August 29, 2022, by Lisa Chin
Graduate School Bulletin, September 2022
Bulletin Issue 06/22 (42)
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
Winners announced: UNM 2022 3MT®
The average doctoral thesis would take 9 hours to present. They only had 3 minutes!
After two years of virtual competition impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, our Three Minute Thesis competition (3MT®) this year was held in-person on Tuesday 16 August 2022. 19 of our postgraduate researchers from a range of disciplines presented their research to a live audience. This competition gave an exciting glimpse of transformative research undertaken at the University which will go on to have a powerful impact on the world.
We would like to once again give commendation to the efforts of all participants and further congratulate the success of the winners.
Chen Hui Ling
Winner
Chen Hui Ling
School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences
Hui Ling won with a presentation of her PhD thesis Microplastics – The invisible hazard which aims at minimising the ecological and human health risks of microplastics – tiny plastic pieces that are abundantly present in the environment. She described her research in investigating the sources and levels of microplastics in our rivers as well as the harmful effects of microplastics. Hui Ling envisioned her research will offer significant solutions to minimising the impact of microplastics on the environment.
Hui Ling will now progress to the video round to compete against the other Nottingham campuses. The overall winner will then represent the entire University of Nottingham at the Universitas 21 (U21) Final, also via video, which will be judged by an international panel of industry and academic professionals.
Koh Ying Xian
1st Runner Up
Koh Ying Xian
School of Education
Ying Xian emerged as the 1st Runner Up with her presentation Creating and evaluating a cognate list between English and Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil to support teaching through the medium of English. Ying Xian described her research examining the use of cognates – words that share similar forms and meanings across languages, to support language learning. She envisioned her research will provide educators and researchers with an evidence-based resource that can inform a more effective pedagogical practice that taps into Malaysian learners’ first language.
Advina Lizah binti Julkifle
2nd Runner Up
Advina Lizah binti Julkifle
School of Biosciences
Advina emerged as the 2nd Runner Up with her presentation Creating value for the underutilised crops. Advina described her research delving into the nutritional profiles and functional properties of our local underutilised crops, and further exploring the potentials and opportunities of these crops as our food products. She envisioned her research will open a new frontier of creating diversified opportunities for underutilised crops in supporting food and nutritional security.
Call for participation: Postgraduate Showcase 2022
Present a poster and tell us your research impact!
Our Postgraduate Showcase is a great opportunity for postgraduate researchers like you to share with us the impact of your research, refine your presentation skills, and engage with a wider audience.
This year, the competition will take place in-person where you will present your poster to a live audience and judges. Present a poster that clearly describes your research to an intelligent audience with no prior knowledge in your research area, and stand a chance to win RM1,000 prize award!
Entries are invited from all postgraduate research students (MRes, MPhil and doctoral students). Training and support session are available to help you create and present your poster.
Submit your poster by Friday 30 September 2022
Call for abstracts: UNM Postgraduate & Early Career Researcher Conference
Our inaugural UNM Postgraduate and Early Career Researcher Conference is scheduled for 29 & 30 November 2022. The aim of this conference is to bring together research scholars from multiple disciplines in the arts and sciences to share their research work towards nurturing impactful research for the future. We invite contributions from postgraduate and early career research scholars based in Malaysia and the region.
Among the activities in this conference are keynote speeches, PhD colloquiums, postgraduate research and journal publication workshops. Best paper presenters will be given cash rewards and certificates while accepted extended abstracts will be published as conference proceeding with ISBN number.
Submit your extended abstract by Friday 30 September 2022
Events and activities
Guest Speaker Series
From acclaimed academics to renowned industrial experts and leaders, we bring them to you through lectures, seminars, talks and a variety of other forums. They provide invaluable real-world insights into critical topic areas that are of interest to our postgraduate and research communities.
Effective Communication for Scientists, Engineers and Corporate Executives
Tuesday 6 September 2022, 2pm – 4pm
Online via MS Teams
by Ts Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Global Coordinator of the BioTrust Global (BioTrust-ISAAA) and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC)
Science communication is about making our non-technical stakeholders understand our research and technology to facilitate commercialisation, resource mobilisation, investment, and expansion of scientific projects. Most of the principles, theories and approaches in science communication are applicable for business development and pitching our ideas to our leaders and team as well. This is important to develop charisma that will help us to influence decision making process in any business and career.
