Communication is one of the most important pillars of science. The researchers should be able to clearly present the idea of their work but also to be open to the thoughts of others. This stream of exchange should flow not only in our laboratories but also within a broader scientific community. Just as we have our labs where we talk to our mates, we also need a space to meet people from other departments. The job of the PhD_Post.doc Talks working group is to create this space and facilitate the interconnections of young researchers at our university.
PhD_Post.doc club: what is it?
PhD_post.doc Club is about meeting of all people but especially PhD candidates and postdocs from our alma mater.
You can look forward to lectures from your colleagues (mostly PhDs and postdocs) and an opportunity to meet people from your surroundings.
The purpose of our meetings
Before establishing this club (March 2019), there were no regular events which would bring together UCT PhD students and postdoctoral researchers . Markéta has found this “vacant orbital” at our university which cried to be occupied and saw this as an opportunity to open more communication channels at our university, and break down the language and cultural bareers. If not anything else, we all are members of one particular culture – the scientific one. So, yep, the event is mandatorily in English. If you are afraid of English (Czech and Slovak colleagues 😊), let’s overcome it!
Thus, there are two major purposes of the PhD_Post.doc club – social and educational.
PhD_post.doc is a chance how to meet your colleagues from different fields, broaden your knowledge or list of your contacts... simply said, just to be involved!
It is a great chance for training not only your presentation skills but also of being a listener. People do not have to have many opportunities to present but eventually, they will have to do it and likely it will be in front of strange people in an unfamiliar environment. Here, you can try it among your colleagues and friends and get well-meant honest feedback from them.
Other benefits for PhD_Post.doc speakers
- As self-evaluation is one of the best feedbacks, we offer to record your presentation and give you the recording to be able to see yourself in action. You then decide whether we publish it on the official UCT YouTube channel or not.
- You can also be a chairman of the meeting. Nevertheless, anyone who would like to try to chair a session of presentations can become the chairman😊.
How are the meetings organized?
There are always 2 parts:
1st part: Lectures
It usually takes one hour but with a maximum of an hour and a half. Usually, there are 2 or 3 lectures given by our PhD candidates and postdocs. However, invited speakers are not excluded. Every lecture takes approximately 20 min including a discussion which follows immediately after the talk.
2nd part: Time for the meet-and-greet
Free refreshment and space for talking and fun. As we are on the university grounds alcohol is prohibited. Nevertheless, after some time, we can continue somewhere else (but it is no longer for free) 😊.
Meetings we've already held
Contact
Tereza Leonhardt