SEB+ SESSIONS

The following SEB+ sessions will be taking place at SEB Gothenburg 2017. Read more details on each session below:

PRE-CONFERENCE CAREERS DAY

DATE: 2 JULY 2017, 10:30-15:30
ORGANISER:

Sarah Blackford (Head of Education and Public Affairs, SEB)

10:30-12:30
Personal branding and networking

Speaker: Sarah Blackford (Head of Education and Public Affairs, SEB)

Conferences are the perfect place to network to talk about your research and forge new contacts and collaborations. But how do you present yourself in an effective and positive manner? Networking is a two-way communication process about building relationships, but what do you have to offer? What is your unique selling point? In this workshop, using presentation and interactive exercises, you will learn where and how best to present yourself on-line, in writing (e.g. social media) and in face-to-face situations (e.g. conferences and interviews) so that you promote a positive impression. What better way to prepare for all the SEB Meeting's networking events?

12:30-13:30
Lunch

13:30-15:30
Communicating your science on an international stage

Speaker: Miguel Garcia Yeste (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)

As well as networking, many will be presenting their research as a talk or poster during the meeting. Even before this, you will have to submit an abstract convincing the session organisers to accept you as a speaker and then, during the meeting, to attract an audience who will be impressed with your research. This session aims to help you to improve your presentation skills, to engage your audience and maximize your impact so that you make the most of this opportunity to take centre stage!

SCIENCE WITH IMPACT - COMMUNICATING SCIENCE IN A POST-TRUTH ERA

DATE: 2 JULY 2017,17:00-19:00
ORGANISERS:

Anne Osterrieder (Science Communication Convenor, SEB+)
Jenny Sneddon (Committee Member, SEB+)
Esther Odekunle (Committee Member, SEB+)

CHAIR:

Anne Osterrieder (Science Communication Convenor, SEB+)

SPEAKER:
  • Tom Wakeford (People’s Knowledge, Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, UK)
  • Kristin Schirmer (University of Waterloo, Canada)
  • Alexandre Antonelli (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)

How should we communicate the areas of research that spark debates, trigger emotions and cause family members to fall out over dinner? How can we discuss ‘big’ topics like climate change or genetically modified organisms rationally and empathetically? How should we talk about scientific methods and technologies that raise serious ethical issues if we use or refuse them? In this interactive session, our interdisciplinary panel will reflect on successful and not so successful approaches to communicating science in a new post-truth era. Our speakers will talk about their own research and experiences of engaging with different audiences. We will explore how policy, social science and the media add to the complexity of scientific debates.

With plenty of opportunity for delegates to contribute, we envisage key outcomes of the session to be the promotion of new ideas for designing an engaging discussion with students or community groups, as well as consideration of new approaches that could enhance grant application impact statements.

THE TEACHING-RESEARCH NEXUS

DATE: 3 JULY 2017

ORGANISERS:

Prof Graham Scott (Teaching and Learning Convenor, SEB+)
Dr George Littlejohn (Section Chair, SEB+)

SPEAKERS:
  • Dr Katharine Hubbard (University of Hull, UK) - Engaging students with research through The Student Thesis Conference, an inclusive and authentic model for undergraduate research dissemination
  • Dr Sara Brownell (Arizona State University, United States) - Opportunities and tension points associated with course-based undergraduate research experiences
  • Assoc Prof Susan Rowland (Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation, Australia) - Do we need to design Undergraduate Research Experiences for authenticity?
  • Dr Sara Burton (University of Exeter, UK)

That teaching is research informed, research led and research based are key characteristics of current higher education practice and reflect their fundamental interconnectedness. In this session we will explore the teaching-research nexus and experimental biology teaching excellence in the research context. Confirmed speakers will explore the benefits and scalability of authentic research experiences for undergraduate biologists and the value of the student conference experience. We are very keen to receive submitted papers on all aspects of the research process in its widest sense in the context of all areas of biology teaching.

IS THERE LIFE OUTSIDE ACADEMIA?

DATE: 4 JULY 2017
ORGANISERS:

Sarah Blackford (Head of Education and Public Affairs, SEB)
Dr John Bothwell and Dr Alison Kingston-Smith (SEB+ Careers convenor group)

SPEAKERS:
  • Dr Tina Persson (My HeadHunter & CareerCoach)
  • Dr Bennett Young (Journal of Experimental Botany)
  • Prof Outi Vaarala (Astrazeneca)
  • Dr Erik Alexandersson (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences/PlantLink)

Surveys consistently show that the majority of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers wish to pursue careers in academia, even though securing such positions is highly competitive. With more knowledge about other areas of work, it is anticipated that these young and talented scientists will feel more confident to consider non-academic careers and enjoy a rewarding career away from a culture of fixed term funding and publication pressures. This SEB+ session aims to provide informative and personalised insights into the culture of non-academic careers in industry and business organisations in an interactive setting.

At the European Science Open Forum in 2014, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers identified industry careers as a sector about which they most wish to be better informed. This session will bring together PhD qualified employers from a variety of organisations to focus on the types of skills that are required when moving onto a non-academic career path. Recruiters from industry will present their experience and expectations, relating the tactics and approaches to take when pursuing non-academic positions. Careers advisers will also offer advice about job seeking strategies and how to maximise your exposure and hone your professional image. The life of an academic has changed over the past 30 years, with increasing pressures and a less than favourable work:life balance, so with more insights into non-academic careers, researchers will be more confident to consider an alternative life outside of the academic community.

MEET THE ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS

DATE: 4 JULY 2017, 12:50-13:30
ORGANISERS:

Sarah Blackford (Head of Education and Public Affairs, SEB)

PANEL:
  • Professor Christine Foyer (University of Leeds, UK / Reviews Editor, JXB)
  • Professor Lee Sweetlove ( University of Oxford, UK / Editor-in Chief, The Plant Journal)
  • Adam Wheeler (Senior Publisher, Wiley)

Taking an active role in peer review can provide career advantages, as well as giving those involved a broader perspective of their research field. Gaining insights into other’s work, learning how to judge a paper’s merit and give critical and objective feedback are just some of the advanced skills which are tested and developed during the peer review process. In this short lunchtime session, our panel will offer advice to PhD students and early career researchers on peer review and how they can get involved in this important aspect of research communication. There will be an opportunity to ask questions during the session as well as being able to visit the publishers‘stands during the remainder of the conference.