We are now in the dead of winter and moving into the second half of this year of challenges. To keep your spirits up how about entering into the 3 Minute Thesis competition, COVID style. This year instead of standing in front of a large audience to speak for 3 minutes, contestants will provide a video entry. As usual, the team in Research Development have supported you with the skills required to succeed. Learning to speak to the camera is a skill that is likely to be more and more useful as COVID travel restrictions continue and conferences move online. More interested in creating digital content? Try the Visualise Your Thesis competition where you get to communicate your research in a 60-second video, submissions close on 3 August. I look forward to seeing what you create and awarding some prizes this month.

Over the next 18 months, ANU will be conducting a pilot of oral exams as part of the research degree examination process. This page contains details of how the pilot will be conducted and how you can get involved.

The campus has started to see more people returning as Semester 2 begins. Please remember to keep your distance, wash your hands, and to stay home if you are unwell.

Professor Ann Evans

Dean, Higher Degree Research

ANU Researcher Development coordinates and facilitates workshops, events, and competitions to develop your skills even further. All of the sessions below are offered to you online. Click on one to find out more:

AUGUST
3 August | ANU 3 Minute Thesis Competition submissions open
4 August | Digital research webinar
5 August | First Wednesday Connect
6 August | Word for academic writing: maintaining consistency in your thesis webinar
6 August | Getting the most out of academic conferences: Part 1
10 August | EndNote in an Hour webinar for Windows
10 August | ON Prime Virtual application close
11 August | Mendeley in an Hour webinar for Windows
11 August | Where are the jobs for researchers outside academia?
12 August | Research Ethics Drop-in Session on Zoom
12 August | 500 useful words every day
13 August | Getting the most out of academic conferences: Part 2
13 August | Word for academic writing: putting your thesis all together
14 August | EndNote in an Hour Webinar for Mac
14 August | ZeroCO2 Hackathon applications close
17 August | ANU 3 Minute Thesis Competition submissions close
17 August | Tragic research mistakes and how to avoid them
18 August | Dean, Higher Degree Research Candidate Update
18 August | EndNote advanced webinar for Windows
18 August | HDR: Journal Article Writing (HASS)
19 August | Managing your milestones, or why researchers run out of time
19 August | Library research webinar
20 August | Research data management webinar
 21 August | ANU Visualise Your Thesis Competition Final 2020
21 August | InnovationACT applications close
25 August | Managing your Digital Footprint webinar
25 August | Top tips for working with your supervisors
26 August | Digital research webinar
27 August | HDR: Journal Article Writing (STEM)
28 August | HDR: Publishing in journals (HASS)
31 August | Publishing in journals (STEM)

SEPTEMBER

 4 September | #ANU3MT 3 Minute Thesis Final 2020
9 September | Word for academic writing: formatting your document webinar
18 September | Managing your milestones, or why researchers run out of time
21 September | Top tips for working with your supervisors
24 September | Tragic research mistakes and how to avoid them

Updates from our research community and opportunities for you this month.

Write 1,000 words a day with us!

Join us for Shut Up and Write sessions on Monday and Wednesday at 2 - 4 pm on Zoom. These sessions are open to all researchers keen to participate. More information can be found here. Please note the zoom session password is: 2601. Follow us on Twitter for reminders.

$7,500 in prizes all in 3 Minutes

ANU is the most successful institution at 3MT in the world, are you our next winner? Check out the 3MT competition guidelines here, ANU 3MT video submission close on 17 August. Find a global audience for your research and win some ca$h.

Falling Walls Remote 2020

The Falling Walls Foundation is inviting academic institutions, universities, academies, foundations, research-driven companies and individuals to nominate for the Falling Walls Remote 2020: The Breakthroughs of the Year, internationally recognised, established academics and leaders in their respective fields, whose ground breaking work contributes towards solving the world’s biggest challenges.  There are ten categories, from life sciences, physical sciences to social sciences, science management and digital education.  The internal deadline for nominations is 24^th August. Please submit all nominations to eo.pvci@anu.edu.au

HDR Oral exam pilot 2020/2021

Over the next 18 months, ANU will be conducting a pilot of oral exams as part of the research degree examination process. This page contains details of how the pilot will be conducted and how you can get involved. Read more about this and complete the expression of interest form here.

From the Thesis Whisperer

A warm congratulations to these students who have been recently approved to graduate from their PhD or MPhil. Well done all!