2024 was the year this blog came to life. So, as summer arrives (in theory if not in meteorological practice!) we take a look back at our first year.
The idea of a gathering place for postgraduate research stories came from Professor Stacey Hynd, who was at the time the Director of Postgraduate Research for HASS (Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences) and is now the head of Exeter’s Doctoral College. With funding from Research England and help from colleagues, the blog launched in February 2024 with Ruth Moore (Creative Writing) and Jo Sutherst (Visual Cultures) as the inaugural co-editors.
We have been offered a brilliant range of stories from our peers in HASS. You have told us about your successes, your challenges, the aspects of academic life that provoke your curiosity. You have given us vivid glimpses of your research, highlighted barriers, and invited us into parts of the journey as yet unknown: writing up, participating in conferences, or even life ‘apres-doc’.
We are grateful to every person who has contributed to this blog this year. We believe that hearing honestly about each other’s experiences – good and tough – is one of the best ways to strengthen our research culture. There will be a few more posts in July and August 2024 – then watch this space to see if funding can be found to continue the story in 2024-5.
Meanwhile, here is a gallery of our wonderful contributors this year:
Anne Blanchflower discussed her migration research and maps out the stages of the research processSam Jones shared her work on a pivotal period in the RNLI’s history between 1849 and 1897Belinda Lee wrote about her academic presentation skills training and later returned to share her experiences at the Three-Minute Thesis competition Andrea Gibbons asked if Disabled Students’ Allowance has forgotten university students with ADHDJim Barge discussed his transatlantic work on moral philosophy and its implications for organisational leadershipSam Godfrey shared their practice-based research which uses creeping as an artistic strategy and theoretical frameworkKirsty Cann reflected on beginning her PhD in gender-based violence in secondary schoolRichard Ingram celebrated the 50th episode of his inclusive education podcastFiona Williams talked to us about launching her debut novel alongside PhD lifeJoe Holloway sent dispatches from the challenging world of being an ‘apres-doc’Jorik Mol highlighted training on being a neurodivergent researcher Kelvin Wong reported on his trip to The Yokohama Performing Arts Meeting 2023Jo Sutherst took us behind the scenes of organising the<Visions Unveiled conferenceKaty Humberstone took us behind the scenes of organising the Visions Unveiled conferenceDave Weller took us behind the scenes of organising the Visions Unveiled conferenceRuth Moore wrote about staying connected, being involved in publishing and research cultureAmy Shakespeare wrote about her work on enabling more museums to undertake repatriationsIona Ramsay took us into the closing stages of her writing up processEllen Grace Lesser shared her thoughts on conference attendance in the shadow of CovidHASS PGR Blog contributors 2024
