Know Moore About (Physical Sciences Research Skills Programme) 2022-3

Data management is a vital part of all research projects. Done well it can save time and stress as well as making the research process more efficient. This session will introduce participants to the basic elements of managing the information they use and create as part of their projects including how information can be backed up, stored and shared.

Book your place today.

Referencing is a fact of academic life. Students and researchers need to explore the work of others in order to build upon it and proper referencing helps to showcase the range and breadth of research undertaken. The ideas of others also need to be credited appropriately in order to avoid accusations of plagiarism. But - it's also a fact of academic life that referencing can be boring and complicated. This session aims to change all that!

In this session we will explore online reference management tools and how they can save you time and effort when compiling your bibliography. Using the tool Zotero as an example we will show you how to import references from a range of sources, create easy in text citations and produce a bibliography at the click of a button.

Don't delay and book your place today!

Does your desktop have multiple files labelled ‘FINAL’? Do you struggle to locate important information in your emails? If the answer to these questions is yes then this is the session for you.

In this session we will look at the basic components of good information management including back up strategies, where to store your information and how to organise your files so you can find what you need when you need it. We will also help you to build a plan for your project which means that you will always stay on top of your information.

Make your life a little bit easier and book a place now.

Glossophobia (the fear of public speaking) is something that impacts many of us. However, the ability to design and deliver an effective presentation is a valuable skill both in academia and beyond. Join us for this gentle introduction to the most common mistakes people make and how you can avoid them.

In this session we will look at the process of pulling together an eye catching and accessible set of slides, capturing the attention of your audience, preparing for the unexpected and crucially how to overcome your nerves. At the end of the hour you will be able to put together and deliver a perfect presentation, whatever topic you choose.

Note that this is a theory only session – we won’t make you actually give a presentation (unless you are so inspired that we can’t stop you!).

Hone your skills and book a place now.

As we approach the end of term it's time to reflect back on what went well and where there is room to improve. Join the Physical Sciences Research Support Team for a whistle stop review of study skills. We will answer your questions, share our top tips and resources and get you ready for the term ahead.

Book your place today.

As we start a new term it's a good idea to reflect back on what went well and where there is room to improve. Join the Physical Sciences Research Support Team for a whistle stop review of study skills. We will answer your questions, share our top tips and resources and get you ready for the term ahead.

Book your place today.

The physical library building and its collections are only the tip of the information iceberg. A wealth of online resources is available during your studies … if only you know where to look!

In this session we will highlight some of our most useful online resources including electronic books and journals and the range of databases you can access to help with your search. We will also give you a tour of iDiscover (our library catalogue) and pass on our tops tips and tricks for getting the most out of online sources including how to build a successful search, find what you need and choose the right resources for your work.

Get ahead with using the online library and book a place now.

Taking good notes is a valuable skill, both during your studies and beyond. In this session we will share with you our top tips for taking notes in lectures, from readings and when watching recordings. We will showcase some tried and tested templates you can use to structure your notes as well as a range of digital tools for notes on the go. Finally the session will show how to use your notes in your writing and revision for academic success.

Make a note to book your place today.

Referencing is a fact of academic life. Students and researchers need to explore the work of others in order to build upon it and proper referencing helps to showcase the range and breadth of research undertaken. The ideas of others also need to be credited appropriately in order to avoid accusations of plagiarism. But - it's also a fact of academic life that referencing can be boring and complicated. This session aims to change all that!

In this session we will explore online reference management tools and how they can save you time and effort when compiling your bibliography. Using the tool Zotero as an example we will show you how to import references from a range of sources, create easy in text citations and produce a bibliography at the click of a button.

Don't delay and book your place today!

Want to know where to get started with your research? Join us as we explore Scopus, an abstract and citation database of over 70 million items on a range of topics. In this session we will look at basic and advanced search functions, how to set up and search author profiles to keep track of outputs and how to find relevant citations. We will also share our top tips for getting the most out of Scopus.

