The Australian National University

 

Research Digest

 

October edition

Welcome note

Once again I’m writing this on a lovely spring morning, having just returned from several conferences in the UK, where it is definitely not as sunny and warm! Maintaining a sense of optimism is far easier when the sun is shining, so after two weeks away (the work regrettably doesn’t stop just because I am not here), things are looking good, even though it has been a busy month. Make sure you’re getting a break and some fresh air while the weather is so good. The Committee of Inquiry stage of Redefining the ANU PhD is really getting moving; we have already had three meetings, and by the time you read this, the committee will have met a fourth time. There is still time for your voice to be heard with our deadline of 27 October 2017 fast approaching. You can submit your maximum two-page written submission to Peter Francis (Peter.Francis@anu.edu.au).

I hope that, like me, you enjoyed the 3MT final at Llewellyn Hall on 6 September. There was a fabulous atmosphere on the night and the presentations were top notch (I feel I can say this with authority, having watched the UK national 3MT final a couple of weeks ago). Llewellyn Hall was really abuzz with people inspired by the research on display. While Erin Andrews (College of Science) was a worthy winner, and Jacob Ross (also College of Science) a stunning runner-up, congratulations go to all involved! Erin will go on to compete in the Asia Pacific final tomorrow, and I’m sure that you will join me in wishing her well.

Thanks to all those who showed interest in the Global Young Scientist Summit (GYSS) in Singapore from 21-26 January 2018. The ANU nominations will be finalised by the time you read this and we will share the names of successful delegates in due course.

 

 

Professor Imelda Whelehan

Professor Imelda Whelehan

Dean, Higher Degree Research

 


Upcoming programs

 

 

Thesis Boot Camp


Register your interest to join the Thesis Whisperer for a word count workout at #ANUTBC.

 

October

3 Shut Up & Write-a-thon
3 ASLC: Kick Start your PhD

3

Shut Up & Write Night

4

"Meet the Germans" - Study and Research Opportunities in Germany

5

Shut Up & Write Night

7 ANU Student Research Conference 2017

9

Library: SPSS Introduction Workshop

10

Library: EndNote workshop

10

Shut Up & Write Night

11

Library: Working with data in Excel

12

Shut Up & Write-a-thon

12

Library: Search strategies and subject databases workshop

12 Shut Up & Write Night
13 Library: Word for academic writing: formatting your document
16 Library: SPSS advanced significance testing workshop
17 TTO: InnovationACT Pitch Night
17 Shut Up & Write Night
17-18 Thesis Proposal Review (TPR) toolkit with the Thesis Whisperer
19 Library: Presentation techniques workshop
19 TTO: Protect, publish, engage: stories about collaboration and commercialisation
19 Shut Up & Write Night
20 Shut Up & Write-a-thon
20 Library: Word for academic writing: maintaining consistency in your thesis
21 Thesis Boot Camp Veterans' Day
23-27 ANU Online: Coffee Course: Open Educational Resources: A Continuum for Practice
24 Library: NVivo introduction workshop ($90)
24 Shut Up & Write Night
25 Shut Up & Write-a-thon
25 Library: Conference poster production using PowerPoint workshop
26 ANU Online: Wattle Gradebook
26 Library: EndNote workshop
26 Shut Up & Write Night
27 Library: Word for academic writing: putting your thesis all together
27-29 Thesis Boot Camp - October (EOIs close 3 Oct)
31 Library: NVivo advanced workshop ($90)
31 Shut Up & Write Night

 

November

2 Shut Up & Write-a-thon (CBE)
2 Shut Up & Write Night
7 Shut Up & Write-a-thon
7 Shut Up & Write Night
9 Shut Up & Write Night
14 Library: Data management workshop
14 Shut Up & Write Night
15 Shut Up & Write-a-thon
15 Library: EndNote workshop
16 Shut Up & Write Night
18 Thesis Boot Camp Veterans' Day
21 Shut Up & Write Night

22

RSD: Defence Export Controls Awareness and Training Seminar

23

Shut Up & Write Night

24

Shut Up & Write-a-thon

28

Shut Up & Write Night

30 Shut Up & Write Night

 

 


Job Opportunity

 

 


The Research Skills and Training team is looking for someone to help with our research program in a paid casual position. If you have skills in social network analysis tools, particularly Gephi, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact inger.mewburn@anu.edu.au.

 


 

Opportunities

 

 

"Meet the Germans" - Study and Research Opportunities in Germany for Australian Students and Researchers, 4th October
Interested in doing a Masters, PhD, Post-Doc or Research Fellowship in Germany? Looking for an appropriate programme and funding opportunities? Ready to take the next step in your career? For more information visit the ANU event page or to register for the event, visit the Eventbrite site.

