytelling as one tool for organising a structured research narrative. Develop a summary of your research for different audiences including general public, policymakers and journalists. |
Thu 10 |
The course takes an evidence-based approach to writing. Participants will learn that publishing is a game and the more they understand the rules of the game the higher their chances of becoming publishing authors. They will learn that writing an academic article and getting it published may help with their careers but it does not make them better researchers, or cleverer than they were before their paper was accepted; it simply means they have played the game well. Suitable for GSLS postgraduates in any discipline who are keen to learn how to write academic papers and articles efficiently as well as more established researchers who have had papers rejected and are not really sure why. If you want a better chance of your name on a paper, this is for you! Trainer Olivia Timbs is an award-winning editor and journalist with over 30 years' experience gained from working on national newspapers and for a range of specialist health and medical journals. Cancellation and Non-attendance Policy Due to high demand we cannot accept cancellations for this course within 48 hours prior to the event. Any cancellations made after 9:30am on 8th November will be considered as a non-attendance. Participants who do not attend on the day will be subject to a £50 fee. By booking a place on the course you accept these terms. |
Fri 18 |
The course will look at the purpose of a presentation and how to choose an effective medium to get a research message across to a public audience. The half-day workshop is highly interactive, giving all participants in this small group (max. 8 people) the opportunity to develop, practice and present their own short piece. |
Mon 21 |
Shooting Your Research Video
Finished
Why is YouTube popular? Because people love watching videos. A research video can be a great way to get your message across to your collaborators, your friends, and the wider world as well as being a condition of some funding bodies. But it isn't easy to do well - and this is where this course will make a difference. Come along and learn the skills needed to plan and shoot high quality footage for research videos so that your video can stand out from the crowd. You just need yourself, a camera phone and your enthusiasm! |
One session - four medicine and life science databases - widest coverage for your literature search. PubMed is great, but it doesn't cover all the journals relevant to life sciences and medicine. Embase, Web of Science and Scopus can also be relevant and each covers unique material. Come to this hands-on session to learn how to get the best from each of these "4 tops". Participants will need to bring their own laptop or tablet and be able to connect to Eduroam (http://www.ucs.cam.ac.uk/wireless/eduroam/localusers) Location is 17 Mill Lane (http://www.training.cam.ac.uk/venue/1795736) - please check instructions on how to find the venue. |
February 2017
Fri 3 |
The course takes an evidence-based approach to writing. Participants will learn that publishing is a game and the more they understand the rules of the game the higher their chances of becoming publishing authors. They will learn that writing an academic article and getting it published may help with their careers but it does not make them better researchers, or cleverer than they were before their paper was accepted; it simply means they have played the game well. Suitable for GSLS postgraduates in any discipline who are keen to learn how to write academic papers and articles efficiently as well as more established researchers who have had papers rejected and are not really sure why. If you want a better chance of your name on a paper, this is for you! Trainer Olivia Timbs is an award-winning editor and journalist with over 30 years' experience gained from working on national newspapers and for a range of specialist health and medical journals. Cancellation and Non-attendance Policy Due to high demand we cannot accept cancellations for this course within 48 hours prior to the event. Any cancellations made after this time will be considered as a non-attendance. Participants who do not attend on the day will be subject to a £50 fee. By booking a place on the course you accept these terms. |
Wed 8 |
Are you looking to create eye-catching yet informative materials for your public engagement? Whether it’s a poster to promote an event, a leaflet to explain, or a worksheet for an activity, it’s crucial to get it right. This course will provide you with the tools and knowledge to create striking visual communications that will attract your audience and convey your key messages effectively. This course has practical components which will enable participants to:
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Fri 10 |
How to Keep a Lab Notebook
Finished
Your lab notebook is one of the most important and precious objects you, as a scientist, will ever have. This course will explore how keeping an exemplary laboratory notebook is crucial to good scientific practice in lab research. The course will consist of a short talk, a chance to assess some examples of good and bad practice, with plenty of time for questions and discussion. You might like to bring along your own lab notebook for feedback. (Please note that issues relating to protection of Intellectual Property Rights will not be covered in this course). This is a CSTP optional component |
Tue 14 |
Working with Schools
Finished
This interactive session will provide the opportunity to start to plan an activity or lesson for secondary school students. You'll be trained by, and given feedback from, qualified teachers and current researchers working at The Brilliant Club (http://www.thebrilliantclub.org/). This session will cover two main areas:
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March 2017
