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ECR Newsletter - February 2025
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Researcher Led Initiatives (RLI) - Award Winners 2025
After a very competitive award process, we are very pleased to announce the 2025 Winning Initiatives and the Lead Award Holders, as follows:
The Business School PGR Network - Ibhade Akpede
Connecting Single Cell & Spatial Sequencing Researchers - Ann Babtie
Tails From Biodiversity Research - Francesca Boyd
Creativity and Communication – Changing Perspective - Laura Byrne
Future of AI and its impact in Mathematics - Madhuparna Das
Eco-humanities Symposium - Stephanie Hirtenstein
Being heard: Finding and using your voice confidently whilst quietening your inner critic – workshop for the Women in Climate Network - Bryony Hobden
Demystifying advanced research computing (ARC) and generating a research computing community on Penryn Campus - Tom Horton
A Picture Says a Thousand Words – How to Turn Research into Accessible Art - Stella Kozmér
Ready to win the grant? - Jaeyoung Lee
Cultivating craft, creativity and community with an inspiring visiting writer - Carrie Rhys-Davies
How to become a PI – A seminar series for ECRs - Lauren Struszczak
Beyond Farm to Fork: an interdisciplinary conference on food-related PhD research - Veronica White
Finding your footprint: Traditional research impact and beyond for Postgraduate and Early Career researchers across Exeter - Minlin Zou
Congratulations to all those whose applications were successful. These projects are now underway; keep an eye out for announcements and invitations from the project groups!
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Research Staff Development Programme
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Learning and Development Opportunities: University of Exeter and Beyond
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New Workshops for 2025 - Make your Mark series
Researcher Development & Research Culture continues with its peer to peer researcher development series of Make your Mark workshops in 2025. As a reminder, last year we had a great response to our call for ideas for new workshops to benefit the researcher community and we encourage you to book on to these new additions to the Researcher Development programme. Your research staff colleagues are kindly sharing their expertise and time to run these sessions. The individuals and their sessions are summarised below however you can also find further details in the sections that follow.
Dr Bethan Treadgold – An Introduction to Internet-mediated Research - 12/02/2025 (11 am - 12.30 pm)
Dr Cordelia Freeman - Creative Methods for Research - 24/02/2025 (2.30 pm - 4 pm)
Prof Neil Vaughan – Top Tips for Successful Literature Reviews - 27/03/2025 (10 am - 11.30 am).
Prof Neil Vaughan – Writing Journal Articles : The Need to Knows - 06/05/2025 (11 am - 12.30 pm).
Dr Helen Foster-Collins - An Introduction to Nvivo - 21/05/2025 (1 pm - 3 pm)
Dr Hannah Collis - Key Challenges and Sources of Support for Female Early Career Academics - 08/05/2025 (1.30 pm - 3 pm) - details and booking link soon available
With a few more in the pipeline so keep your eyes peeled for updates…..
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An Introduction to Internet-mediated Research
'Make your Mark' Series - Dr Bethan Treadgold.
Wednesday 12 February 2025 (11 am - 12.30 pm) Online
Internet-mediated research involves the remote acquisition of data from or about human participants using the Internet and its associated technologies (British Psychological Society, 2017). Such research can include a variety of methodologies and can take place in a range of settings, such as social media, email, web pages, chat rooms, and instant messaging. Conducting Internet-mediated research can present several ethical challenges. This course aims to provide an interactive introduction to Internet-mediated research, in terms of its evolution, methods, use in different disciplines, and ethical concerns.
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Entrepreneurial Researcher Programme 2025
Application Deadline : Friday 14 February 2025
The ERP is designed to support participants generate impact through commercialisation in all its forms including licensing, social enterprises and for-profit spinouts.
The online programme is delivered via four facilitator led sessions over a 7-8 week period for a small cohort of UoE peers.
The online sessions will introduce a series of key principles and tools for developing an idea into viable, sustainable proposition. You’ll dig into a real world problem you've identified, outline the solution that addresses this need and start to piece together the key components to take it forward: identify key users and customers, plan how you will engage and seek to better understand them, and build potential routes to fund your proposed solution.
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Software Engineering Workshops
Introduction to R (3 part):
25 February, 4 & 11 March 2025 (10 am - 1 pm) -In-person (Streatham).
Introduction to Version Control (2 part):
28 February & 7 March 2025 (10am - 1 pm) - Online.
Intermediate Version Control (2 part):
17 & 24 March 2025 (1 pm - 4 pm) - Online.
