Quelle: Own Illustration
The academic world can be an exciting, but also challenging environment. The pressure to produce research results and compete in a highly competitive environment can often be overwhelming for young academics. To address these challenges and support young researchers, Young Academics Day was held at RWTH Aachen University’s SuperC on September 5, 2023. The event was dedicated to mental health in academic careers and offered a wealth of valuable information. In this article, we have summarized the contents of the event for you.
Get-together and Opening
The event started with a get-together, where around 100 PhD students could network in advance whilst enjoying refreshing drinks. At 1:00 p.m. the event started and the moderator Melanie Klaes officially opened the RWTH Young Academics Day and welcomed everyone.
A Warm Welcome from Prof. Elisabeth Clausen
Prof. Elisabeth Clausen from the Institute of Advanced Mining Technologies then welcomed the attendees in her welcome speech and emphasized the importance of the Young Academics Day in supporting young researchers. She told the young PhD students and postdocs to pay attention to navigation aids such as advice, coaching and mentoring in their scientific careers.
Rector Prof. Ulrich Rüdiger on Career Decisions
A highlight of the day was the address by RWTH Rector Prof. Ulrich Rüdiger. Titled “Career Decisions for Young Researchers: A Rector’s Personal View,” he offered insights into his personal experiences and encouraged an open question-and-answer session.
Creativity and Humor in Research
A short coffee break was followed by the day’s keynote lecture. Science manager Britta Piel presented her keynote in the early afternoon, entitled “More humor, more humanity: some (unexpected) advice and useful techniques for a healthy research career.” In her inspiring speech, she encouraged the young scientists to bring creativity and humor into their research in order to find a healthy balance.
Discovering the Market Place
Young Academics Day ended with an exciting opportunity for networking and discovery with delicious ice cream and drinks in a casual atmosphere. Starting at 4 p.m., the Market Place opened with various support and services for the young researchers to discover.
The RDM team welcomed all interested parties with extensive information on research data management (RDM) and services such as the RDM platform Coscine, RDMO, RWTH Publications and other consulting services. In addition, a brief RDM and Coscine quiz was not to be missed in order to check one’s own level of knowledge. In addition to nice conversations and a lively exchange, visitors to the RDM booth were able to snag useful goodies: Pens, pads, stress balls and document folders, which should not be missing on any well-stocked desk.
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- Source: Own Illustration
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- Souce: Own Illustration
Conclusion
Overall, Young Academics Day 2023 was a meaningful event that encouraged young PhDs and postdocs to reflect on their academic careers and develop strategies to overcome challenges. Emphasizing mental health and personal development in academia is an important step toward a healthier and more sustainable research community. We look forward to continuing this valuable initiative next year.
Learn more
For more information about the Young Academics Day, please visit the RWTH Aachen University website.
If you have any questions about RDM in general, please send a message to the IT-ServiceDesk. The RDM team is looking forward to your message.
Responsible for the content of this article is Arlinda Ujkani.
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