Thu 9 |
CSaP’s (Centre for Science and Policy) Professional Development Policy Workshops bring together early-career researchers and civil servants. The workshop will offer researchers an insight into how evidence and expertise is sought and used by government. It will consist of a series of panel discussions and worked examples covering relevant topics such as earthquakes, volcanic hazards, climate, ecology, conservation and biodiversity. Speakers from academia, industry and government will discuss their own experiences of gathering and presenting expert advice and evidence for policy – how the process works, the types of policy issues that require evidence, and examples of what has and hasn’t worked well. The final session will introduce a live policy issue. Assuming the role of policy advisers and working in teams, attendees will use what they have learned throughout the day, as well as draw on their own knowledge and skills, to come up with recommendations on a particular policy issue for their ‘minister’. List of speakers: • Professor Charles Kennel (Director Emeritus, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego) • Professor Bill Sutherland (Miriam Rothschild Professor in Conservation Biology, Dept of Zoology, University of Cambridge) • Professor Graeme Reid (Professor of Science and Research Policy, University College London) • Dr Emma Hennessey (Head of Science and Innovation Team, and Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, Foreign & Commonwealth Office) • Jane Rumble (Head of Polar Regions Department, Foreign & Commonwealth Office) • Dr Emily So (Senior Lecturer at the Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge) |
Fri 10 |
Shooting Your Research Video
Finished
Why is YouTube popular? Because people love watching videos. A research video can be a great way to get your message across to your collaborators, your friends, and the wider world as well as being a condition of some funding bodies. But it isn't easy to do well - and this is where this course will make a difference. Come along and learn the skills needed to plan and shoot high quality footage for research videos so that your video can stand out from the crowd. You just need yourself, a camera phone and your enthusiasm! |
Mon 13 |
Editing Your Research Video
Finished
Shot your film? Got lots of video clips, photographs & audio you want to bring together to make one video? Then you need the skills to edit. Editing software is now much more readily available and the only thing stopping you is attaining the skills. Come along to learn how to edit using your own computer. From the basics of cutting, to adding soundtracks & audio mixing. No matter what your level of experience, teaching & advice will be provided by a pro filmmaker Ryd Cook. Attendance to “Shooting Your Research Video” is not compulsory, but strongly recommended. |
April 2017
Fri 7 |
The course takes an evidence-based approach to writing. Participants will learn that publishing is a game and the more they understand the rules of the game the higher their chances of becoming publishing authors. They will learn that writing an academic article and getting it published may help with their careers but it does not make them better researchers, or cleverer than they were before their paper was accepted; it simply means they have played the game well. Suitable for GSLS postgraduates in any discipline who are keen to learn how to write academic papers and articles efficiently as well as more established researchers who have had papers rejected and are not really sure why. If you want a better chance of your name on a paper, this is for you! Trainer Olivia Timbs is an award-winning editor and journalist with over 30 years' experience gained from working on national newspapers and for a range of specialist health and medical journals. Cancellation and Non-attendance Policy Due to high demand we cannot accept cancellations for this course within 48 hours prior to the event. Any cancellations made after this time will be considered as a non-attendance. Participants who do not attend on the day will be subject to a £50 fee. By booking a place on the course you accept these terms. |
May 2017
Tue 16 |
Careers Pathways Workshop
Finished
This workshop is specifically designed to help you start planning your career or, if you have already started, to gain further perspectives on career pathways. The workshop will concentrate on different aspects of career development both within and outside academia. It is led by Katie Hewitt, a careers specialist, and it will help you reflect on how the skills that you have learned during your PhD or postdoc could be used to foster your career. Moreover, speakers from different sectors (e.g. consultancy, policy, publishing, etc.) will come and give their perspectives followed by a questions and answer session and networking lunch. |
Thu 25 |
Working with Schools
Finished
This interactive session will provide the opportunity to start to plan an activity or lesson for secondary school students. You'll be trained by, and given feedback from, qualified teachers and current researchers working at The Brilliant Club (http://www.thebrilliantclub.org/). This session will cover two main areas:
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June 2017
Thu 8 |
