Title of project
Jorge Cham, PhD comics
Contact person
Dora Galvez-Cruz
Funding required
£1300.00
Project Details
What is the project designed to address? (Please give a background to the project.)
Part of the problem with the research (involving students and professionals alike) is the
isolation of the entire process. That isolation gives us the perspective that we are the only
ones experiencing difficulties.
A different take on research is proposed by Jorge Cham.
Jorge Cham draws a series of comics that reflect the PhD student life
(http://www.phdcomics.com/) and give the PhDs a sense of community. In essence, good and
bad things happen to every PhD student and these things can be presented in a funny way.
A talk given by Jorge Cham would help remind participants of the motivation that made them
undertake research in the first place, and would provide them with the sense of unity that
researchers around the globe share the same problem, all this with an extra sense of humour.
The University of Glasgow gets new PhDs and postdocs every year. This talk could help to
create a network and give people the chance to meet researchers from other subjects to
share ideas, as well as increase their motivation and reignite flagging enthusiasm for their
subjects.
What is the target ‘client’ group of the bid and what impact will the project have on them? (e.g.
PGR/early career research staff? Which department/faculty/territory? Inter-institutional?
National? etc)
Target ‘client’ group of the bid: Research students (PhD and Masters) postdoctoral
researchers and any undergraduate student that is interested in expanding their studies into a
research area.
What impact will the project have on them? The impact of this project is to unite and
motivate all research-related participants. To give a sense of purpose and to provide an extra
perspective in their everyday activities. Also, it could show the prospect students that
research can be fun.
Which department/faculty/territory? Inter-institutional All. Due to the cost and targetpopulation of this project, University of Glasgow can invite other universities in Glasgow. I.e.
Strathclyde, Caledonian research students and/or researchers can be included.
What are the deliverables and the timescale of the project?
Derivable
Budget approval
Contact speaker
Book Facilities
Promotion
Conference
Time
11-April-2008
11-April-2008
14-April-2008
18-April-2008 to 9-May-2008
Week of 12-May-2008
Please give an indication of if and how the project can become self-sustaining beyond the
period of funding
Please return bids to the PGR Office 10 The Square (e.o’donnell@enterprise.gla.ac.uk)
Jorge Cham goes all over the world giving talks and his web page has an average of more
than a million visitors monthly and more than 7 million page views monthly as well. In this
context, having the University of Glasgow visit in this web page would also give presence to
the University.
Furthermore, it would help to publicise the idea of the Roberts money and what can be done
with it
Please provide an indicative breakdown of the costs contributing to the funding requirement.
Concept
Booking of conference room
Promotion
Conference fee
Total
Estimated cost
None
£100
£1200
£1300
Please return bids to the PGR Office 10 The Square (e.o’donnell@enterprise.gla.ac.uk)