Postgraduate Committee Meeting Notes – 20 October 2009 Present – Penny Moore, Laura Domigan, Kristy Hogsden Apologies –Alwin Sky, Jason Tylianakis, Lisa Denmead, Andy Muscroft‐Taylor, Dean Harliwich Updates from Committees Staff meeting – no relevant updates PPP/ H & S – increased awareness of health & safety issues due to recent incidents TLC (Teaching and Learning Committee) – UTLC report on student feedback for 100 – level courses; negative feedback about some demonstrators – this will be followed‐up at a future TLC meeting Research – best student paper awards were selected and will be awarded at ABC Student Liaison – no report Upcoming Social Events ‐ squash on Wednesday nights at the university gym (contact Matt Walters if interested) Questions, Comments, and Concerns ‐ Cass Educational weekend was very successful. 25 students attended, learned lots, and had a good time; plans are underway for another weekend event at Kaikoura ‐ we discussed several ways to engage demonstrators, including pairing experienced demonstrators with new ones, lecturers using their own students to demonstrate their courses – good knowledge base and established team dynamics, have less demonstrators in large labs (more active, less standing around), best demonstrator award. Giving demonstrators different coloured lab coats might help students to identify them in a lab. ‐ Spencer Barrett’s workshop was well attended and well received; how do we engage visiting scientists if they are interested in facilitating postgrad workshops? New Ideas ‐ based on the success of Jason’s “how to get into a journal” talk, Dave Kelly’s “how to give a presentation” talk and the workshop with Spencer Barrett, we should introduce a skills series to be held for postgrads in biology. This could include 1 skills based workshop every couple of months facilitated by academic staff or visitors. Topics could include: how to get a postdoc position, how to write a cv, how to prepare a manuscript, etc. These workshops could be coupled with a social event (e.g., bbq or morning tea). ‐ Laura Young would like to get Rounders going on the Ilam fields for students UC Careers & Employment Seminars: Tuesday 3 November ‐ Writing successful CVs & winning job applications Wednesday 4 November ‐ Get the job you want ‐ easy ways to impress employers at job interviews Next meeting: 17 November 2009