By Jason Chu - @jchu0 Do something for a friend, colleague or stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Help a neighbour or community group. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding. Be kind to yourself and others. This is the mantra used by the University of Manchester … Continue reading Helping others, helps you
By Tarnjit Sidhu @TarnjitSidhu Starting university as a postgraduate student can be a difficult time for many people. After finishing university for the first time around, you probably feel established and have a routine in place. So starting a new degree can be a daunting time. Where is my timetable? Why is no-one checking if … Continue reading How to manage stress as a PGR student
“What is your biggest flaw?” .. “Oh, well I am just SUCH a perfectionist!” Undeniably one of the most cliché and eye-roll inducing answers to this classic interview question, declaring yourself a perfectionist is often viewed as a humble brag. Most people think perfectionism is just admitting everything you do has to be just right, … Continue reading Perfectionism and Me
By Jessica Stepanous @JStepanous Science is incremental, with every study – positive or negative – meant to contribute to a body of knowledge. Reviewing this body of knowledge is a key part of the process, to know what was done before and what still needs to be done. This is done as part of a … Continue reading The trials and tribulations of the systematic review
By Hannah Thurgur @HannahThurgur Medical cannabis was legalised almost a year ago in the UK, so why is there only a handful of prescribers? What are the barriers to prescribing it and what is being done to help medical professionals in this transition period? Cannabis is the drug derived from the cannabis plant and has a … Continue reading Ganja help me?
You know it is bad. You have read about the record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires and typhoons. Hurricane Dorian is yet another tragic reminder of our worsening weather systems, driven by climate change. You know the ice is melting and sea levels are rising. For years, you have been aware that species are going extinct – 200 … Continue reading Mayday, Mayday: we’re heading for extinction. What are you going to do about it?
Originally published on DigiECR “Someone is monitoring me through my phone”. Is this a reasonable statement about modern life or a symptom of psychosis? Depending on the context, it could be either. In the age of smart egg trays, wifi enabled toasters and global surveillance, it is perhaps not unreasonable to imagine that at least … Continue reading What do giraffes and broccoli have to do with mental health research?
Although the British summer is back to rain clouds and gale-force winds, there are still plenty of other reasons to find yourself struggling with sleep. Work, money worries, British politics, or the thought of an existence without cauliflower cheese (https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/aug/12/cauliflower-shortage-uk-extreme-weather). Regardless of the reason, sleep is a fundamental need for all. Even bees struggle if … Continue reading Why a good night’s sleep is important no matter our age
The urgency of the climate crisis situation has reached its peak in the last few months, with the likes of Extinction Rebellion, Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough emphasising the importance of saving our planet for future generations. Many industries and companies have reacted and responded accordingly, introducing sustainable practices and policies to cut down on … Continue reading Fighting climate change… in the lab
Aged 12, I was a reluctant violin student. So great was my frustration with the instrument that I used to frequently picture throwing the violin against the wall and watching as the wood twisted and splintered into an unrecognisable mess. Despite the frequency and vividness of this mental image, I never acted on the thought. … Continue reading A reluctant violin student
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