Each May, the PhD students from the Departments of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science organise their own two-day PhD conference.
The SAGES Annual PhD Conference
The conference provides an opportunity for PhD students, their supervisors and other staff to meet, work and socialise together.
It is an interdisciplinary occasion, with subjects ranging from prehistoric stone artefacts and Roman forts to the causes and impacts of future climate change. It covers home and away, with some students working locally in Berkshire while others travel to all corners of the world.
It is a time for full-time, part-time, working away students to meet and share experiences of life as a PhD student.
Students in their first year of study present a single slide to summarise their aims, the methods they will adopt and anticipated outcomes.
This is a challenge, but being able to convey the essence of PhD research quickly and effectively is a key skill, especially when embarking on networking within the wider academic and business community.
Students in their third year of study (or equivalent year for part-time students) deliver a formal 15-minute presentation of their research, followed by questions and answers.
View presentations at the 2022 SAGES PhD Conference on YouTube.
Students in their second year of study (or parttime equivalent) produce a poster describing the aims and methods of their research.
Producing a poster that will be attractive, informative and accessible to non-specialists is a challenge. It is a key skill to learn, not just for those aspiring to become academics, but also those intending to enter industry, business or any area of public life in which effective communication is key.
The conference has a dedicated poster session providing an opportunity for students to elaborate on their research.
The conference allows the exchange of ideas, methods and results.
Swapping experiences of PhD research – both the joys and the lows – is also a key part of the chat.
The conference is a social occasion, with a reception, a key-note speech and conference dinner.
Overall, the SAGES PGR conference is an annual celebration of the breadth, originality and significance of the research undertaken by PhD students within the School.