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 Role of the Internal Examiner
Friday 30 September 2022, 10am – 12nn
Online via MS Teams
by Professor Chung-Lim Law, Dean of Faculty of Science and Engineering (FOSE)
All research degrees at UNM are assessed by an internal examiner and an external examiner in the form of a research thesis. For PhD candidates, viva voce examination is necessary too. For the internal examiner, it is important to understand the responsibilities of such role. This session aims to share information related to postgraduate research student (PGR) assessment. Procedures for annual progress review and viva assessment will be discussed. Case studies involving uncommon scenarios will be highlighted and discussed as well.
Training and development
Find out more about our training and development provision for postgraduate students.
Researcher Development Programme (RDP)
New module coming soon in October: Research Methodology
As part of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) requirements for higher education institutes to have a structured and centralised Research Methodology course for all postgraduate research (PGR) students – PhD, MRes and MPhil, we will conduct a Research Methodology module composing of several workshops for all our PGR students at UNM.
This module is designed to meet the generic requirements of research with the aim to support postgraduate students in developing your research project and assist you in defining your mode of inquiry. The module will give you a general introduction to postgraduate research along with its methodologies, challenges and organisation. You will be introduced to a range of research topics, be equipped to plan and organise your research as well as to communicate your findings.
This is a compulsory module for all PGR students who registered from 2021 onwards. Others are encouraged to attend.
Using poster to communicate research
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Tuesday 6 September 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13 & MS Teams
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This course will introduce and support the creation and design of a poster that communicates research work in an innovative and informative manner.
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Postgraduate Showcase participants are strongly encouraged to attend this course.
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Sign up
Postgraduate Student Teachers (PST) Programme
Preparing to teach in higher education
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Monday 26 September 2022, 10am – 12.30pm, H1B13 & MS Teams
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This course will introduce the practices, roles and responsibilities involved in teaching at a higher education level.
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Sign up
Demonstrating in laboratory practicals
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Tuesday 27 September 2022, 10am – 12.30pm, H1B13 & MS Teams
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This course will consider the purpose and practice of practical classes, and subsequently develop skills in managing such classes.
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Sign up
Lecturing for learning
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Wednesday 28 September 2022, 10am – 12.30pm, H1B13 & MS Teams
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This course will take on a very practical look at the task of giving a lecture to undergraduates; explore the aspects of preparation and delivery; and build both confidence and abilities of those who are relatively new to the role of lecturing.
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Sign up
Health and safety
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Thursday 29 September 2022, 2pm – 4.30pm, H1B13 & MS Teams
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This course will identify hazardous factors and inform preventive measures to ensure that the risks are adequately controlled at all times.
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Sign up
Postgraduate Showcase support
Poster feedback session
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Thursday 8 September 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13 & MS Teams
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This session will provide Postgraduate Showcase participants with advice and guidance on how to better enhance your research poster for the competition. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend this session for a constructive consultation where our trainer will take a look at your poster as a trial run and give constructive feedback.
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Use this code zk4mtm9 to join via MS Teams
Community
On other blogs
How to create beautiful and effective academic posters in PowerPoint
In this post by BrightCarbon, a presentation design agency, you get to find out a whole host of PowerPoint poster creation tips from shaping your content into a clear and concise message to building effective and beautiful research poster.
“… Your academic poster should be keeping pace with the rate science is moving, not trailing behind!”
The ultimate guide to presentation skills
In another post by BrightCarbon, you get to explore some helpful tips on how to improve your presentation skills to ensure a great delivery. There is even advice on how to deliver presentations if you are naturally shy or introverted.
“… Preparedness is your number one ally.”
Award-winning scientific posters: Steps to success
In this post by Mind the GRAPH, Fabricio Pamplona, an entrepreneur and PhD scientist specialist in scientific communication, shows how to make an award-winning poster and highlight the key elements that make an outstanding research poster.
“… A poster should be a catalyst for discussion.”
Empowering your postgraduate and research ambition
#unmgraduateschool
Happy 65th National Day to all our fellow Malaysians!
Selamat menyambut Hari Kebangsaan
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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