The course takes an evidence-based approach to writing. Participants will learn that publishing is a game and the more they understand the rules of the game the higher their chances of becoming publishing authors. They will learn that writing an academic article and getting it published may help with their careers but it does not make them better researchers, or cleverer than they were before their paper was accepted; it simply means they have played the game well. Suitable for GSLS postgraduates in any discipline who are keen to learn how to write academic papers and articles efficiently as well as more established researchers who have had papers rejected and are not really sure why. If you want a better chance of your name on a paper, this is for you! Trainer Olivia Timbs is an award-winning editor and journalist with over 30 years' experience gained from working on national newspapers and for a range of specialist health and medical journals. Cancellation and Non-attendance Policy Due to high demand we cannot accept cancellations for this course within 48 hours prior to the event. Any cancellations made after this time will be considered as a non-attendance. Participants who do not attend on the day will be subject to a £50 fee. By booking a place on the course you accept these terms. |
Turn your research into a story that both excites and enthuses your audience. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools of communication and engagement. In this workshop you will learn the key ingredients of what makes a great story: character, conflict, plot and texture. You will be asked to a craft a short narrative based on your own research using the prompt 'a time you overcame an obstacle', which you will then share with others. Discussion and feedback will be provided by a trainer. Three further elements - empathy, metaphor and message - will be explored with an eye on how to ensure your work can reach a wide array of audiences. You will also explore the different ways that stories can be used to enhance the communication of academia whilst staying true to the research itself. |
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Mon 12 |
This training session focuses on how to implement the elements of comedy in communicating your research to different public audiences. The use of comedy will be examined, given its role and importance in the communication process. Useful tricks or tips on using the comedy will be given to make your presentations more approachable to the public. A trainer will (i) present case studies which show the benefits of using the comedy element in: engaging with the audience and getting your research message across, and (ii) list and assess good and bad sides of using comedy in communicating your research. For the main part of this session, participants will craft a short piece summarising their research project and turn it into a speech given at the public engagement event. Some will present these to the whole group. A feedback will be given by a trainer. In the end, a summary of this session will be provided with a list of opportunities how to get involved in the local public engagement science communication comedy events. |
Thu 29 |
Coping with Setbacks (MRC)
Finished
Let’s face it; being a researcher can be stressful! Not only are you managing the ups and downs of life in the lab, but you are probably balancing work and life and also have one eye on the future and what comes after your PhD… This session is designed to help you build emotional resilience. You probably already have strategies in place, so we will look at theories of how we can strengthen these to help you deal with whatever life throws at you whilst maintaining a good level of wellbeing. We’ll look at some case studies but also have some time to discuss our own experiences. |
July 2017
Wed 12 |
Working Across Cultures
Finished
Working Across Cultures: A Practical Introduction to Intercultural Communication Have you considered how culture may be influencing your professional relationships and interactions? Do you know which factors to consider when dealing with other nationalities? Are you using to your advantage what you may have already noticed or experienced? The workplace today is truly international in composition and intercultural competency is an invaluable and positive addition to your skill set. This half day session is an introduction to the field of intercultural communication with an emphasis on practical application and developing self-awareness. It is a fun, engaging, relevant topic that will enable you to work more confidently and effectively with any nationality. You will become familiar with key variations across national cultures, so that you can recognise if/when and why cross-cultural misunderstandings are occurring, as well how to be more flexible in your approach. You can expect a mixture of trainer-led content, as well as interactive exercises in pairs and small groups |
Mon 24 |
A one day master class in communication from an external trainer who has previously been employed as a hostage negotiator and detective in the Metropolitan Police Force. Participants will gain a practical insight into how professional communicators communicate, and how it can be applied in everyday life. At the end of the session participants will:
Topics:
Please note that due to the popularity of this course any cancellations must be received by 18th July. Cancellation after this date, non-attendance or failure to attend for the full day will incur a cancellation fee of £50 and blocking from further attendance. Only book if you know you can come! |
Thu 27 |
You, your report, your examiners and an awkward silence... The oral examination that forms part of your registration process can be a bit daunting, but it is also a great opportunity to get some guidance and insight into the future of your PhD project. This session can help you prepare for the viva by giving you a chance to rehearse your answers to some of the types of question you might be asked! The session will consist of: 1) Preparation work where you must submit a short abstract or research summary (200 words) about your project before the workshop 2) A session explaining what the viva is for and how to prepare for the exam 3) A chance to work in groups and to experience a mock viva and practice your answers We won't be able to cover every specific research question, but we will focus on the general questions that tend to be used at the start of a viva and can help you get settled into the rest of the process. |