Category: Community (Page 3 of 5)

PGR Student Wellbeing Communities Fund

17/09/2020 / Matthew Coleman

Do you have an idea for an initiative that promotes PGR student wellbeing and mental health, diversity and inclusion, or community and cohort building? Would you like up to £700 to get your project off the ground?

The PGR Student Wellbeing Communities Fund supports initiatives which allow you and your peers to address the mental, physical and social wellbeing challenges which these demands can present.

Applications are now open so apply today, and read on to find out how three recipients of the PGR Student Wellbeing Events Fund (as it was previously known) created fun, interactive and inspiring activities last year.

The Wohlbeing Festival

The Wohlbeing Festival

With support from the PGR Student Wellbeing Events Fund, Women of the Wohl hosted a collaborative event, The Wohlbeing Festival, to celebrate the end of KCLSU Wellbeing Week in October 2019.

This relaxed evening event provided nearly 40 researchers with an opportunity to unwind, socialise and take part in craft and stress-busting activities, including a performance by improv comedy group ‘Just Friends’.

It was also a great opportunity for both attendees and for Women of the Wohl to create, build and strengthen connections with other groups and departments at King’s, including KCL Women in Medicine, KCL Womxn in STEM, and the Centre for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine.

The Wohlbeing Festival The organisers took the time to join in and chat to attendees, several of whom commented that they had come to the event alone but that the friendly, welcoming atmosphere meant that they were able to just pull up a chair and start chatting comfortably with people they’d never met while doing the activities.

Overall the evening was a great success, and we received encouraging and positive feedback and comments from collaborators and attendees, who thanked the organising team personally for creating such a relaxing space.

Research in Action Group ‘Crafternoon’

PhD students in the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care organised a ‘Crafternoon’ in October 2019 which was sponsored by the PGR Student Wellbeing Events Fund.

The event created a space for students to do something creative and have a break from their desks, and provided an opportunity to discuss research issues in a neutral space; the faculty has a lot of part‐time students, so this was a chance for everyone to get together.

Research in Action Group Crafternoon 2 We supplied craft materials and participants were encouraged to bring their own creative projects: we had knitters, headpieces, and some creative paper crafts. Some people came just to enjoy the atmosphere. It was a fun chance to get together and for people to ask about issues with coding, writing, or simply navigating the faculty. We had a great time and hope to host more events like this in the future!

Wolfson CARD Yoga

Yoga is well known for its ability to ease stress and promote relaxation: it provides the benefits of physical exercise and improves mental health through moving meditation. In November 2019 our group was awarded funding from the PGR Student Wellbeing Events Fund to support yoga classes in the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, with the aim of improving PGR student wellbeing.

We held seven classes for up to 10 participants every two weeks; the department then agreed to continue to support the classes through match funding, which allowed us to continue running them for a number of months. We received lots of positive feedback, including the following:

“Having access to yoga classes has been tremendously helpful while I have been completing my PhD. I am able to take the stress and anxieties I am feeling and release them in a constructive way, leaving me feeling refreshed and clear headed for the rest of the day. Having the classes in the building makes it more accessible and easier for me to attend if I have experiments running during the day.”

“Practicing yoga helped me with my shoulder and back issues linked to the many hours I spent at the microscope and sat at the desk. Moreover, after every class I feel much more relaxed and this indeed helps with the general stress level I usually have.”

“Being able to practise yoga in the same institute where I work is a great advantage and my physical and mental well-beings benefit from it.”

“Attending these yoga classes has really helped me deal with the stress of my PhD. By the end of the class I feel much more relaxed, and ready to come back to work refreshed the next day.”

“These yoga sessions strengthen the sense of community in the department by giving an opportunity to socialise with other colleagues and build a happier healthier work life balance.”

How to apply for the PGR Student Wellbeing Communities Fund

To apply for up to £700 to support your own wellbeing activities for PGR students, complete this application form by 12:00 (midday) on Thursday 29 October 2020. All current doctoral research students, from all faculties at King’s, are welcome to apply.

Sogol Salamipour to represent King’s at Vitae 3MT National Competition Final

11/08/2020 / Matthew Coleman

Sogol Salamipour, King's College London PhD Student, 2020

Sogol Salimipour

King’s College London PhD student Sogol Salamipour has been selected to participate in this year’s prestigious Three Minute Thesis national competition final, which will take place during Vitae Connections Week 2020.

