Photonics Meets Real-World Applications (PMRWA) joint Doctoral Training Workshop.
EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training Photonic Integration & Advanced Data Storage, Intelligent Sensing & Measurement and Advanced Photonics are united under the theme of ‘integrative technology’; each CDT covers photonics in its remit. It is imperative that staff, students, and industry working across these programmes have exposure to collegiate networking events to keep abreast of the current and future state of the broad field of integrative technology, within key enabling technologies. At the same time it is a strategic priority of the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account at the University of Glasgow to support the development of early career researchers by enabling interaction with potential industry partners and more broadly upskilling them in impact generation.
The EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account supported the delivery of a Tri-CDT conference, which aimed to provide extensive opportunities for explicit networking of ~100 delegates; allowing for collaborations across institutes to be fostered, and new relationships with industry and academic partners to be built. By offering a breadth of concurrent workshops during the day, focused networking sessions as opportune moments were also key to the day. By offering a breadth of concurrent workshops during the day, focused networking sessions as opportune moments were also key to the day.
Interactive discussions and audience participation during sessions such as ‘Working in R&D’ and ‘Biotech and Biomedical Engineering’ allowed industry partners to increase their visibility to students, whilst highlighting future recruitment opportunities and exposing students to industry and business practice.
‘How to Network’ sessions, CV Clinics and ‘Pathfinder’ workshops also allowed students to learn about a broad range of career pathways including those they may not have considered prior to this event.
One particular focus of the day was to encourage doctoral students to stay in STEM careers post PhD, leading by example with a line-up of inspirational speakers of balanced gender, including successful University of Glasgow alumni.
In total, 32 industry and networking bodies were in attendance, including the Knowledge Transfer Network, Technology Scotland, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance and the Institute of Physics.
More details about the PIADS CDT can be found on their website: http://www.cdt-piads.ac.uk/, and further statistics and feedback from PMRWA can be read in the flyer adjacent.
