Author: Cherene de Bruyn // Editor: Sophie Alshukri & Oliver Hartley Forging metal. Photo from Pexels In his book, The Art of Peace (1991) Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the martial art of Aikido, wrote: “Iron is full of impurities that weaken it; through forging, it becomes steel and is transformed into a razor-sharp sword. Human … Continue reading The PhD Confirmation process is not a hurdle – It’s a crucible
Author: Osman Khaleel // Editor: Cherene de Bruyn Cover image from Pexels *Archaeology: The study of past human cultures through the material culture (artefacts) left behind. *Lithics: Archaeological artefacts made from stone, including hand axes, scrapers, projectile points and knives. *Cataracts: Areas on the Nile between Aswan and Khartoum where the water is shallow. BACKGROUND Growing … Continue reading Navigating the PhD journey amid prolonged conflict: Challenges, growth, and resilience
Author: Nompumelelo Maringa // Editors: Cherene de Bruyn & Sarah Charlin Klingberg THE PAST I have had an interest in history, archaeology and the environment for as long as I can remember. I cherished being outside, playing with plants, gardening, watching insects forage for food or tunnelling a new home in the soils of my home garden. … Continue reading The Road to PhD: A Zooarchaeologist’s Reflection on the Past and the Present
Three realisations for coping with stress and anxiety when PhD plans go awry Author: Elan Shellard // Editors: Rashmi Danwaththa Liyanage & Oliver Hartley A PhD is a somewhat unique challenge in that, while some have a strong mentorship and supervisory team, you are essentially left to sink or swim on your own merit. For … Continue reading Probably Not the End of the World
Author: Rojita Buddhacharya // Editors: Cherene de Bruyn & Emily Barrett Cover image by Binita Buddhacharya. If you imagine the Kathmandu Valley as a bowl, we live right at the centre, surrounded by hills and mountains. Standing at an altitude of 1,400 meters, Kathmandu’s residents are sometimes called “frogs in a well” – implying a limited worldview. … Continue reading Cosmic Curiosities: From the Moon to the Milky Way
Author: Erin Pallott // Editors: Luke Marshall, Sophie Alshukri When I joined my PhD programme, I needed to figure out which lab I wanted to join. I got given lots of advice on what to ask other PhD and postdoc members, and a prominent suggestion was to find out what the lab environment is like. … Continue reading “I Don’t Want to Cause Trouble”: Acceptance of Bullying in Academia
Author: Jamie Williams // Editor: Cherene de Bruyn Image by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash. A big part of all PGR journeys is communication, whether that be meetings with supervisors, office banter or discussions in the lab. Not to mention posters, presentations, or the dreaded viva. Added to this, of course, is all of the written … Continue reading Communicating Your Work to the Public: A Skill, an Art, and a Tool
Author: Cherene de Bruyn // Editor: Erin Pallott Starting a PhD is no small feat—only about 1% of the global population ever achieves this milestone. It’s tough, and for good reason. A PhD demands a whole range of skills: analysing data, writing, managing your time, and communicating your ideas. Some of these you already have—after all, you made … Continue reading Starting Strong: Productivity Tips for the First 6 Months of Your PhD
Author: Sayema Khan // Editor: Poppy Dunn Writing a scientific research paper can be daunting. This is a general guideline for writing an original research article, most suitable for first-time paper writers. This guideline is not fixed for the word count, which is very much dependent on the paper guidelines. Also, keep in mind there … Continue reading Writing a Scientific Research Paper: A Guide for New Writers
Author: Priya Srivastava // Editor: Erin Pallott Featured photo by Priya Srivastava. Embarking on a PhD journey at the University of Manchester is a thrilling experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Beyond the academic rigours, there's a wealth of resources and opportunities that can significantly enhance your time as a postgraduate … Continue reading Maximising Your PhD Experience: My Comprehensive Guide to Life at the University of Manchester
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