The quick way to find an interesting area of research
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Sir David Attenborough chatting with postgraduate students during a recent visit to the Department of Biological Sciences. |
On Friday 18 August, the Genes-to-Geoscience (G2G) Research Centre at Macquarie University will hold its inaugural Postgraduate Visiting Day, which will include everything from pancakes to bocce and "intellectual speed dating".
G2G is a coalition of scientific research groups and individual researchers at Macquarie who believe exceptionally interesting and important science over the next couple of decades will arise through bridging the very small (from molecular technologies and biological detail) with the very large (up to world-scales in space and geology-scales in time).
Mixing the fun and the fascinating
Director of G2G, Professor Mark Westoby, says the Postgraduate Visiting Day has been designed so that potential students can quickly target the area of research that interests them the most, while also getting a feel for the fun side of being a Macquarie postgrad.
"Naturally the prime consideration for people intending to do a PhD will be the quality of the individual research group they are joining," Westoby says. "Macquarie has many world-leading research groups to choose from. But on top of that, Genes-to-Geoscience at Macquarie offers a broader and richer culture in which to be a postgrad.
"There are structured interdisciplinary discussion processes, in the form of working groups, that will make you more than just a specialist. There is a lively social life. There is special encouragement to learn new research tools and do projects that cross discipline boundaries, and there is financial support for your project and for building overseas connections."
What's happening on the day
Arrive at the Frank Mercer Courtyard, located among the E8C buildings, between 9.30am and 10am to receive your nametag before tucking in to some pancakes, coffee and tea. After a brief welcome and introduction to G2G, it'll be time for intellectual speed dating.
The idea here is that you spend four minutes chatting to each academic, asking questions that will quickly give you an impression of their personality and research style, before moving on to the next one. You then tick boxes for who you might like to talk with at more leisure during the afternoon.
Around midday there'll be a BBQ lunch and a non-competitive game of bocce, during which the organisers will arrange your individual timetable for the afternoon. This will consist of one-on-one chats with potential supervisors you ticked during the intellectual speed dating, opportunities to talk with their lab-groups without them present, and visits to facilities.
From 4pm into the evening, current G2G postgrads will provide pizza and advice, giving invaluable first-hand insights into higher degree study at Macquarie.
How to maximise your time
In order to get the most out of Postgraduate Visiting Day, spend a little time now familiarising yourself with the working groups and individual academics involved in G2G, by visiting www.bio.mq.edu.au/research/g2g/workgroups.html and www.bio.mq.edu.au/research/g2g/academics.html
Before arriving at the event, think about what questions you might ask academics during the speed dating and have ready a 30-second spiel about the aspects of research you most enjoy. Then just come along and have fun!
For more information, visit www.bio.mq.edu.au/research/g2g/pgradvisit.html or email Professor Mark Westoby at mark.westoby@mq.edu.au