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You've got interesting research to share - but is anyone listening?!

Presenting your research is an essential skill for a researcher, be it with your peers, at a major conference, or even to a classroom of schoolchildren. This online toolkit covers a whole range of performance and presentation techniques for you to work through and incorporate into your presentations, in your own time. From crafting a story to handling the dreaded Q&A, there's guaranteed to be something there to help you improve your presentations.

Outcomes

• Understand how to create a compelling presentation
• Know some practical tips for giving an engaging performance
• Understand how to continue improving with each presentation

How to Access the Course

You will need to use the following enrolment key at the link below: PST_21on

Enrol onto the Presentation Skills Toolkit (Moodle)

A CRSid / Raven password is needed to access this online course. If you don't have one, please get in touch at researcher.development@admin.cam.ac.uk.

A series of 30-minute drop-in sessions to talk with a member of the Public Engagement team. We offer expert advice to support your public engagement work, engagement processes and activities. These include:

• engagement types and the appropriate format to engage effectively and collaboratively
• engagement opportunities
• extensive training portfolio for researchers and professional staff to build skills and confidence
• funding schemes and resources to inform and support develop projects, events and activities

These sessions are not workshops or taught sessions.

Based on your area of expertise and depending on your School affiliation, you can book a time with one of our public engagement professionals:

• Dr Tana Joseph, Public Engagement and Impact Manager for the Schools of Arts and Humanities and Social Science - Monday, 15:00-15:30 and 15:30-16:00
• Dr Lucinda Spokes, Head of Public Engagement, all areas and schools - Monday, 16:00-16:30 and 16:30-17:00
• Dr Diogo Martins-Gomes, Public Engagement and Communications Manager, Clinical School and School of Biological Sciences - Wednesday, 12:00-12:30 and 12:30-13:00
• Dr Claudia Antolini, Public Engagement Manager, School of Physical Sciences and School of Technology - Thursday 14:00-14:30 and 14:30-15:00

The team will be available every week, each mentor offering two sessions of 30 minutes in the day and time indicated above. We will release new slots in the same days and times a couple of months in advance.

Please book for the day and time you would like to attend, and you will receive closer to the session the Teams link to meet with the mentor. The link will be sent by RDP Course Administrator. Please make sure that that e-mail does not go to your spam folder.

The Public Engagement Starter Fund is an exciting opportunity for University of Cambridge researchers to apply for small grants to undertake innovative public engagement with research activities.

As part of this year's applications the public engagement team offers 4 drop-in sessions for potential applicants to ask questions about their work, eligibility and application.

Are you completely overwhelmed by the reading that you have to do? Would you like to be able to scan long documents for the important points?

This online course can help you to make the most of the time available to you by ensuring that your reading isn't slowing you down, and that you are reading strategically. You can complete the course at your own pace.

Outcomes

• Identify what holds back your personal reading speed
• Practise techniques for improving your speed
• Learn how to read articles strategically

How to Access the Course

You will need to use the following enrolment key at the link below: RET_21on

Enrol onto the Reading Efficiency Toolkit (Moodle)

A CRSid / Raven password is needed to access this online course. If you don't have one, please get in touch at researcher.development@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Welcome to The Researcher Cafe - your online destination for a bi-weekly, laid-back gathering where you can take a break from your research, connect with other researchers, and expand your social circle.

Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee along with a biscuit, while you engage in stimulating conversations and forge new friendships.

Best of all, no reservations required - just drop in and unwind!

Researcher Development has moved to Inkpath.

In order to find scheduled training, book places and record your attendance, head over to Inkpath, select 'single sign-on' and log in with Raven.

Click here to Launch Inkpath

This online course introduces you to the Cambridge Researcher Development Framework and then asks you to complete a short self-analysis quiz, where you will assess your existing skillset against the key competencies mapped out by this framework.

You will have the opportunity to reflect on your self-assessment to identify target areas for improvement and start seeking opportunities to develop these skills. By providing examples that demonstrate your existing skills, you will also create a useful reference for crafting applications in the future.

This is a highly recommended courses for all postgraduate students, as it forms the basis upon which you should plan all of your researcher development! We encourage you to take this course at the beginning of your studies, but also once a year thereafter, to guide your researcher development throughout your time here and ensure you are still working towards your evolving goals.

Outcomes

• Understand the key skills needed by a professional researcher
• Reflect on your existing skillset through mapping against these key competencies
• Plan your development for the coming year

How to Access the Course

Enrol onto the Skills Analysis Survey (Moodle)

A CRSid / Raven password is needed to access this online course. If you don't have one, please get in touch at researcher.development@admin.cam.ac.uk.

An interactive and participative session that looks at the root of great communication covering:

• Levels of Listening
• Listening to understand
• Asking Great Questions
• Giving and Receiving Feedback

This session will involve group work, work in pairs and some time for individual reflection.

Time management is just something you do... who would spend precious time on getting better at it?

You might already be the most effective person you know, or you might instead be struggling under a pile of to-do lists and missed deadlines. Whatever your situation, this online toolkit will give you some new ideas to think about and try out. Each tool provides some information and examples, then sets you the challenge of seeing if it works for you in real life.

Outcomes

• Understand how to use several different time management techniques
• Identify which of these help you to be more effective
• Feel more in control of your time

How to Access the Course

You will need to use the following enrolment key at the link below: TMT_21on

Enrol onto the Time Management Toolkit (Moodle)

A CRSid / Raven password is needed to access this online course. If you don't have one, please get in touch at researcher.development@admin.cam.ac.uk.

When we talk about turning a thesis into a ‘book’, we are really talking about a ‘monograph’. In keeping with the etymological sense of the word, a monograph is generally considered a written work that focuses on one specialised subject with a view to contributing original insight and knowledge.

Given a doctoral thesis – particularly in the arts, humanities and social sciences – is a dedicated study on one specialised topic or area of research, it stands to reason that it is a kind of proto-monograph. This course is concerned with turning a proto-monograph into a fully-fledged and published monograph, i.e. a book. The aim, therefore, is to familiarise students with the process of, and the various issues involved with, turning their PhD thesis into a published monograph.

Join us for an intensive and productive writing retreat tailored exclusively for doctoral scholars like you. Enjoy uninterrupted writing time, expert guidance from mentors, and a collaborative environment to refine your research. Take a day to focus solely on your dissertation or thesis projects, right here on campus. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your productivity and connect with fellow scholars!

It’s that time of year: the First Year Report is looming on the horizon and the reality of writing is here!

In this workshop, we will discuss the function of the First Year Report, introduce several writing exercises, you will do some writing and have the opportunity to ask questions.