Communicating about your research Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher: Getting Started Dr Gita Subrahmanyam Dr Kirsten Haack

Communication: the key to effective research Research can only make a difference if people know about it and understand it Research can only make a difference if people know about it and understand it Effective communication helps you to better understand what you’re doing Effective communication helps you to better understand what you’re doing You need to communicate: at seminars, conferences, job interviews, etc. You need to communicate: at seminars, conferences, job interviews, etc. Communication is a critical professional skill in any walk of life Communication is a critical professional skill in any walk of life

Overview of workshop Warm-up exercise: dinner party test Warm-up exercise: dinner party test Writing effective research profiles Writing effective research profiles Presenting your research effectively Presenting your research effectively Personal websites for PhD students Personal websites for PhD students

Warm up: the dinner party test Find a partner at your table that you don’t already know Find a partner at your table that you don’t already know Take 1 minute (each) to introduce yourself and your research topic/area to your partner Take 1 minute (each) to introduce yourself and your research topic/area to your partner Now introduce your partner and his/her research topic/area to the rest of the people at your table Now introduce your partner and his/her research topic/area to the rest of the people at your table Each person at your table should take a turn doing this Each person at your table should take a turn doing this

Feedback: the dinner party test Was what was said by your partner about your research an accurate description? Was what was said by your partner about your research an accurate description? If you needed to correct him/her on certain aspects, then perhaps you need to work on your informal communication skills! If you needed to correct him/her on certain aspects, then perhaps you need to work on your informal communication skills! What else did you learn from this exercise? What else did you learn from this exercise?

Short research profiles Useful for communicating your research in s (for networking), on your CV, or on the web Useful for communicating your research in s (for networking), on your CV, or on the web Effective research profiles are: Effective research profiles are:  Concise  To the point/specific  Impactful  Avoid jargon Writing an effective research summary or profile – handout Writing an effective research summary or profile – handout

Short research profiles: practical exercise Take 10 minutes to write a brief (1-2 paragraphs = 150 words max) profile of your planned PhD research Take 10 minutes to write a brief (1-2 paragraphs = 150 words max) profile of your planned PhD research Form a mini group with 2 other people at your table Form a mini group with 2 other people at your table In your mini group, read and feed back on each other’s profiles using the handout as a guide (approx 5 minutes on each profile) In your mini group, read and feed back on each other’s profiles using the handout as a guide (approx 5 minutes on each profile)

Effective oral communication Take 10 minutes to prepare a 2 minute presentation on your research plans. Take 10 minutes to prepare a 2 minute presentation on your research plans. Make good use of the work you’ve done so far in the session, and the feedback you’ve been given. Make good use of the work you’ve done so far in the session, and the feedback you’ve been given. Giant post-it notes and markers are available to create a visual aid (optional) Giant post-it notes and markers are available to create a visual aid (optional)

Tips for creating your presentation Introduce yourself, then present your big idea, big question or fascinating problem – something gripping which creates interest. Introduce yourself, then present your big idea, big question or fascinating problem – something gripping which creates interest. Don’t pack in too much information – in two minutes you can only really make one point. Don’t pack in too much information – in two minutes you can only really make one point. Remember the audience – what do they really need to know? Cut extraneous details. Remember the audience – what do they really need to know? Cut extraneous details. End high: emphasise your main point, your main ‘take-away’ message End high: emphasise your main point, your main ‘take-away’ message

Presentations and feedback Form a new group with everyone at your table. Form a new group with everyone at your table. Assign a timekeeper to ensure that each speaker keeps to the 2-minute limit (someone may need to timekeep the timekeeper!) Assign a timekeeper to ensure that each speaker keeps to the 2-minute limit (someone may need to timekeep the timekeeper!) Each group member should present his/her research, while other group members make notes using the feedback sheet. Each group member should present his/her research, while other group members make notes using the feedback sheet. After everyone has spoken, feed back to each member of the group. After everyone has spoken, feed back to each member of the group.

Personal websites for PhD students 1 Why have them? Why have them? Some departments offer students the opportunity to have a web presence on the departmental site: Some departments offer students the opportunity to have a web presence on the departmental site: Simple example Simple example Simple example Simple example More fancy example More fancy example More fancy example More fancy example Advantages: easy to set up, low maintenance, seen as part of department Advantages: easy to set up, low maintenance, seen as part of department Disadvantages: constrained information and layout, not much space, may not be easy to update Disadvantages: constrained information and layout, not much space, may not be easy to update

Personal websites for PhD students 2 Alternatively (or additionally) you can create your own personal website Alternatively (or additionally) you can create your own personal website The School offers this facility to all students and staff The School offers this facility to all students and staff Setting up your own website is a powerful communication method, but it takes careful thought, planning and ongoing maintenance Setting up your own website is a powerful communication method, but it takes careful thought, planning and ongoing maintenance

LSE resources for personal websites To register for a personal website go to webspace-registration.aspx To register for a personal website go to webspace-registration.aspx webspace-registration.aspx webspace-registration.aspx Note that School provides space for ‘academic and related purposes’ Note that School provides space for ‘academic and related purposes’ Guide to the technical aspects of creating a personal website at ersonalWebsite.htm Guide to the technical aspects of creating a personal website at ersonalWebsite.htm ersonalWebsite.htm ersonalWebsite.htm Level of interest? Organise interactive training workshop Level of interest? Organise interactive training workshop

Other resources for personal websites –social networking for academics –focus on research areas –university-based profile free web templates ( free web templates ( –greater flexibility for design and content –should be linked from/to other website(s) example:

Final thoughts You should put your research profiles up on your departmental page – for example You should put your research profiles up on your departmental page – for example Some departments allow you to include a link to your personal web page ist.htm Some departments allow you to include a link to your personal web page ist.htm ist.htm ist.htm Has this workshop fulfilled your aims and expectations? Please let us know – fill in an evaluation form Has this workshop fulfilled your aims and expectations? Please let us know – fill in an evaluation form