Join us online and book today.

Want to know where to get started with your research? Join us as we explore Web of Science, an online platform giving you access to a range of databases in a single search. In this session we will look at basic and advanced search functions, how to set up and search author profiles to keep track of outputs and how to find relevant citations. We will also share our top tips for getting the most out of Web of Science.

Join us online and book today.

Data management is a vital part of all research projects. Done well it can save time and stress as well as making the research process more efficient. This session will introduce participants to the basic elements of managing the information they use and create as part of their projects including how information can be backed up, stored and shared.

Book your place today.

The world of publication is changing. There are more ways to share the outputs of your research than ever before and at the same time there is an increasing emphasis on sharing these outputs openly.

This session will guide you through the essentials of publishing and sharing your research outputs (both formal and informal) to ensure maximum exposure for your work. From choosing the best format and publisher to avoiding problem publishers this session will outline everything you need to know including an introduction to open access.

Learn how to make the most of open publication and book a place now.

Congratulations – you’ve published your research! But what are you going to do now? Although it might be tempting to move onto the next project you need to ensure that people are able to find, read and use your outputs. Not only can this help to increase the readership of your output but it can enhance your reputation and lead to more opportunities.

This session will guide you through the decisions you need to make to create a promotional strategy that works for you. We will look at how to build a successful online profile, where to (legally) share your work and where to spend time creating a targeted output.

Learn how to build a personalised promotional strategy and book your place now.

Once you have shared your research you need to know about what type of impact it’s having. How many people are reading it (or not) and what does this tell us about our future plans? And should we just rely on numbers anyway? (spoiler alert: nope!).

This session offers an introduction to modern metrics as one element of a wider system to measure success. Learn about traditional metrics, newer methods such as Altmetrics and why there is more to impact than just numbers. We will also discuss the move towards the responsible use of metrics and how research active staff at any level can get involved.

Learn about which measures really matter and book your place now.

You have your research topic and access to millions of resources – but how do you find relevant material? This session will help you turn your research idea into a comprehensive search strategy designed to get maximum results. It will cover creating targeted keywords, filtering results, evaluating materials and recording your methods to save you time throughout your project.

Do something nice for future you and book your place on this session today.

Move beyond iDiscover and discover the world of databases. Using Web of Science, this session will guide you through basic and advanced search functions, finding relevant content for your research and setting alerts to keep on top of new material

Register for this session and search smart.

Move beyond iDiscover and discover the world of databases. Using Scopus, this session will guide you through basic and advanced search functions, finding relevant content for your research and setting alerts to keep on top of new material

Register for this session and search smart.

Referencing is an important part of the academic ecosystem. It can showcase the range of sources you have read, allow the reader to follow up on any interesting points and help to avoid the problem of plagiarism. But referencing can also be time consuming. This session will explore reference management tools and how they can support you throughout the entire research process from discovery to write up. Using Zotero as an example, it will cover how to import references from a range of sources, create easy in-text citations and produce a bibliography at the click of a button.

Research posters are a great way to communicate your project to an interested audience, but they are not just an excuse to cram an entire article onto a single sheet of paper! This session will cover what it takes to design and present a research poster including what to include, accessibility concerns, using illustrations to make an impact and presenting both in-person and online.

Book your place today.

Many of us have issues with speaking in public but the ability to design and deliver an effective presentation is a valuable skill. This gentle introduction will focus on the most common mistakes people make and highlight how you can avoid them. It will cover topics such as creating eye-catching and accessible slide decks, capturing the attention of an audience, preparing for the unexpected and overcoming nerves.

Hone your skills and book your place today.

Creating a strong, professional online identity can help to enhance your reputation, grow your network and become part of the wider scholarly conversation. This session will discuss the various tools available to you, how to build a successful online presence and promote yourself and your work for maximum impact.

Book your place and build your online presence today.