Introduction to Regression with R
28 March 2025 (10 am - 1 pm) - In-person (Streatham)
Working with Data in R (2 part):
1 & 8 April 2025 (10 am - 1 pm) - In-person (Streatham)
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'Research Conversations: How to become a PI’ - seminar series aimed at ECRs
These seminars will help you navigate the funding landscape and provide a valuable opportunity to learn how to progress your research career towards independence. Please do feel free to register for one/some/all the sessions using the Microsoft Form below. All events will be held online and face to face, with a brunch/lunch provided at face-to-face events.
1. Finding Funding Opportunities
When: Thursday 27 February 2025 (10.30 am - 12 noon)
2. Preparing an Application
When: Wednesday 26 March 2025 (12.30 pm - 2 pm)
3. Recycling an Application
When: Wednesday 23 April 2025 (12.30 pm - 2 pm)
4. How to be a Co-I or PI
When: Tuesday 20 May 2025 (12.30 pm - 2 pm)
This activity is a Researcher-led Initiative that has been funded by the University of Exeter Researcher Development and Research Culture team.
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Human Tissue Act Training
Human Tissue Act (HTA) training is mandatory for anyone using or storing human tissue samples at the University of Exeter. The next session is on Monday 3 March 2025, 10 am – 11 am (online).
Anyone collecting informed consent as part of their research needs to attend the Informed Consent training, Monday 3 March 2025, 11.15 am – 12.15 pm.
Both sessions are online and open to everyone (ECRs and PGRs). We also welcome anyone to join for a refresher if they haven’t attended the training for over two years. There is no registration deadline or booking limit.
Please email HTA-return@exeter.ac.uk for further enquiries or to book a place.
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Tell The Story of Your Research
Deadline to Apply - Friday 21 February 2025
Tails from Biodiversity Research is an opportunity to connect, collaborate and communicate your biodiversity research through a new creative project. At the heart of this initiative is storytelling — sharing our passion for research and creating connections across disciplines. Together, we will:-
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Explore storytelling and nature through a half-day workshop in Cornwall (14 March 2025).
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Create illustrations of your work through an online session with an artist to turn your research into vibrant, shareable stories (28 March 2025).
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Have your research in an illustrated biodiversity research book, showcasing work from across the University.
Places are limited and will be selected based on the originality of your research and to ensure interdisciplinarity across the project.
This activity is a Researcher-led Initiative that has been funded by the University of Exeter Researcher Development and Research Culture team.
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Creative Methods for Research
'Make your Mark' Series - Dr Cordelia Freeman
Monday 24 February 2024 (2.30 pm - 4 pm)
Streatham Campus, Creative Quadrant.
This in-person workshop will introduce participants to theories, examples, and the practical experience of using creative methods as part of their research practice. Notably, it will focus on creative methods as supporting the understanding of research, data, and analysis itself, rather than simply as a non-academic format to disseminate research findings. The workshop will be a mix of presenter-led discussion but with an opportunity for hands on experience to have a go at thinking about your own research through a variety of creative methods on offer.
The workshop will be run by Cordelia Freeman, a senior lecturer in human geography who researches abortion and reproductive justice in Latin America. Cordelia has worked on a number of co-produced creative projects as part of her research practice including graphic novels, a children’s book and a documentary.
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ECR Representative Committee
Tuesday 25 February 2025 (2 pm - 3.30 pm) - Online
ECRs are welcome to join the next online Representative Committee meeting which is an opportunity for ECRs to have their voices heard and to raise issues that can be brought to higher University committee for deliberation. This meeting is also an opportunity to hear about what the University is doing for ECRs. If you wish to attend email researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk for the joining link.
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Free Webinar Series
The call for transformational, courageous anti-racist leadership in higher education – The Race Institute and UUK
This series is designed to inspire, empower, and equip university staff at all levels to champion anti-racist transformation. Join us online to explore how courageous leadership can dismantle systemic racism and reshape institutions, fostering a culture of equity, inclusion, and justice.
Early career professionals: Agents of change in anti-racist leadership
Wednesday 26 February 2025 (2 pm – 3 pm) Online
Highlighting the vital contributions of early career professionals, this session examines how emerging leaders drive grassroots anti-racist initiatives. Read more and Register.
Today’s students, tomorrow’s Vice-Chancellors: Anti-racist leaders in the making
Wednesday 26 March 2025 (2 pm – 3 pm) Online
Discover how student leaders are shaping anti-racist change, holding institutions accountable, and fostering inclusive campus cultures. Read more and Register.
Reciprocal mentoring as a bridge for anti-racist leadership
Wednesday 30 April 2025 (2 pm - 3 pm) Online
Learn how reciprocal mentoring between early career professionals and senior leaders builds empathy, understanding, and transformational leadership. Read more and Register.
