Surrey REACH

Research is more than just the creation of new knowledge.

The process is deeply intertwined with the values, standards, and expectations of our academic communities. These norms fundamentally affect our personal wellbeing, the way we both approach and choose the problems we want to solve, which voices in the community are heard---and the course of our careers.

How can our research communities become fairer and healthier places to work and thrive? Join us for ten important discussions with leading and local experts on how this vision can be achieved.

Who's Speaking?

Voices leading the conversation on research culture.

Angela Saini

Award-winning journalist and broadcaster; author of acclaimed books Inferior and Superior

Jim Al-Khalili, PhD

Theoretical physicist, author, broadcaster, and Professor at the University of Surrey

Mirjana Povic, PhD

2018 Nature Research Awardee for Inspiring Science; Assist. Professor, Ethiopian Space Science & Tech. Inst.

Osama Khan

Diversity & inclusive learning advocate and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Education at the University of Surrey

Gelong Thubten

Buddhist monk, meditation and mindfulness teacher, and author of A Monk’s Guide to Happiness

Kate Gleeson, PhD

Director of the Doctoral College and Chartered Psychologist at the University of Surrey

Derk-Jan Dijk, PhD

Surrey Sleep Research Centre Director and Professor of Sleep and Physiology at the University of Surrey

Kate Hext, PhD

Head of Humanities (Penryn) and Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter

Emma Francis

Careers and Employability Consultant for PGRs and ECRs at the University of Surrey

Will Davies

Expert in business growth, people management, and leadership; HR Director at the University of Surrey

Rana Marrington

Careers Consultant for post-graduate and early career researchers at the University of Surrey

David Sampson, PhD

Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation and Professor at the University of Surrey

Event Schedule

We have an exciting line up of events spanning five days, focusing on a different aspect of research culture each day. Each day will feature two virtual talks over Zoom.

Time

Speaker

Subject
11 AM

David Sampson

Research Culture – A Personal Journey

We exist in a research culture created in the post-war boom that generated the wealth and resources to pursue knowledge in universities for its own sake in what was a cottage industry. The rarefied atmosphere of the 1960s and 70s has successively given way to the massification of higher education, including research, and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake has given way to greater expectations on the contributions of our research to society. Have our structures, expectations and culture moved with these changes? We may not still use paper and typewriter, but much else has remained the same. Through the lens of my own personal journey spanning five decades (not completely!), precious conversations with colleagues, and interactions with inspiring students, I will consider how we got here, where we need to go, what we need to keep, and what we need to change, to continue to make academia the place where we all want to be.
4 PM

Kate Hext

Reach for the Sky: Thinking Globally (on a Budget), Plotting your Career (in a Pandemic)

How can you network effectively and create opportunities to take you beyond your PhD, and into a successful academic career? The answers to these questions have always been essential, but they are more important than ever now, in the wake of Covid and seismic shifts to higher education in the UK. In the future, academics will have to be pragmatic and enterprising as never before. This talk looks at the benefits to building a rich international research community. It looks at some of the opportunities, including new avenues for collaboration opened by the 'shift online' caused by Covid, and how best to engage with these to enhance your work and build your career.

Time

Speaker

Subject
11.30 AM

Jim Al-Khalili

Spreading the Word: Why Science Communication is so Vital

Science communication has changed out of all recognition over the past quarter of a century that I have been actively involved in it. In this talk I will discuss how and why science communication, particularly in the UK, has undergone such a revolution. I will also say something about the way science and scientists have been perceived by the general public during the coronavirus pandemic. We hear terms like 'following the science' or 'heeding the advice of experts', but what do they really mean? So, what has changed and is it a change for the better? I will also address the wider issues surrounding the importance of communicating science to society.
4 PM

Mirjana Povic

Science for Development in Africa

Due to natural (such as its dark skies) and human resources, Africa has great potential for scientific research in astronomy and space science. At the same time, the continent still faces many difficulties and its countries now recognise the importance of sciences such as astronomy, space science, and satellite technologies for improving some of its main socio-economic and ecological challenges. Development in astronomy and space science in Africa has grown significantly over the past few years, and it has been never more possible to use astronomy for development than it is now. However, much remains to be done. This talk will summarise recent developments in astronomy in Africa and using Ethiopia as an example will show how working together in development of science and education we can fight poverty on a long-term and increase in future our chances of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for the benefit of our entire society.

