Labcast 1 - HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY

Thank you to all who joined the New History Lab on Friday for an afternoon filled with cake, talking, and general frivolity. It was great to see such a large turnout for what was a very informative session, and we hope to see you all for the next meeting on the 22nd October. If you were unable to make this first session, have no fear! For your aural pleasure, we have uploaded the event to the blog. Click on the following links to receive history goodness direct into your brain...

Gill introduces the Lab, before the previous committee is recognised for their hard work

Tessa tells all about doing an MA, complete with adventures in Berlin

Robbie gives us the lowdown on doing a PhD from his experience at Loughborough

Alun shares his wisdom on completing a surprisingly politically-relevant PhD at Leicester

Emma reminds us that there is life after a PhD, and gives some clue on what that life might be

Questions to the panel are opened to the floor

Gill gives out some important details about the next New History Lab

Thank you to Terese Bird and Emma Kimberley at the BDRA/Graduate School Media Zoo for hosting these mp3s.

Enjoy!

Leicester 1900-17 and 2010

This is embarrassingly nerdy, but I thought you might be interested in my collection of 'Leicester Then & Now' photos. I find the old pictures fascinating, and the side-by-side comparisons reveal the following:

• That street space has become highly segregated, with clear divisions between pedestrians, motor vehicles and cyclists.
• Thinking that the city centre has been pedestrianised over the last few years is a mistake. In fact it has been repedestrianised
• The amount of clutter (signs, posts, awnings etc) is roughly the same
  

Open Screenings at the University of Leicester

It's been posted on @NewHitsoryLab but here is the complete programme of Open Screenings run by Department of History of Art & Film and the School of English that Julie mentioned at the Lab last friday. Julie will be introducing the film today so if you can do go along!

13 October Smashing Time (dir. Desmond Davis, 1967) introduced by Ms Julie Ives
27 October Watchmen (dir. Jack Snyder, 2009) introduced by Professor James Chapman
10 November Bright Star (dir. Jane Campion, 2009) introduced by Dr Julian North
24 November The Innocents (dir. Jack Clayton, 1961) introduced by Dr Sarah Knight
8 December Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari (dir. Robert Wiene, 1920) introduced by Dr Matthew Potter

The screenings will be on alternate Wednesdays, with a 3 pm start
All screenings will be in the University Film Theatre, Attenborough Building
Everybody is welcome

‘From me to you’ -Speed Researching for geeks!

Skills, skills, skills that’s what our next Lab (22.10.10) is all about.

We’ve all heard that we need to develop our ‘research skills’, ‘communication skills’, and most mystical of all develop ‘transferable skills’. Regardless of what these things may, or may not, mean we reckon being able to talk with confidence to people about your research is a pretty good place to start, so that’s why we’re all going Speed Researching!

Being able to talk about your research topic clearly and concisely is extremely valuable, especially when you’re out and about and conferences and such. Being able to do so within a couple of minutes can be more difficult than it may first appear. How do you condense down the complex mix of influences within your project into a sentence? Convey why it’s important and exciting without taking half an hour about it? By practicing these techniques in the friendly, tea-and-cake-filled environment of the History Lab, we’re all going to learn how to perfect this art.

We’re going to do this by using a Speed Dating model. Everyone will have a Speed Researcher number and three minutes to convince the person opposite them that your research is the cats-pyjamas. After three minutes you’ll switch roles and mark your partner out of 10...There will be a spangly History Lab prize at the end for the smooth-talker with the most points!

Everyone is welcome, whether you're just starting out or finishing up your research. You can talk about a past, present, or future project, we don’t mind.

Thanks to all those who have already signed up, we’d like to get as many people as possible numbered-up before the event, so if you’d like to come along, give me a shout at: [email protected]

Speed Researching -what's the worst that could happen!!

NEW HISTORY LAB gets off to great start!

NEW HISTORY LAB got off to a great start last Friday evening when over 40 technicians turned out to find out 'How to get an MA or PhD'.

Successful students told all. Tessa started with study comparisons of doing your MA in Leicester and Berlin. Among a load of tips and strategies, Tessa's main message was to stay happy (or if you can't do 'happy', stay sane). Robbie from Loughborough via Belgium, who is in the middle of a PhD, told a similar story of staying sane by keeping control over what you do and what you intend to do, by constantly assessing your research programme. Alun, who completed his PhD this year, explained the highs and lows of long distance research - especially the lows. He also offered useful advice on surviving your viva. Finally, Emma inspired the LAB with news that there is life after Leicester University. She showed the LAB where to look and how to think ahead for jobs and opportunities. The questions that followed from the packed room were very sharp and to the point. I particularly liked 'the last thing before you go to sleep' advice, and the question from Stella on how do you find your own writing 'voice'?

Over to you LABBERS, for further accounts of this extremely valuable laboratory. I learnt more here than a day's official 'training'.

And thanks above all to GAVIN FREEMAN for organizing everything.

The LAB started as usual with scrumptious home baked cakes from Emma (ginger), Gavin (pink fairiy), and Rob (lemon drizzle) - all guzzled down with tea from a big pot that Gill kept hot and fresh.

At the beginning there was a presentation and eulogy to those who had worked so hard over the past two years to make the LAB such a success: Lady Robyn Cooper, Sir Matt Neale, and Professor Noble FOBS. They all bowed and smiled graciously.

Now we all look forward to Friady 22 October and Speed Researching for Geeks. Count me in!