The 'Beyond Boundaries' 2010 Experience

For the fourth year running Bangor University’s postgraduate community has held a fascinating, successful and enjoyable conference. Organised by the Research Students’ Forum (RSF), this interdisciplinary event presents a unique opportunity to share ideas and experiences. With the need to relate research work to the world at large and demonstrate societal impact, never has it been more important to interact with our research peers from other schools and colleges.

image of winner With a theme of Experience!, this years event attracted presentations on subjects as diverse as King Arthur (Anastasija Ropa, School of English), the loneliness of a postgrad (Jenny Byast, School of Management Studies) and Mental Fatigue (Walter Staiano, Schools of Sport Science and Psychology). The need to transcend disciplinary boundaries and to seek broad and community involvement in projects was aptly demonstrated by the Keynote speaker, Dr. Ambra Burls, recently appointed as lecturer in the School of Psychology, in her presentation on ecotherapy.

For many of the speakers, for example Ma Xiao of the School of Law (below left), it was their first time presenting at a conference. Despite the occasion and resulting nerves however, the standard of presentations was extremely high and the Best Paper Award (as judged by the conference delegates) was hotly contested. The results were:

1st (receiving a £50 cash award from the RSF): Irish Medium Education: cognitive skills, linguistic skills, and attitudes towards Irish Ivan Kennedy, School of Education and Lifelong Learning

2nd (receiving a £20 meal voucher from Blue Skies Café): Neural Correlates of the Effort Experienced during Exercise Helma de Morree, School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences

3rd (receiving £15 book token from The Muse Bookshop): A Song of Experience? William Blake and the Book of Job Allan Wilcox, School of Theology and Religious Studies

The main conference programme was supplemented by a day of participatory workshops. Also with the theme of Experience!, these aimed to enable and enhance vital research skills: to be a good presenter and to be relaxed and inspired. Given the high levels of stress amongst postgraduates, the latter aim was particularly appreciated and, as the photos below indicate (taken during Keith Beasley’s ‘Reiki for Researchers’ workshop), successful. These workshops were a collaboration between Keith (coordinator of the recently formed ‘Bangor University Transcending Thought’ group within the RSF), Judith Soulsby of the Centre for Mindfulness and Tibetan Buddhist Dusana Dorjee who also works in the School of Psychology.

The conference was supported by the Vice Chancellor’s Office and the Academic Development Unit (ADU), demonstrated the commitment of the University to fostering an interactive postgraduate community in Bangor. Penny Dowdney of the ADU, already well know by many participants for the Graduates Skills Programme which she promotes, was delighted that such a positive event had materialised.

Abstracts and PowerPoint presentations from 'Beyond Boundaries' 2010: Experience! will be posted onto the RSF website shortly. Post-graduates interested in participating in next year's conference are invited to contact the 'Beyond Boundaries' 2010 Conference Chairman, Keith Beasley. For information about the Research Students' Forum and its academic & social activities visit the RSF website.

Report by Keith Beasley, Chair Beyond Boundaries Conference