What is it?

As part of their doctoral studies, many PhD students have the opportunity to engage with the research community not only at the University of Southampton, but also at other higher education establishments across the country and world. This can range from publishing papers in academic journals, or presenting their research at conferences. This is an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their research, and receive valuable feedback not only from their peers, but also experienced academics in their fields.

Engaging with the research community also allows PhD students to network a whole range of academics and experts in their field, consequently allowing them to build valuable contacts for the future.

How can students make the most of it?

Although many students will find presenting their work to the wider research community, they must be encouraged to do so. Not only will it give them the opportunity to receive valuable feedback and guidance on how their work can be improved, it will also give them the opportunity to network with academics and experts from across the research community. This will ultimately allow them to build valuable contacts, which may be of great use later on in their academic career.