If you have any questions about these events, please do not hesitate to get in touch events@universitiesuk.ac.uk. Sign up to their Newsletter.
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SCI Masterclass Event - Interdisciplinary approaches to narrative empathy
Thursday 20 March 2025 (11 am - 1 pm)
Streatham Campus, Wellcome Centre boardroom, Queen's Building
The Societies & Cultures Institute invites Early Career Researchers and PGRs to join Suzanne Keen, award-winning literature professor, as she leads this masterclass exploring a range of topics including emotional congruence, sympathy and mimicry in literature.
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Top Tips for Successful Literature Views
'Make your Mark' Series - Prof Neil Vaughan.
Thursday 27 March 2025 (10 am - 11.30 pm) Online
This training will focus on essential skills to conduct effective and impactful literature reviews. These key skills can be applied in various disciplines within academic and professional research.
The course includes various types of literature reviews, such as systematic and narrative, covering the unique purposes and applications and aims to enable participants to efficiently identify and source relevant literature using search strategies and academic databases. This includes critically evaluating sources for credibility, relevance, and quality and also synthesizing and organizing information is included to identify key themes, trends, and gaps in the literature.
The course provides practical guidance on citation and referencing with accuracy and integrity and aims to provide a robust framework and practical skills to produce high-quality literature reviews that advance research goals.
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New GW4 peer support programme for neurodivergent Early Career Researchers - applications open!
Application Deadline - Wednesday 2 April 2025 (12 noon)
Are you a neurodivergent early career researcher or suspect you may be?
We're now accepting applications to join a new round of GW4 Connect; a cross-institutional peer support programme designed to recognise the unique experiences of neurodivergent ECRs.
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The 10-month scheme has been co-designed and will be facilitated by Joanna Hurry, a specialist in neurodiversity and employment, and created to allow ECRs to share experiences and build informal networks of support that will continue beyond the programme.
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Participants will have the opportunity to engage with peers and have open conversations about neurodiversity, research culture and academia, outside of institutional structures.
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The programme will start in June 2025, with availability for up to 16 participants, and is designed for different learning and interaction styles.
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Writing Journal Articles : The Need to Knows
'Make your Mark' Series - Prof Neil Vaughan.
Tuesday 6 May 2025 (11 am - 12.30 pm) Online
This course will cover the essential skills to write and publish academic journal articles. This will include a thorough breakdown of the key sections of a journal article - abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion - and their specific functions.
The course will cover adhering to journal submission guidelines and formatting references in styles such as APA, MLA, or Chicago and will include techniques for presenting and interpreting data effectively using tables and figures to enhance the clarity of their findings.
Additionally, the course provides practical insights into navigating the peer review process, including strategies for responding constructively to reviewer feedback. To enhance productivity, participants will explore approaches like time management and dedicated writing sessions.
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'Make your Mark' Series - Dr Helen Foster-Collins.
Wednesday 21 May 2025 (1 pm - 3 pm)
Streatham Campus, Old Library, Training Room 4
NVivo is a software program used for qualitative and mixed-methods research, to support the organisation and analysis of unstructured text, audio, video, and image data (eg, commonly used for projects which involve analysing interviews, focus groups, in-depth qualitative surveys etc).
This hands-on in-person workshop will introduce you to this software, and how to use it for coding during qualitative analysis, for methods such as thematic analysis, content analysis, grounded theory, and so on.
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'Focus Space' - Improve Your Productivity!
We would like to give you a warm welcome to our regular 'Focus Space' online sessions which run from 10 am - 12.30 pm Mondays and Thursdays - Click here for dates and details of how to join this group. Participants do not have stay for the whole session - you can dip in and out as you please! To make things easy, these sessions, open to staff researchers, from Early Career Researchers onwards, can be accessed via the same Teams link.
We are looking to expand our team of facilitators so if you would like to find out more about becoming a facilitator please contact ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk. Facilitating is considered part of 'teaching practice' for Fellowship levels of the Higher Education Academy!
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Research Dissemination Guidance
The Research Dissemination team is developing guidance to support research dissemination, outlining opportunities to engage with your target audiences throughout the entire research process and achieve the desired outcomes and impact of your research.
To ensure the guidance is as relevant as possible, they have created a short questionnaire for all research staff. The survey seeks to understand which platforms you use or are aware of for networking, staying updated on current research, and sharing your own work. Your responses will help tailor the guidance to meet the needs of research staff at all career stages and across all university departments.
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Researchers at the University of Warwick are conducting a survey to explore the challenges that impede the progression and retention of early to mid-career stage women in academia. The survey takes just 20 minutes to complete. For more information, visit Women in Academia Project.