Sogol was shortlisted along with entrants from 52 other universities after winning the King’s College London 3MT 2020 Competition in April, and will now participate alongside five other doctoral researchers from across the UK for a chance to win an engraved trophy and £3,000 to spend on public engagement activities. She was praised by the King’s judges in April for giving an “excellent and confident presentation, with a clear explanation of the significance and value of her research”.

She was one of 50 PhD students who took part this year from across the faculties at King’s, and she now follows in the footsteps of King’s 3MT finalists from 2014, 2017, and 2018. Sogol is based in the Department of Women & Children’s Health within the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, and her thesis is titled How can we better identify women at risk of premature birth?

We spoke to Sogol to hear her thoughts ahead of the national final:

Three Minute Thesis has undoubtedly been one of my favourite experiences during my PhD so far. I was initially in two minds about taking part as I don’t usually enjoy public speaking.

However, I’m so glad that I did, as I really appreciated having the opportunity to think about my research in a different way and I feel that this has given me the confidence to take on more opportunities with enthusiasm and excitement!

I’m delighted to be chosen as a finalist in the national competition and I’m very excited to represent King’s College London, showcasing my research to a wide audience and seeing the diversity of work among other PhD students in the country. I highly recommend taking part!

Nigel Eady, Director of Research Talent at King’s, said:

Many congratulations to Sogol on getting through to the national finals of this year’s 3MT competition, and we wish her the very best of luck.

Every year, 3MT showcases the exciting and varied research discoveries happening at King’s, and the hugely talented doctoral students who work hard to distil their research into engaging presentations.

This year was no different. Our students always tell us what a valuable experience it was, not only in taking part, but in having crafted a punchy description of their research – something they can use in many situations, whether chatting to friends and family or interviewing for a job.

Watch the King’s 3MT 2020 finalists’ presentations, and hear their thoughts and advice about taking part:

Felipe Tirado

Felipe Tirado, Dickson Poon School of Law, was this year’s King’s 3MT runner-up with Violation and redress: judges and accountability for crimes against humanity in the dictatorships of Argentina and Brazil. The judges said Felipe gave a “logical discussion of his research, which was very easy for the non-specialist to understand”.

Taking part was a great experience during my first year at King’s. It enabled me to think critically about my thesis, while making it understandable for new audiences. It also allowed me to practice presentation skills and learn from the other participants, and was a great way to keep me motivated during lockdown!

It’s a great opportunity for anyone starting a PhD and struggling to explain their thesis to family members! It also helps final year students, as they will have to summarise their work in job interviews or when applying for research grants.

My advice is to make your presentation as clear and concise as you can, and to practice a lot – especially with colleagues in unrelated fields. It’s possible that my friends from computer science now know a bit more about crimes against humanity, or at least they were very convincing when they were pretending to listen! Make your slide engaging and ensure that it catches the audience’s attention, right from the start.

I learned a lot from the other participants’ research, and it was a great opportunity to reflect upon my thesis, to practice my presentation skills, and to overcome what’s left of my stage fright. But above all that, I’m now confident that next time a family member asks me what I’m doing with my life, I’ll be able to explain, and they will understand!

Elyse Couch, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Identifying the benefits of early diagnosis in dementia – a mixed methods project.

Taking part in 3MT gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why your research is important outside of academia – and on the day itself, it’s great to learn more about the interesting work being done by other PhD students outside of your own field.

Louise Hesketh, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Gone in a heartbeat.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the final and would definitely recommend the experience to other PhD students. I always struggled to explain my thesis quickly to non-scientists, and now it’s easy!

My advice to those taking part in the future would be to practice in front of anyone and everyone, as this helped me adapt my narrative to allow a wide range of people to understand what makes my research matter.

Taryn Hutchinson, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Imagine a brighter future: development of a school-based positive imagery intervention to target anhedonia in adolescents.

As a first year PhD student, I was initially hesitant about whether to enter 3MT because my data collection hadn’t yet begun. I’m really glad that I did, as it allowed me to really focus and bring together the research I had done since starting my PhD.

