Dialogue is vital to the research community. In the fourth part of our ‘In conversation with’ series, resident blogger Ebba discusses historical fiction with Alyssa Benedetto, a PhD researcher combining the study of medieval history with creative writing and intersectional feminism.
Lifestyle and Gift Inspiration from Medieval Material Culture
There comes a point when your research and your life are so intertwined that the décor in your home and the presents you buy for others are directly inspired by your PhD. This week, resident blogger Ebba, in the hopes of becoming a medieval influencer, shares the hottest trends straight from the medieval period that she has been implementing in her own life - in case anyone is in need of last-minute gift inspiration ahead of the holidays.
What does it really mean when I feel ‘stupid’?
Imposter syndrome is widespread in academia. Resident blogger Ebba gives her perspective on what's actually going on in those moments when you feel like what you're saying is marking you out as a fraud, when you can't make your way into an academic discussion, or plainly when you start to harbour a secret suspicion that you're not smart enough to do a PhD.
Teaching & being taught; perfectionism & AI
Resident blogger Ebba reflects on two sides of the same coin: teaching and being taught. She writes about the authority and meaning of the teaching figure in the classroom, the educator's perceived power to exercise control over students' written and spoken voice, and of the potential in developments surrounding AI engines to transform the role of education.
Navigating Disability and Chronic Illness During Your PhD: A Conversation
Dialogue is vital to the research community. This week, PhD researchers Emma McCabe and Eeva Savolainen speak about navigating PhD life with disability and chronic illness, the labour of locating and gaining access to health resources, and the importance of connection and solidarity among chronically ill and/or disabled scholars.
The University as Tourist Attraction
Resident blogger Ebba reflects on the tourist/student lifestyle. Are our campuses there to be admired, or are researchers in a unique position to shed light on power and placehood?
On Finding the Right Time to Submit
How can you mark the moment of thesis submission? Celebrating with friends and family is the obvious choice, but what if you want to add a little whimsy and show just how nerdy you can get about your research? Dr Maike Dinger, this week’s guest blogger, offers one option: find a date that connects to your research topic.
Moods and Menstruation During the PhD
This week, resident blogger Ebba writes about an often hidden struggle: the management of menstruation and PMS during the PhD. The reader is advised that the post deals with depression symptoms, pain, and blood.
In Defence of Methodological Wandering: Podcasting as Recreational Research Praxis
This week's guest blogger, Dr Élaina Gauthier-Mamaril, writes about the experience of podcasting her research and about the podcasting format itself. This is an invaluable resource for those considering alternative methods of sharing their research.
Armchair experts and saving the world: disillusionment about academia and philosophy
This week, Joyce Fungo reflects on the inequalities that inevitably shape knowledge production within the field of Philosophy and in academia more generally, which became evident to her when she moved from the Philippines to Scotland to do her PhD in 2021.