Time

Speaker

Subject
3 PM

Osama Khan

Mind the Gap

I will share my experience of being a Bangladeshi Muslim immigrant in the academy in the UK alongside my life as a British citizen. I will reflect on how at times I struggled with my multiple identities and how I have decided to deal with them. I will share the awarding gap that exists in the UK universities and how Surrey compares. The talk will also reflect on the concept of glass ceiling, more like concrete ceiling, for academic and professional services careers in the UK academy. Finally, we will reflect together what would be the way forward.
6 PM

Angela Saini

Facts and Narratives in Research

As academic institutions seek to explain and fix their enormous gaps in race and gender pay and promotion, and as social justice movements work to address these issues more widely in society, what are researchers doing to build narratives around the reasons for the inequality we see? Science journalist Angela Saini argues that science remains shot through with racism and sexism, affecting not only how institutions work, but also the work they produce. We need to have more accurate facts about human difference and the causes of inequality, but - more urgently - we need to explain them better.

Time

Speaker

Subject
12 PM

Will Davies

How to Master your Interview

In today’s climate, securing the next career opportunity, both within academia and in industry, is going to become more and more competitive. As a result, the preparation for and performance at interview holds more importance than ever. In this session, Will Davies and Tony Simmonds will discuss some of the key considerations that anyone attending an interview as a candidate should bear in mind, as well as sharing some useful tips that might help secure that interview in the first place. Will and Tony will allow plenty of time for delegate questions to make the session as practical and interactive as possible.
3 PM

Kate Gleeson
Emma Francis
Rana Marrington

Reaching In and Reaching Out; Thriving In Your Career

The Doctoral College champions the development of a healthy research culture where researchers can thrive, develop and connect with fellow researchers across disciplines. By integrating careers, researcher development and wellbeing the Doctoral College provides a holistic approach to supporting the whole researcher, promoting versatility in an increasingly diverse, uncertain, global research environment and competitive employment market. Kate Gleeson will open this session by highlighting some of the issues researchers at the beginning of their careers are facing now in order to stimulate discussion about how we might reframe the challenges to allow us continue with our ambitious goals and thrive in an uncertain world. This will be, followed by an, Ask the Director Q & A session. We would be very happy to receive your questions in advance as well as on the day. Emma Francis and Rana Marrington will then focus on successful approaches to career management, exploring strategies to enable researchers to take charge of their careers and address some of the challenging aspects of research culture which impact on careers. They will share ideas around Reaching In, building on inner strengths and Reaching Out to capitalise on impact and opportunities to fulfil personal and professional potential without compromising on ambition.

Time

Speaker

Subject
11 AM

Gelong Thubten

Mindfulness: Optimising Mental Performance

Gelong Thubten will explain the key points of mindfulness meditation, with particular emphasis on its efficacy in handling stress and improving mental focus. There will be practical instruction in techniques which can be practised at home or at work.
4 PM

Derk-Jan Dijk

Sleep Sufficiency, Stress, and Success

Sleep is a major determinant of physical and mental health. Insufficient sleep leads to sleepiness, impaired performance, changes in mood, increased appetite, altered immune function, and a wide range of other behavioural, physiological and molecular changes. Some of the major processes regulating sleep, and factors leading to insufficient sleep have been identified. Understanding the factors contributing to insufficient sleep and implementing behavioural and environmental changes to remove these factors or reduce their impact on sleep is an efficient way to improve health, well-being and the likelihood of success.

Ask the Director!

Have any questions about research culture at the University of Surrey? Kate Gleeson, Director of the Doctoral College, will answer them during her talk on Thursday! Let us know what questions you have by submitting them below. If you have questions for any of our other speakers, you can also submit them here.

Speaker:
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REACH

Research Culture Week

16-20 November 2020

Research is more than just the creation of new knowledge.

Who's Speaking?

Angela Saini

Jim Al-Khalili, PhD

Mirjana Povic, PhD

Osama Khan

Gelong Thubten

Kate Gleeson, PhD

Derk-Jan Dijk, PhD

Kate Hext, PhD

Emma Francis

Will Davies

Rana Marrington

David Sampson, PhD

Event Schedule

Ask the Director!

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12 speakers

5 topics

all virtual

5 day event