It also gave me the opportunity to learn how to communicate my research in a more layperson-friendly way, I got to see the amazing ways in which researchers in other fields are communicating their work, and although I was nervous, I really enjoyed it.

So whatever stage you’re at in your PhD, I’d definitely recommend entering!

Patricia Moises, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Reading Women and Horses in the 19th Century.

3MT forced me to distil my arguments into a few main points, and in a logical sequence. Stripping my research back to the very basics was difficult, but it helped me to identify flaws in my arguments and to justify the validity of my research.

I would recommend the competition to all PhD students simply because you’re compelled to step back and see your research through different eyes. What’s more, this ‘elevator pitch’ could be key to attracting interest and funding for your research.

Chantelle Spiteri, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Targeted Delivery to Break Symmetry.

Communication is essential in research, but we risk losing our audience’s attention when we mention a bunch of technical words. 3MT prompted me to think about how to simplify and summarise my own research.

Taking part boosted my confidence and served as a learning opportunity in communicating complex concepts. The King’s event was well managed and fair, and it presented a positive feel among the coordinators and contestants.

My advice is that even if you’re a first year PhD student, taking part in this event is surely worth a try!

Book online by Monday 14 September to watch this year’s Vitae 3MT National Competition Final, which will take place online on Wednesday 16 September 12:00-13:00.

And look out for announcements later this year about the King’s College London Three Minute Thesis 2021 Competition for your chance to get national exposure for your research!

Mental Health and Wellbeing – Key Online Resources for PGRs

20/06/2018 / Niall Sreenan / 0 Comments

As a postgraduate research student (PGR) at King’s, reaching this point in your career is itself a major achievement – and cause for celebration. You have successfully managed to complete an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree, and now you’re embarking upon the highest qualification that university education has to offer. In addition, the years that you spend researching, thinking, experimenting, and writing your PhD can be some of the most rewarding and intellectually exciting years of your career. Not only will you spend your years as a postgraduate researcher working in a focused way on your distinctive contribution to knowledge, but you will learn host of professionally valuable skills, have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a wide range of peers, and be exposed to a multitude of academic, professional, and personal opportunities.

And yet, PhD research can be a real challenge and can exert a serious toll on your mental wellbeing. For many postgraduate research students, the pressure to excel can cause anxiety and stress. For others, working independently can cause loneliness and isolation. And for many doctoral students, beyond the challenge of the PhD thesis itself, external factors can worsen the stress of postgraduate research. Many PGRs are carers, parents, or work part-time outside their studies, and have financial and caring responsibilities in addition to their research.

We recognise, therefore, that as well as being a privilege and a major educational and professional milestone, studying for a PhD can also place significant stress on your wellbeing, in particular your mental health.

Take Time Out!

That is why, on the 11th of July, the Centre for Doctoral Studies is putting on a special, PGR-focused “Take Time Out” event, designed to help you meet your peers, move your body, and rejuvenate your mind – and above all, to encourage you to take a break from your busy schedule and re-focus on your own personal wellbeing.

To register for Take Time Out: PGR Wellbeing, go to our Eventbrite page.

You can register for the whole day or pick and choose the activities you want to attend.

Three Online Resources for PGR Mental Wellbeing

Taking time out of study for yoga, mindfulness practice, or just to rest is an excellent way to maintain balance in your work life as a PGR, but sometimes things aren’t so simple and we need other resources to help us through difficult periods.

King’s has a range of services, including Student Advice, Wellbeing Coaching, counselling, and therapy groups to support you with any issue or to help you through a crisis.

However, if you can’t make it to a campus, work part-time, or simply feel uncomfortable talking to somebody face-to-face, King’s also has a number of online resources that can help you with a range of difficulties.

Big White Wall

Big White Wall is a 24-hour online support service that provides a safe, anonymous, and supportive space in which to get things off your chest, share your experiences and difficulties, and engage with others experiencing similar issues.

As well as offering a platform in which you can express yourself, Big White Wall offers a range of online courses on dealing with stress, anxiety, and negative thinking, and allows you to take self-assessments with which to monitor your progress.

All King’s students and staff have access to this service for free. This platform is moderated to ensure total anonymity and safety for its users and is available 24/7.

