Title of project
Contact
person / email
Funding
sought
STAG 2011: Scottish Theoretical Archaeology Group
Postgraduate Conference
Rebecca Younger
r.younger.1@research.gla.ac.uk
£500.00
Target Audience
PhD Researchers
undergraduates
□
Engineering □
All Faculties
x
Postdocs
IBLS
FIMS
□
□
□
Other (please state) Taught postgraduates and Honours
□
Physical Sci □
Medicine
x
Education □
Arts/ Humanties
Vet med
LBSS
□
□
Provide a brief description of the project. Including aims, key deliverables and
how this will be of benefit to the personal, professional and career development of
researchers (max 600 words)
Conference overview:
The Scottish Theoretical Archaeology Group (STAG) was created by University of
Glasgow archaeology postgraduates in 2008 to organise a student-led conference
that would serve as a forum for the presentation of fresh theoretical approaches to
their research. Since then it has remained a vibrant gathering of postgraduate and
early career researchers, offering a chance not only to discuss and debate ongoing
work, but also to provide a network of interested peers. Last year’s conference
attracted researchers from a variety of Scottish and Irish universities as well as
archaeological professionals, taught masters students and honours students.
Funding request:
We plan to give the conference an injection of creativity and reach beyond the
traditional academic conference format. To this end, we are asking the New
Initiatives Fund to cover the cost of holding 2 workshops hosted by Active Inquiry,
an Edinburgh-based company that offers ‘dynamic, challenging, participative, arts
practice’ (see http://www.activeinquiry.co.uk/ ). Organised by educators, artists,
writers, researchers and theatre professionals, Active Inquiry designs workshops
offer a creative way for researchers to engage with their work through drama and
interaction. In the past, Active Inquiry has been employed by the University of
Glasgow to run various sessions for students. At our conference all participants will
take part in a workshop (participating in either the morning or afternoon session).
Impact:
In today’s economic climate, archaeologists have to be prepared to find and make
new niches within the workforce and new ways of communicating their
research to one and other and the public. Our Active Inquiry workshops will be
specifically designed to allow postgraduate participants to engage with creative ways
of furthering one’s research, of achieving new insight into the nature of the research
experience, and of communicating with colleagues. In doing so we aim to promote
fresh perspectives on continuing and communicating research both within and
beyond academic circles. Our aim is that these workshops will provide attendees
with a unique participatory experience, tailor-made to develop the confidence of
postgraduates to embrace the challenges, and indeed the possibilities, presented by
today’s financial uncertainties. Thus the workshops will not only benefit the
academic research leaders of tomorrow, but will also prepare students and
early career professionals for future roles in commercial archaeology units,
heritage institutions, museum services, community projects and the wider
Please return bids to the Researcher Development Initiative at No 10 The Square
(e.adams@admin.gla.ac.uk)
workforce, creating an impact that reaches well beyond the conference itself.
Joint Skills benefits:
In addition to creating opportunities for postgraduate students at Glasgow to develop
and demonstrate creative approaches to their research, the general research
environment, and communicating their research (Sections A, B, D & E) and extend
their professional networks (section F), this event will also provide the organisers
with the opportunity to develop skills relating to F and G of the Joint Statement. For
example, there are ample opportunities to develop transferable skills such as project
and budget management. Furthermore, whether by participating in organising the
conference, delivering a paper, or attending the workshops, students from Glasgow
University can demonstrate their commitment to their professional development by
adding a valuable endeavour to their CV. This in turn will provide deeper personal
and professional confidence, allowing this conference to serve as a stepping stone to
involvement in higher profile conferences and encouraging researchers to embrace
invaluable opportunities to make career-shaping connections with other
institutions.
Which areas of the Joint Skills Statement does this project align to? (see
Appendix 1)
A
x
B
x
C
D
x
E
x
F
x
x
G
Monitoring and Evaluation, please describe how you will evaluate this project
We will provide all delegates with an anonymous feedback questionnaire to be
collected at the end of the conference in order to evaluate the success of both the
workshops and conference papers, and their integration into a single event. After the
conference the committee organising the conference will meet to discuss this
feedback and any issues raised therein. We will provide a full report on
proceedings and the feedback collected to the New Initiatives Funding Committee
within a month after the conference. Furthermore we are negotiating with eSharp to
publish selected papers as online content. These will be peer reviewed, providing an
additional form of feedback on the overall quality of research presented at the
conference, and creating a publication opportunity for some participants (Section
E).
What is the intended timeframe for the project
Include key dates. Is it a one-off or likely to become an ongoing activity?
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1 Mar 2011 – First call for papers
1 May 2011 – Second call for papers
1 Jul 2011 – Final call for papers
1 Aug – Close acceptance of abstracts
15 Aug – Programme set and circulated
1 Oct – Close general registration
22 Oct - Conference
Please provide a breakdown of costs
Active Inquiry workshops (2 @ £250 each) .............................. £500.00
Total amount requested ..............................................................£500.00
Please return bids to the Researcher Development Initiative at No 10 The Square
(e.adams@admin.gla.ac.uk)