Eligibility:-
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Aged 18+.
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Identify as a woman in academia (up to 10 years post-PhD, discounting any employment gaps due to parental leave, sickness, and/or career breaks).
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On an academic teaching/research contract.
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Based at a UK higher education institution.
Click on button below to take part in the Survey (Password 4321).
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Research Grants, Funding & Competitions
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GW4 Open Research Prize – deadline soon!
Deadline for submissions - 14 February 2025
The deadline is fast approaching for this year’s GW4 Open Research Prize, which recognises outstanding entries that showcase exemplary open research practices in one of three award categories:
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Widening Reach
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Improving Quality
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Poster Prize
The Prize is open to submissions from all researchers (including postgraduate research students), in all disciplines, across the GW4 universities (Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter). Applications from technical and professional services staff, who conduct or support open research, are also welcomed and encouraged.
Winning entries will be awarded a £250 voucher and invited to attend an in-person awards ceremony, to be held at the University of Bath on 2 April, as part of this year's GW4 Open Research Week.
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your contribution to advancing open research!
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AI Credits Funding 2025 Opportunity with IDSAI
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and successful applicants will be notified promptly.
This scheme is designed to support researchers across the University in leveraging cutting-edge AI tools and platforms for their projects.
IDSAI (Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence) invite colleagues to apply for funding of up to £250 per application to access AI credits for selected providers, including OpenAI and Google platforms. We anticipate making up to 20 awards through this initiative.
How to apply:
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Submit an application Form with the required information (see button below).
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Provide details: Explain how the credits will be used, how your project aligns with IDSAI’s strategic pillars, and how you will ensure that IDSAI will benefit from projects.
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Share outputs: Successful applicants will be required to acknowledge IDSAI’s support and share project outputs for promotion via our social media and newsletter channels.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact our IDSAI mailbox: idsai@exeter.ac.uk
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Dr Andrew Cunliffe has created this Funding Finder platform which signposts hundreds of funding opportunities that will be of interest to current community members looking to undertake research, fieldwork, conference visits or exchanges with our partner organisations worldwide. It has easily searchable listings and awards ranging from £100 to £10,000,000.
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The University is a subscriber to PIVOT-RP, a comprehensive searchable online database of research funders and schemes, accessible to all colleagues and postgraduate researchers. To get started look at the Training and Guidance. Users can search for external and internal calls; create tailored searches, set up funding alerts, track opportunities, share, and collaborate with colleagues, and search for conference / paper calls
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SCI Research Funding Opportunities Still Open For Applications!
Deadline for both: Monday 24 February 2025
The Societies & Cultures Institute is offering two funding opportunities to support the early stage development of new, innovative, interdisciplinary projects aimed at securing external funding:
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SCI Research Fellowship
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SCI Research Associateship
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Apply now to be part of the 2025 FX Creative Exchange
Deadline for Applications - Monday 24 March 2025 (12 noon)
This is an exciting opportunity for emerging researchers in Cornwall to apply for £4,000 of funding to be part of the 2025 FX Creative Exchange, an exciting transdisciplinary programme supporting collaborations between researchers across Falmouth and Exeter Universities. Taking place between April – July 2025, it aims to support the development of a shared research culture around the themes of ecology, creativity, sustainability, and environment. Proposals should be submitted jointly by one Exeter and one Falmouth based researcher and both should be based at one of the Cornwall campuses and working on an area related to ecology, creativity, sustainability, and environment. The focus is on the process of your collaboration rather than a defined output or outcome. Join the team for a launch event in Falmouth on Wednesday 26 February 2025.
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LUCIA-Local Government Association (LGA) ECR fellowship programme
Deadline for Applications: 10 Apil 2025 (4 pm)
This fellowship funding opportunity, in partnership with the Local Government Association (LGA), will enable an early career researcher (ECR) to build strong collaborative partnerships across the cultural policy ecosystem and to enhance research and career experience in the equitable partnerships space, through the wider Locally Unlocking Culture through Inclusive Access (LUCIA) programme.
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P2R: Increasing UK Policymaker Engagement with Research
Deadline : Tuesday 6 May 2025 (4 pm)
Webinar : Wednesday 12 February 2025 (2 pm)
Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) is inviting applications for funding to develop and expand UK-wide policy to research (P2R) infrastructure, facilitating direct connections between public and civil servants and research organisations. This infrastructure will enable policymakers to build skills and understanding of research, evidence and data in policy development by engaging in relevant activities in an academic setting.