Counselling Service Helpsheets

If you’re experiencing a specific issue or you wish to seek help from a service outside King’s and don’t know where to turn, the King’s Counselling service has a range of online Helpsheets on a range of specific issues – from bereavement to addiction.

These provide some key facts and point you towards a range of resources and other services where you can seek the help you need.

Blackbullion

This service, available via King’s, is designed to help you with a specific but all too common cause of stress and anxiety: money. For many PGR students, managing the financial challenge of undertaking a PhD is a source of considerable stress. For some students, the PhD will be the first time they will have managed a significant budget. For others, the financial burden of a PhD is one of many other budgetary concerns, including childcare, housing, travel, or other responsibilities.

Blackbullion is an online service that offers courses on budgeting and managing your finances as an international student. If these seem a bit basic, Blackbullion provides courses and information on more advanced financial topics including taxation, investing, and risk management.

It also offers a budget management tool that will allow you to get a better view of your financial status, and allow you to take the first positive steps towards managing your money and gaining some peace of mind.

If you are experiencing any of the above issues and need support for any reason do not hesitate to contact Student Services. They will be able help you access the support you need.

How to stay fit and active as a PhD student: Tips and advice from King’s Sport’s Alyx Murray-Jackman

11/06/2018 / Niall Sreenan / 0 Comments

Researching and writing a PhD takes a toll on the body as well as the mind. However, many PGR students often find that between labs, library sessions, supervisory meetings, teaching, and social or family life, there is little time left for exercise or other activities.

Nevertheless, taking time out of your research schedule to stay active is important. Not only does good physical health benefit your PhD research in the long-run, by ensuring you stay healthy and fit throughout the period of your course. Good physical health is also fundamental to good mental health.

Take Time Out – July 11th @ Guy’s Campus

The Centre for Doctoral Studies knows that taking time out of your work as a PGR student is easier said than done. That’s why this Summer we are organising a “Take Time Out” event on the 11th of July at Guy’s Campus. This event is designed specifically for PGRs and will include yoga, pilates, mindfulness workshops, and other fun activities, to help you re-focus on your physical and mental wellbeing.

You can book your place at this event here. You can register for as many – or as few – activities as you wish. Even if you’re not sure about an activity, studies show that just taking a break from work can have longer term benefits for your health – so make sure to come for our PGR social reception that evening!

In the meantime, to help you stay active, within the confines of PGR life, we’ve got some helpful time-saving tips from King’s Sport’s, Alyx Murray-Jackman.

Tips on how to stay active in your own time

Take the stairs – often you’ll be quite happy to take the stairs when you’re at home, but as soon as you set foot in the university, taking the lift may become the norm. Think about taking the stairs more often and you’ll be surprised how quickly it becomes a habit.
Use the toilets further away – find some toilets in the next building along, or on another floor, and this way you’ll get more walking in during the day, so long as you’re keeping yourself well hydrated!
Cycle, run or walk to the lab or library – look at your usual commute into University on Google Maps or City Mapper, and see how long the journey would take you if you were to walk or cycle. For me, walking takes the same amount of time as getting the bus, and cycling is actually faster than getting the train, therefore I have no excuse to get public transport to work as being active saves time, money and is better for me. Maybe it will be the same for you! If you live too far away to get to work like this, then you could try walking to the next bus stop or station along the route and hopping on public transport there.
Make sure to leave the house! – if you work at home, make sure you set aside some time to leave your desk and see the outside world. This might only take 5 minutes, a trip to the shop or a walk around the block, but will keep you moving and prevent you from stagnating inside.
Set yourself a fitness based challenge for a month – there are lots of apps out there that you can use to challenge yourself to do more activity, such as 30 day ab or plank challenges. These provide an opportunity to do a short burst of activity each day that you can gradually build up over time. This might be challenging yourself to be able to do 20 burpees in a row by the end of the month, or holding a plank for 90 seconds, and you can gradually work up to this over the course of the month, only requiring a few minutes of practice each day.
Socialise with fitness classes – next time a friend asks to catch up over dinner or drinks, ask them if they would like to try out a new fitness class with you instead (you can always grab dinner afterwards too…!). It’s a great way to try a new activity and socialise with your friends too. You could try a new class in one of the King’s Sport gyms, could do another activity like bouldering, or could go on a bike ride together.
Alyx Jackman-Murray from King’s Sport

