PCST 2012

Calling all researchers studying for a PhD in science communication!

You are invited to a meeting on Wednesday 18th April 2012 (9am - 12 noon) in Florence before the PCST 12 Conference, 18th-20th April.

This meeting will be an opportunity to hear what has been going on in PhD research in our sector and to share experiences and information with fellow PhD researchers.

The meeting aims also to encourage PhD researchers in science communication to form their own network in association with the PCST network that organises the PCST conferences. Many PhD researchers are working alone or in small groups in their institutions and could benefit from wider contacts.

The meeting will discuss trends and issues in recent PhD research in science communication with authors and supervisors of completed PhDs present. Participants will be invited to speak about their current PhD projects and the meeting will also discuss structures for networking among PhD researchers.

To register (free of charge for all those registered at PCST 2012 conference) for this pre-conference meeting, send an email to Maarten van der Sanden (Delft University of Technology, Science Education & Communication) by 20th December 2011. Send to: m.c.a.vandersanden@tudelft.nl Details of the meeting's location and final agenda will be confirmed later to those who have registered.

Teatro, Badia Fiesolana, European University Institute, Fiesole

Wednesday, 18 April 2012, 9am-12noon

To get to Badia Fiesolana from Florence: Take Bus 7 from Piazza San Marco to San Domenico stop. (Buy bus ticket in advance at any newspaper / tobacco kiosk.)

Most of those attending this meeting are researchers currently engaged in PhD projects. There will be also some participants planning to start such studies and several more who have completed PhDs and who are now, or will soon be, mentors to PhD students. In the open discussion and group work, we hope to create opportunities for these various groups to interact fruitfully.

9:00	Review of recent PhD research in science communication Maarten van der Sanden, Netherlands
	The place of PhD research in the development of our field Brian Trench, Ireland
	Trends in science communication publication and research Rick Borchelt, USA
9:45	Experiences of PhD studies and supervision Open discussion of students, recent graduates and mentors
10:30 Group work	Group 1: What are your expectations (meetings, seminars, workshops?)
	Group 2: What subjects do you want to discuss (methodology, theory, practical issues?)
	Group 3: How do you want to organize (board, sub-section of PCST Network)
11:30	The way forward
12:00	Close of session

Participants in this meeting can, if they wish, take lunch in the restaurant at the European University Institute. Please indicate to Maarten [m.c.a.vandersanden@tudelft.nl] whether you plan to stay for lunch. If you have not already registered for this event and wish to do so, please contact Maarten immediately.