Postgraduate and post-doc workshops

On the first day of the Congress, before the sessions begin, several workshops for postgraduates and post-docs will take place. As well as communication within the discipline in the context of the IGC 2012, these events will also provide an opportunity for young scientists to further develop their own abilities. Two of the workshops last the whole day, the others last two and a half hours. In the case of the latter, it will be possible to combine two workshops. All of the workshops will be offered in English. The number of participants is limited and separate registration is necessary in addition to regular registration for the congress.
The following workshops will be offered:

  • Managing a PhD thesis (whole day)
  • Project management (whole day)
  • Publishing in English: Why, where, and how
  • Academic writing for young researchers
  • Funding opportunities in Germany
  • Funding opportunities in the EU
  • Strategic decisions: the path to professorship /a university career
  • Careers in science

 

Managing a PhD thesis

Course instructor: Sven Schindelwick (Erfahrungssache )
Number of places: 12
Date: 26.08.2012
Time: 8.30 – 14.30
Target group: Postgraduates/Doctoral candidates

The dissertation/thesis as a project in the career of a young scientist.
Aims:
The workshop “Managing a PhD thesis”, analyses the components of the system "PhD-graduation" (research project, peers, superviser, social life, etc) and developes strategies for postgraduate students to deal with individual challenges:

  • Defining aims, strategies for reaching targets and solving problems
  • The personal work-life balance in the scientific system
  • Judging success through self-monitoring.

Method:
Interactive workshop concept with:

  • Experience-oriented learning projects as an impetus for individual learning experiences and the development of strategies
  • Self-coaching techniques.

 

Project management

Course instructor: Jochen Sell (Erfahrungssache)
Number of places: 12
Date: 26.08.2012
Time: 8.30 – 14.30
Target group: Postgraduates and post-docs

As well as scientific issues concerning content, dealing with joint research projects and/or externally funded projects presents challenges to young scientists, especially in
the area of managing relations with project partners and/or sponsors.
Aims:
The workshop “Scientific project management” addresses:

  • Defining and achieving aims, strategies for resolving difficulties
  • Balance in the system of scientist, theme, project partner and sponsor
  • Achieving aims and judging success through self-monitoring.

Method:
Interactive workshop concept with:

  • Experience-oriented learning projects as an impetus for individual learning experiences and solutions
  • Communication and self-coaching techniques.

 

“Publishing in English: Why, where, and how”

Course instructor: Dr. Fabienne Quennet (Language centre, Phillips University Marburg)
Number of places: 12
Date: 26.08.2012
Time: 9.00 – 11.30
Target group: Postgraduates and post-docs

Aims:
English is not only the language of globalization but also of European higher education and academic discourse, one example being the fact that “the majority of scientific research publications in the EU and beyond are published in English” (Wise 2006:209). Thus in order to participate in the international exchange of ideas and communication within and across disciplines, the ability to write and publish academic work in English is an essential professional qualification. In this workshop we will look at the different aspects involved in publishing research papers in English: The pros and cons of English as a lingua franca in academia, professional motivation and needs, the various steps in publishing, the different journals and their style sheets, and rhetorical and language barriers. Discussion and practical sessions will alternate.
 

“Academic writing for young researchers”: “The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think." Edwin Schlossberg

Course instructor: Dr. Fabienne Quennet (Language centre, Phillips University Marburg)
Number of places: 12
Date: 26.08.2012
Time: 12.00 – 14.30
Target group: Postgraduates and post-docs

Aims:
This workshop is designed for young researchers who wish to acquire and improve their writing skills in the English language in the context of the discipline of geography. The contents of this workshop range from general aspects of writing in English, differences in format and formalities, writing as a process, structure and organization of a well-written essay, abstracts and journal publication, to special writing tasks and problems such as summarizing results and describing charts, paragraphing, framing and signposting. Special attention will also be paid to more language-specific topics such as sentence length, register, style and voice, academic vocabulary, using a thesaurus and online dictionary, common grammatical mistakes and formatting errors, and punctuation. Be prepared to write in class and to peer-review.
 

Funding opportunities in Germany:

Moderator: Dorothee Eder
Speaker:

  • Dr. Marion Schulte zu Berge (German Research Foundation - DFG)
  • Dr. Anne Kremer (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)
  • David Huthmacher (Konrad Adenauer Foundation)

Number of places: 20
Date: 26.08.2012
Time: 9.00 – 11.30
Target group: Postgraduates and post-docs

Aims:
In this workshop several funding organizations will present the programmes in which they sponsor dissertations and research projects in Germany. After presentations by representatives of representatives from the funding organisations, the participants will have an opportunity to make direct contact with the representatives of the funding organizations.

The European Union’s Funding Schemes for  Research and Innovation:

Moderator: Dorothee Eder
Presenter:

  • Dieter Dollase (EU Liaison Office of the German Research Organizations)
  • Uwe David (KoWi)

Number of places: 20
Date: 26.08.2012
Time: 12.00 – 14.30
Target group: Postgraduates and post-docs

Aims:
The EU offers a broad range of different research funding programmes. After a short introduction and overview on the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation (20 min.; 15 min Presentation + 5 min discussion) the structure, content and participation possibilities for European collaborative projects for Geographical Researchers will follow (40 min; 35 pres. + 5 min. disc.). Special attention will then be given to the “Marie Curie-Programme”, the EU Funding Scheme for the Mobility and the Career Building of Researchers (50 min. pres. + 10 min. disc.) followed by a presentation of the Starting Grant Scheme for Young Scientists of the European Research Council (ERC) (20 min. pres. + 10 min. disc.) .  The speakers will present the 7th European Framework Programme for Research (2007-2013) and the next Research and Innovation Programme “HORIZON 2020 (2014- 2020)"
 

Strategic decisions: the path to a university career

Moderator: Harald Sterly   
Presenter:

  • Prof. Dr. Elmar Kulke (Humbold University Berlin)
  • Prof. Dr. Henry Yeung (National University of Singapore)

Number of places: 20
Date: 26.08.2012
Time: 09.00 – 11.30
Target group: Postgraduates and post-docs

Aims:
Academic careers after completing a doctoral thesis depend on many different factors. In this workshop the participants will discuss scientific career paths with the invited speakers.
 

Careers in science

Moderator: Harald Sterly
Presenter:
Members of the Scientific Committee of the IGC 2012:

  • Michael Meadows (UK/South Africa)
  • Surinder Aggarwal (US/India)
  • Jean Radvanyi (France/Russia)

Number of places: 20
Date: 26.08.2012
Time: 12.00 – 14.30
Target group: Postgraduates and post-docs

Aims:
In this workshop international scientists with career paths in two countries will talk about their careers and factors that favourably influenced them. Career paths from different academic systems will be presented in order to give the participants a perspective beyond their own national system. There will be opportunities for discussion with the invited speakers and for answering questions in personal exchanges.