How to talk about old books

In our digitally saturated age it is easy to forget that for 94.2% of the past half a millennium the western world has been reliant on the printed book as our predominant "information technology". What does this mean for us as scholars?  For one thing it means that any of us working in a historical perspective will probably want to have some understanding of how the book developed as a technology and of how we can make use of that in our research.

How to stand out at research showcases

The SGSAH annual research showcase is just around the corner. This might be just the opportunity for you to present your work with funding of up to 1000£ for related costs, regarl. But how can you best capture your (PhD-)life’s work to attract attention and garner interest in your topic? Here are three tips to make your work stand out and get most out of the showcase.

The eternal student

Doing a PhD inevitably means staying in university longer and not being able to rinse off the student-status. This can at times feel a bit awkward when friends and people around us seem to be in completely different life stages. They might be getting a dog and a mortgage, while you’re trying to convince a prospective landlord that you are technically a professional even if you’re officially a student.  You’re neither fish nor fowl, navigating the grey area of work, bureaucracy, and life.

Imposter syndrome in academia

You either have it or you know someone who does: Imposter syndrome. Spreading like a viral disease across campus and beyond, it may be the reason you become your own biggest enemy. It’s the internalised fear of being outed as a fraud at any moment and could, at worst, stunt your own growth. Let’s talk about it.

Why you should consider being an academic on TikTok

It’s not a secret that branding, marketing, and showcasing your research online can boost your academic career. You might have noticed that you will find most researchers and PhD students all over Twitter, where they can share their work, establish their relevance in the field, and grow their networks. Perhaps the one or other might even have their own research blog or podcast. Recently however, there has been a slow shift to TikTok as a platform to promote research.

Life hacks for the PhD researcher

Doing a PhD can be hard sometimes. While undergraduate and taught postgraduate students have regular courses to attend, group assignments, clear milestones, and a cohort with whom they share many facets of their university experience, PhD students often find themselves rather isolated on their unique journeys. Thankfully there are blog posts with life hacks for every walk of life – like this one, specifically curated for the PhD experience.

The New Year’s resolutions we will skip and the ones we will consider this time

The quiet days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve offer enough room for self-reflection – just in time before the year comes to an end. And with that comes the urge to think of ways we can better ourselves. To help you, our fellow PhD students, slim down your lists of potential items to add to your New Year's resolutions, we took the liberty of rating the classics for you.