June 29, 2022, by Lisa Chin
Graduate School Newsletter, July 2022
Nucleus Issue 03/22 (47)
The needs of the postgraduate and early career researcher community are at the heart of what we do at the Graduate School.
Read on for all the latest news from us.
News and guidance
Call for participation: UNM 2022 3MT®
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) challenges research students to communicate the significance of your research work to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.
This year, the competition will take place face-to-face where you will present your research live to a panel of judges. The competition is open to all our PhD students who have passed your first-year confirmation review.
Attend the pre-participation briefing on Wednesday 6 July 2022 and confirm your participation by Friday 22 July 2022.
Postgraduate Hub reopens
Our Postgraduate Hub is now reopen to all our PhD students after a thorough reconditioning of the space and its facilities. The opening hours are from 9am – 6pm, Monday – Friday. Entry is through the main door (H1B12) using your student card.
The Learning Hub (H1B12a) consists of 12 individual study spaces and some sofas which makes it an ideal spot for quiet study, while the Social Space (H1B14) has plenty of comfy sofas with coffee tables which makes it a relaxing spot to take a breather from your studies or hang out with your peers. It is also equipped with 3 group study spaces for small group meeting.
We seek your cooperation in keeping these spaces clean and conducive by practising proper conduct and appropriate use so that we can continue to offer you this exclusive provision.
Events and activities
Postgraduate Induction
Friday 15 July 2022, 2.30pm – 5.30pm, H1B13
Blended mode (online & face-to-face)
Our postgraduate induction features welcome talk by our Associate Dean of Graduate School and introductory presentations by our staff members on a range of support services and development opportunities for postgraduate students. This session will provide you with the essential information to help you make a successful start to your research degree. You can join us online if you are unable to attend it physically.
Research Supervisor Series
The University is committed to developing and maintaining the highest standards in doctoral supervision. This series of seminars and talks is aimed at University staff involved in research supervision of masters and doctoral students. They cover topics that are essential for Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) requirements* and also have been highlighted by supervisors as areas where they would like more advice and practice-sharing opportunities.
*All postgraduate research (PGR) supervisors (main and co) are expected to attend at least two supervisory training offered by the Graduate School.
The art of supervision
Friday 29 July 2022, 10am – 12nn
Blended mode (online & face-to-face)
by Dr Jessica Price, Associate Professor at the School of Psychology and Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning at the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FOSE)
‘Supervision requires you to be a combination of guide, mentor, information-source, coach and inspiration. In return, you will see your doctoral candidates grow into competent researchers and develop as individuals.‘ – Vitae
This session aims to encourage PGR supervisors to extend their repertoire of supervisory strategies and reflect on various approaches to research supervision.
Training and development
3MT® support and resources
The 3MT® competition is your chance to develop and share your very own three-minute pitch explaining how your research could change the world. At the Graduate School, we offer support to all our 3MT® participants from guidance on how to structure your script through to presentation skills training.
Briefing session
Wednesday 6 July 2022, 10am – 11am, H1B13
Participants taking part must attend this pre-participation briefing. This briefing will also be accessible online for those who are unable to attend it physically. Use this code: 5o24q21 to join in MS Teams.
Feedback sessions
Wednesday 13 July 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13
Tuesday 19 July 2022, 2pm – 4pm, H1B13
Wednesday 27 July 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13
Wednesday 3 August 2022, 2pm – 4pm, H1B13
Thursday 11 August 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13
You are strongly encouraged to attend as many feedback sessions to better prepare yourself for the competition. The purpose of these sessions is to provide advice and guidance on how to better structure and communicate your research work/communication to a non-expert audience.
Presentations from past winners
Check out the winning presentations from past winners and be inspired to get started! We hope these videos aid to your preparation for participation in the competition this year.
Watch 3MT® presentations from our past winners
Watch 3MT® presentations from around the world
Community
Exploring more on communication and presentation skills
Having a short, well-rehearsed research pitch is a valuable tool for all researchers. Not just for the 3MT® competition, these posts can help you craft a short research pitch that you can use in a wide variety of situations.
Presenting your research effectively and with confidence
However much experience you have of public speaking, we can all continue to improve by learning from others. In this post, learn some of the best presentation advice from previous winners of the Vitae 3MT® competition.
“I ensured that my three minute presentation was composed of a story that captivated the listener by taking them on a journey through my research, first introducing them to the background of the disease, raising the research question in the middle, and then using an analogy in different parts of the presentation to deliver the research idea. I also utilised the slide by adding details to it that I wouldn’t have time to discuss and to give a visual representation of my analogy.”
How to sell your thesis in 3 minutes (or less)
In this post by The Thesis Whisperer, learn how to craft a good, short research sales pitch.
“A well chosen story can warm up the driest topic. One student studying quantum mechanics and cryptography at RMIT did a pitch which started with a story about what happens when someone steals your credit card. Instantly the audience hung on every word!”
Let’s face it, charisma matters
John Antonakis is a professor of organisational behaviour at the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne. His TED Talk shows what charisma is, how it can be measured, and why it matters.
Other support
Writing consultation
Slots are still available for you to make an appointment to meet with the writing consultant during summer to work on your writing tasks!
The Centre of English Language and Foundation Education (CELFE) is resuming its offering of one-to-one writing consultation service specifically for postgraduate students.
These sessions, schedule by appointments only, provide personalised task-specific writing support for postgraduate students with the goal of helping you become a better writer. They do not provide proofreading or editing service for students’ theses and dissertations.
For any queries, please email in-sessional.english@nottingham.edu.my.
Find out more and make an appointment
PhD Comics
How your conference presentation goes
Empowering your postgraduate and research ambition
#unmgraduateschool
Look out for our next issue of newsletter next month!
Don’t forget you can get in touch with us via Facebook or by email at graduateschool@nottingham.edu.my.
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