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Making research assessment fairer – find out how you can communicate your research achievements in a compelling way without relying on metrics
Tuesday 18 March 2025 (1.30 pm - 3 pm) - Online
Universities, research teams, and individual researchers all want their research achievements and capabilities to be recognised fairly. Increasingly ‘metrics’ - quantitative indicators, like journal impact factors or university rankings – have become the go-to proxies for assessing research quality and scientific contributions. But metrics can also misrepresent and disadvantage researchers, distorting the work they choose to do, or where they choose to publish it, and holding back careers or whole disciplines.
Led by Professor Rob Anderson, Chair of our Responsible Metrics Champions group, this workshop will explore what responsible metrics are and how you can communicate your research achievements in a compelling way, whilst also avoiding some of the common traps associated with less responsible research assessment.
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Research & Researcher Networks
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SWSW Connect: online connection and inspiration each month
Tuesday 11 February (12 noon – 1 pm) - Online, Zoom
The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network - South West & South Wales cluster invites ECRs across humanities and social sciences disciplines (regardless of funding source) to an online gathering on the second Tuesday of each month where we get to know each other and exchange knowledge, support and inspiration. Each month, the first half of the meeting has a theme, often including a presentation and discussion. Then there is ample time for networking, fostering new connections and collaborations across the region. Our intention is the topics and format of the events are ECR-driven.
Feel free to bring your lunch or coffee. This is an informal space to connect. Register using the button below.
For more information about these events, please email Linda Lanyon.
See the BA website for information on eligibility to join the BA ECR Network.
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When: Tuesday 11 February (12.30 pm – 1.30 pm)
Where: Peter Lanyon staff room
Join us for a special edition Fika brought to you by the 🌱 Cornwall Wellbeing Network and 🎈 Parents and Carers Network (PACN)!
Deliberately scheduled for a school-run-friendly time, this informal coffee & cake social is open to all staff and PGRs with parenting and caring responsibilities (and those without 😊). All refreshments are provided, just bring yourself and a mug!
Regular monthly Fika is still taking place as usual on Tuesday 18 February at 2.30 pm.
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Exeter Defence, Security and Resilience Network
The Exeter Defence, Security and Resilience Network (DSR) brings together over 200 University of Exeter academics from across all disciplines, University Institutes and Research Centres. The DSR network leverages its extensive range of partnerships with other UK and global Universities and organisations to bring even more power to our research, consultancy and education provision in the increasingly challenging and contested environment of defence and security.
Integral to the DSR's work is equipping ECRs to connect with the policy world; Policy@Exeter, the University’s public policy-oriented think tank, is part of the DSR and offers targeted advice, training, liaison and consultancy in several areas of public policy research and analysis being undertaken at the University. Contact us via DSR@exeter.ac.uk or PolicyEngagement@exeter.ac.uk
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New ECR community on Viva Engage
Have you noticed the new University community for ECRs on Viva Engage? Lots of ECRs have already been added and if you are not on there, you can join. This is a collaborative online space to share and discuss ideas, ask questions and keep up to date with the latest activities, events and opportunities.
Have your voice heard and shape our community and ECR culture.
Join the conversation now by sharing your first post!
This page is maintained and moderated by the Researcher Development and Research Culture team.
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Research & Researcher Blogs
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Organising an Event & Need Help?
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Health, Wellbeing & Support
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🎵 ANNOUNCEMENT: The Penryn Shanty Choir is Undergoing a Rebrand!
During a successful first term, our staff choir has evolved and now enjoys singing a range of both classical and contemporary songs, with only the occasional sea shanty 😉 Do consider dropping in for a mid-week singalong and enjoy the mood-boosting effects of group singing while having fun, all under the expert guidance of local artist and musician, Charlotte Cripwell.
Every Wednesday (1 - 2 pm), Stella Turk Seminar room, Penryn Campus.
🌱 We are fundraising to keep the choir going for another year – please spread the word! Donations can be made by clicking on the button below.
Brought to you by the Cornwall Wellbeing Network- enquiries to Natasha Hammond or Andrew Pye.
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Maths & Stats LGBTQ+ Event
Tuesday 18 February (10.30 am - 11.30 am)
Streatham Campus, Laver 320
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is hosting a coffee morning in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month. Everyone, whether staff or student, is welcome to join for a chat over some hot drinks and sweet treats, and to hear more about LGBTQ+ support systems and networks across the University! Let us know if you would like to come (or have any dietary requirements!) register using the button below.
You are invited to sign up to support the commitment to signal support for LGBTQ+ people in their lives and in the institution! For more information check the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.
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Find out how the University can support Early Career Researchers. The page includes support from the University, Spectrum.Life as well as a list of networks to support staff wellbeing.
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