King’s Sport also have lots of other opportunities to help you stay active:

We have some short 10-20 minute yoga videos on our YouTube channel
Our BeActive programme, which runs during Term Time only, so will be back up and running in October, is available to all students at King’s, and offers a range of activities all taking place on or close by to our campuses.
We’ve got gyms already at Waterloo and Guy’s campuses, and are opening a new one soon at Strand Campus At the moment you can get a 3 month membership for the summer for just £50, so pop into one of the gyms and chat to a receptionist to get signed up. Gym memberships include all studio classes and access to both gyms, so you can work out whenever and wherever is most convenient for you.
King’s Move is our online platform that rewards you for all the activity you do, and will hopefully encourage you to do more of the things I’ve listed above so that you get more steps in and collect more points.

Hopefully some of these little hints and tips will help you get started on a journey to being more active in your day to day life. These are just some of the changes that I’ve made in my life that are now habits, and have definitely had a positive impact on my wellbeing. If you’d like any more ideas or want to learn about the connection between physical activity and mental health you can read our Move Your Mind guide.

There is no need to try and implement all these changes into your life at once, so try to stick to one until it becomes a habit, and then move onto the next.

King’s Health Science DTC Annual Research Symposium: 5 reasons to sign up today

11/04/2018 / Niall Sreenan / 0 Comments

This year, the King’s Health Sciences Doctoral Training Centre is holding its inaugural Research Symposium on Monday 14 May 2018.

This exciting one-day event will feature mini-masterclasses, speed networking, student talks, and a keynote lecture from one of King’s Health Sciences’ top academics, Professor Tim Spector. This Symposium is open to all King’s Postgraduate Research Students across the four Health Sciences faculties and registration is completely free.

This event is an excellent opportunity for early career researchers in the Health Sciences to meet with fellow research students, discover new research, create new scholarly and social networks, as well as to present their own work to peers and experts in their fields.

If that doesn’t convince you to register for the Health Sciences DTC Symposium, here are five more reasons why you should sign up today:

Expand your scholarly network across disciplinary boundaries: this symposium offers you the chance to meet and get to know colleagues from other faculties following similar research themes.
Kick-start your career with specially tailored sessions to boost your employability: you can attend workshops on careers, CV skills, academic writing, as well as more specialised sessions on CRISPR technology, and recombinant protein production.
Public engagement: see and hear three of the King’s 2018 ‘Three Minute Thesis’ finalists talk about their PhD projects in just three minutes and discover what it takes to communicate your work in an impactful way in just 180 seconds!
Present your own research and hone your presentation skills: all PGR students in the Health Schools are invited to submit an abstract before the 23rd of April to give a talk about the latest developments with your research project. This is not just a great chance to get the word out about your research, but to improve your public speaking and presentations skills too.
VIP Keynote Speaker: come hear about the work of KCL’s renowned Professor Tim Spector, author of the critically acclaimed books The Diet Myth and Identically Different. Spector is Professor of Genetic Epidemoiology and Director of the TwinsUK Registry at King’s College London. A specialist in twin studies, genetics, epigenetics, and microbiome and diet, Professor Spector’s work is known worldwide.

How to Register

Registration is free and open to all King’s PGR Students in the Health Sciences.

Click here to book your place. Registration will close on 9am on Monday 7 May.

Submit an Abstract

To submit your abstract to present at the HSDTC Symposium, please see the relevant section in the registration form and follow the instructions.

Monday 23 April: Deadline for abstract submission
Monday 30 April: Abstracts chosen by this date and speakers informed

Programme

09:00 Registration and Coffee
09:30 Mini-masterclasses
11:30 Welcome from the Director of King’s Health Sciences DTC
11:45 Three Minute Thesis Finalists
12:00 Speed Networking
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Keynote: Professor Tim Spector
15:00 Student Talks
17:00 Drinks and canapés

For further information on the King’s Health Sciences Doctoral Training Centre, including news and training opportunities, click here. If you have any questions, you can email hs-dtc@kcl.ac.uk.