.net magazine has been going for ages (centuries in internet years, I’m sure…), and is a useful resource about all things, well, net-related.
The article on data visualisation tools by Brian Suda (3rd May 2013) caught my eye, with categories on:
Worth a look, imho…
This is a concept I really like. No, not because it sounds like an excuse to stop work, but because I recognise it in my working life. Stepping consciously away from a problem and thereby allowing yourself to reframe it or describe it in a different way is just another tool in your kit of stuff that makes you good at what you are.
The productive pause doesn’t necessarily mean doing no work – BBC Horizon’s ‘The creative brain – how insight works’ (47 minutes in) suggests if you go and do something simple and menial, you ‘switch off’ parts of the brain that are involved in higher mental processes. When you return to needing to be creative, your brain is better able to respond to the problem.
Have a read of ‘The value of taking a productive pause‘ by Art Markman, and see what I mean.
The Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) would like to develop a guidance document for universities on how they can support the career development of research staff within HE. The document aims to:
It would be great if any findings from this could be considered under Objective 2 on the career progression of BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) staff.
To develop this guidance document we would like to hear responses from BME researchers to the following questions:
All responses should be directed to Chris Brill at chris.brill@ecu.ac.uk or 0207 438 1021, although if you contact Abida Akram in Staff Development, too, I know she’d be interested.
ECU is clear that the views and experiences of BME researchers will be crucial to shaping this work.
Every Wednesday at 11:00 am over the Easter vacation, why not down-tools and head over to the Library for a chocolate Easter egg and a morsel of research training?
Come and network with colleagues whilst picking up a hint or tip on a wide range of research-related topics. Each slot is a manageable coffee-break-sized 30 minutes – just enough time for a breather before you return to your desk refreshed and informed!
All sessions will be held in Library Training Room 1.
For more information and to book please visit the Library’s Staff Workshops page:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/events/workshops/staffworkshops/
There are still a few places available on the Library’s free workshops aimed at helping you to assess and improve your research dissemination strategies, as well as just refresh your research skills. Why not take a little time out of the office to reflect on what you currently do, discover new tools and learn some new skills?
The sessions are:
Finding research information, 5th March 2-4pm;
Assessing your research impact with bibliometrics, 7th March, 10-12 (for anyone not going to the Research Staff Conference!);
Increasing the visibility of your research, 11th March, 10-12;
Improving your research impact through open access, 13th March, 2-4pm.
You can sign up for all of these, as well as seeing the details of all of other staff workshops via: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/events/workshops/staffworkshops/
#jointhe5000 – the Loughborough University 5k road race
If you’re spending too much time at your desk – like me – the opportunity to get out and about is good for both physical and mental well-being. Mindful that yesterday was University Mental Health and Wellbeing Day, I know I find that physical activity helps me to manage myself better when it comes to the competing challenges of the workplace. Let’s face it, it can all be a bit fraught sometimes.
So when I saw twitter messages about the Loughborough 5k road race, my first reaction was, “yikes, that sounds a bit too racy for a 40-something – and it’ll be full of skinny, whippetty types in club vests, all serious expressions and calf muscles like golfballs”. I mentioned this to a colleague in Marketing and was firmly put in my place. “It’s a mass participation event – a fun run. Get out there and have fun. That’s an order.” (They can be a bit excessively ‘on-message’ in Marketing.)
I’ve checked out the Lboro press release and the Loughborough Sport page and, well, it looks like a laugh. And that’s what it’ll be, afterwards. It’s only 5k around campus, if you invite friends along it’ll be an event – you’ll have shared something you can talk about afterwards, be it the amazing campus crocuses or the pain in your non-golfball-shaped calf muscles. And for a while, work won’t matter. That’s got to be good for work-life balance…
See you there?
There is an excellent opportunity for scientific researchers to participate in an innovative new programme connecting research scientists to schools and their students.
It involves 20-30 minute webinars followed by Q & A with the teachers (and students) during March, April and May, in the first instance.
This is a really efficient way of ensuring teachers remain up-to-date with cutting edge scientific research and to inspire their students. If you can provide an engaging presentation about your research, or would like further information, then please contact:
Steve Jones
Professional Development Leader
Science Learning Centre East of England
s.l.jones2@herts.ac.uk<mailto:s.l.jones2@herts.ac.uk
Would you like to be part of Engineering YES in 2013? This award winning national enterprise and research commercialisation course attracts teams of researchers from across the country who work together to build a business plan for a fictitious engineering spin-out idea. Attending this event will immerse you in all aspects of the commercialisation process from understanding which ideas can be brought to market; how you get them there; who might buy them; how to protect them and who to ask for investment. You will also learn whether you might enjoy working in a high pressured, fast paced business environment. Alongside this you will hone your teamworking, networking, communication and presentation skills as well as having a memorable few days away from Loughborough.
You will need to be available for one of the two remaining training heats, the briefing session and the grand final date in case you win through to compete for the top prize of £2000.
2013 Dates
Briefing session Monday 8 April – from Loughborough University or via Webinar
Training heat 1 Sunday 28 April – Wednesday 1 May Holiday Inn Leeds/Brighouse
Training heat 2 Sunday 12 May – Wednesday 15 May Holiday Inn Milton Keynes
Training heat 3 Sunday 2 June – Wednesday 5 June Holiday Inn Coventry FULL
Grand Final Wednesday 19 June Birmingham Science Park, Aston
2013 Fees
Standard fees from 1st February £800.00 per person (9 funded places still available)
You may apply in teams of 4 – 6 people, or if you want to apply as an individual, pair or group of three, we will allocate additional team members as necessary.
Further information can be found on our website www.engineeringyes.org
Keep up to date with events by following us on twitter https://twitter.com/EngineeringYES
Engineering YES – researcher brochure
Please apply directly using the form on our website at www.engineeringyes.org
Gold open access; the green route; Academia.edu; Researchgate; Google Scholar profiles; h-index; impact factors…
If these terms are a mystery to you and you would like to know more about how to make your research more visible or simply how to find information for your own research more effectively, why not take some time out of the office or lab and come along to one of the Library workshops for Academic and Research Staff in March or July. They are all designed specifically for staff and research associates, with excellent feedback from attendees in previous years.
“Really useful to understand impact of research”
“All great!”
“Practical session and useful advice.”
“Good pace and nice to try things straight after being introduced rather than all at end. This was a very good session introducing a range of different resources.”
This year’s workshops are:
To find out more about the sessions and book, please visit the Library webpages.
The Lauder Institute, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, April 8-12, 2013
Loughborough University has a significant relationship with Santander, this is an excellent opportunity to attend a conference in the United States at minimal cost, as everything is covered except airfare to and from the university and the taxi to the hotel.
Download the Conference call poster.