ANU Student Research Conference 2017, 7th October
The Student Research Conference at the Australian National University (ANU) is a unique student-led conference that showcases the research activities, leadership experience and innovative ideas of current Undergraduate, Honours and Masters by coursework ANU students from all disciplines. 

Academic Skills & Learning Centre
Are you new to research and not quite sure how to manage the PhD? Do you want to make a strong start? Come to the Kick start your PhD workshop and equip yourself to survive the journey! Find out times and venues, click here.

Want to learn more about writing up your research for publication or thesis submission? Take a look at the Academic Skills and Learning Centre Research Writing website. There you will find a range of self-help resources to help you communicate your research.

Counselling Centre

Mindfulness Community of Practice, For ANU Staff and Postgraduate Students only

Come along to a facilitated mindfulness practice. Runs weekly and is open on a drop-in basis.
For more information and to subscribe, go to Mindfulness@ANU: http://mindfulness.weblogs.anu.edu.au/.

Library

ANU researchers, register with ORCiD and share your identifier with ANU Open Research to aggregate your publications and manage your professional research profile in one place.

Check out Navigating the sea of scholarly communication, designed to build the capabilities you need to navigate the scholarly communications and publishing world.  Five self-paced modules are available: Scholarly communications 101, Publish and prosper, Talk data to me, Increasing impact and engagement and My research identity are available now!

Research skills and digital literacy training available – register via the online training calendar.

Discover how SAGE Research Methods can help you at every step of your research project. Explore research design, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, literature review writing, data collection and analysis through hundreds of videos, case studies and the Methods Map. Bring your project together with advice and tips on sharing your research findings, completing a thesis and submitting work for publication.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CFS) Program
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) program helps Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students. Valued at $50,000 p.a for 3 years during doctoral studies, scholars are selected based on: academic excellence, research potential, and leadership. Applications close 1st November.

 


 

News & links

 

 

ANU Online Wattle, Turnitin & Echo360 training

If you are teaching now or in the near future, ANU Online offers training on Wattle (Moodle), Turnitin, Echo360, and using technology for teaching and learning. You are very welcome to attend our face-to-face sessions, receive personal assistance at a drop-in session,  learn at your own pace with Wattle Basics online training, and Turnitin online training, or join the conversation about education technology with a coffee course.

All are welcome to attend. For more information on Wattle or training, contact us at wattle.support@anu.edu.au.

 

HDR Administration Support Project

The University is committed to identifying improvements for administration and support functions that affect the HDR student experience. Under the direction of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) the ANU Service Improvement Group has a project in progress aiming to identify effective ways of delivering significantly improved HDR Administrative Support outcomes. 

To read the most recent news from the project, click through to the update. For more information on the HDR Administrative Support Project please visit the web site or contact the Project Managers: Kailee Fisher (PM for the Admissions component) and Megan Easton (PM for the broader body of HDR work.

 

Library

New ANU Press title: The General’s Goose: Fiji's Tale of Contemporary Misadventure by Robbie Robertson 

As part of the celebrations for the 17th Week of the Italian Language in the World, ANU Library will be hosting a lecture by Honorary Senior Lecturer in Film & New Media, Dr Gino Moliterno, who will be discussing this year’s theme: Italian at the cinema, Italian in the cinema. The lecture will take place on Wednesday 18 October at 12–1pm. Register online: http://bit.ly/2xtQH3H

Each year the ANU Archives and the Friends of the Noel Butlin Archives Centre present a lecture by a prominent researcher. This year’s lecture will be presented by Dr Shino Konishi, lead Chief Investigator on the Australian Research Council project, ‘An Indigenous Australian Dictionary of Biography’, on Monday 16 October at 4–5pm. Register online: http://bit.ly/2wCOcIw

Ready for a break? Visit the latest ANU Archives exhibition, open until November in the Menzies Library Foyer. Navigating the Sea of Islands: spiritual and cultural seafaring in the Pacific presents the traditional seafaring practices and beliefs of the Pacific Islanders, contrasted against Western navigational methods and the impact of climate change on the indigenous cultures of the region.

 

Statistical Consulting Centre

Appointments for statistical consulting

 

Postgraduate & Research Students' Association (PARSA)

PARSA Survival Guide and more

 


 

From the Thesis Whisperer

 

 

Inger's picks from the web

Pat Thomson has some useful ideas on how to improve your results section.

If you are planning on leaving academia at the end of your degree, this article on finding jobs similar to yours might have food for thought.


For those with a passing interest in academic politics, or considering the 'alt-ac' career track, this old article from Alex Burns has some interesting observations on 'para academic' roles.

And for my fellow cyclists - a magpie alert map!

 

The latest from the Thesis Whisperer Blog

Thoughts on 'Deep Work'

Haiku your way to a PhD?

How to be an academic?

 

Doctor Inger Mewburn

Associate Professor
Inger Mewburn

Director of Research Training
Thesis Whisperer

 

 

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