BU Research Conference 2023: Embracing Failure, Building Success

Event Date: 14 June

Time: 10:00 - 6:00pm

Description:

We all shy away from using the ‘F’ word – failure. But whether it’s a funding bid not being successful, a journal article being rejected, or findings not being as hoped, obstacles and setbacks are a normal part of the research journey. Understanding how to overcome and learn from these moments of ‘failure’ is key to a successful academic career.

The BU Research Conference is back for 2023 and this year’s event will explore the concept of ‘failure’ in academia and building the resilience to overcome obstacles that may be in your path. The conference will take place in the Fusion Building (Talbot Campus) on Wednesday 14 June, with a mix of inspirational speakers and practical workshops. The day will run from 10am – 4.30pm, with lunch and refreshments included. It will be followed by a drinks reception to network with colleagues and chat to your peers about your own experiences.

For further information on this event please contact: research@bournemouth.ac.uk

NOTE: Please book a general ticket to be a part of this event and then book your tickets to any two of the four practical workshops, one at 1.15pm and one at 2.15pm.

Conference schedule (may be subject to change):

10-10.15am – Arrival and coffees

10.20am – Introduction and opening

10.30am – Keynote: Dr Jan Peters MBE - Embracing failure my way

Dr Jan Peters MBE is an inclusion ideator, building powerful teams and helping design solutions with people in mind. Her background is in materials research and hi-tech manufacturing, before helping academics build relationships with industry partners. In 2017 she was awarded an MBE for services to women and engineering and an honorary doctorate from Bournemouth University.

Jan's talk will explore the impact of failure and how we each respond differently. And how, by knowing what drives us, we can harness our energy to bounce forwards.

11.30am – Keynote: Professor Ann Hemingway and Professor Sam Goodman - Reckoning with Reviewer 2: Experiencing (and overcoming) Academic Rejection

Professor Ann Hemingway is Professor of Public Health and Wellbeing at Bournemouth University and Professor Sam Goodman is Professor in English and Communication.

Together, they are the academic leads for the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network at Bournemouth University which offers general advice and support for ECRs as well as tailored workshops for skills training and career development.

12.15pm – LUNCH

1.15pm – 3.15pm - Workshops

Attendees will have the chance to attend two practical workshops, each lasting one hour. Tickets to these workshops are free and open to book as sub-tickets under the general admission ticket for this event.

Workshop options are:

- Bounce back to your future (delivered by confidence coach Helen Shipton from Katalytik)

Some knockbacks hurt more than others, leaving our confidence dented and our energy drained. This interactive session provides space to explore who you are and create a personal vocabulary to return to in moments of doubt. You will leave with a personalised paragraph to confidently introduce yourself to collaborators and co-workers.

- Building Resilience (delivered by Rachel Curry from Organisational Development)

This workshop will help you explore and identify strategies to build your personal resilience capabilities. You’ll explore what is meant by resilience and why it’s so important and discuss strategies and approaches to build resilience and develop a positive mindset.

- Improving Writing Practices (delivered by Professor Matthew Bennett, Professor of Environmental and Geological Sciences)

Professor Matthew Bennett has published more than a dozen books and 170 papers over almost 30 years in academia. In this workshop, he will share some of his personal journey with academic writing and the hard-learnt lessons along the way – covering the trials of striving for elite journals, dealing with rejection, and practical tips for better writing.

- Repurposing your unsuccessful grant applications (delivered by Eva Papadopoulou, Research Facilitator in RDS)

This workshop will cover best practice for repurposing unsuccessful applications for external funding. You’ll discuss what makes a successful application, the value of feedback from funders and peers, and how to develop a revised bid.

3.15pm - Coffee and cakes

3.30pm – Robert Seaborne - Inside Academia

Robert founded Inside Academia – an online platform dedicated to positively changing the culture of mental health, wellbeing and mindset within academia.

Robert is currently a postdoctoral fellow at University of Copenhagen whose own experiences struggling with pressures and stressors during his PhD and early post-doc years had a big impact on his wellbeing.

His talk will delve into his personal reflections, the mental health landscape in academia and what tools/strategies could help equip us to navigate this journey more positively.

4.30pm – Drinks reception

6pm – CLOSE

How to get to BU: This event will take place in Inspire Lecture Theatre, Fusion Building. There is limited parking onsite so please consider other methods of transport.

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