UoBe Festival 2021 Postgraduate Round-up

UoBe festival begins next week, 25-29 January 2021, with five days covering five themes of activities: Community, Varsity, Skills, Social and Wellbeing. It’s a great opportunity to try something new, meet some new people, and take a well-earnt break as Semester One comes to a close.

Here’s our round-up of events we are particularly looking forward to for postgraduates, though there were many we couldn’t include – if the following round-up tickles your fancy, make sure you check out UoBe’s website for a full view of everything going on next week!

Research Development

The festival has a number of events around research, public engagement and outreach: perfect if you’re a researcher, or looking into further postgraduate study. Start the week off with Monday’s workshop Be Ready… To Captivate your Audience with Oscar-Worthy Research Trailers. A collaboration between the University Graduate School, Library Services and Careers Network, the workshop uses movie trailers as inspiration for pitching your research to diverse audiences, with the added bonus of submitting your completed pitch for a prize!

Wednesday’s Research That Matters talk and Q&A promises a fascinating insight into four key areas of research across the university, looking at the future impact of important conversations around data science, the arts and science divide, education and health.

Looking into PhD study? Don’t miss the Careers Network’s How to Fund Your Postgraduate Study workshop: advice and information on funding your studies, and on writing funding proposals.

If you’re a sciences student with a few days free, the festival’s intensive workshop The Ins and Outs of Science Outreach is a perfect way to develop your research profile. Over three days you’ll learn from public engagement professionals based at the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences on how to create high-quality outreach activities around your research, develop your ideas and network with like-minded people.

And for a bit of light relief, why not join one of the festival’s online Escape Rooms, happening every day - as a mystery set in the cut-throat world of an academic research group, we think it even counts as work! You can sign up individually or as a team.

Get Creative

The festival’s creative workshops offer ways to both relax and learn new skills in thinking about and expressing your research. The Varsity Cup includes chances to try your hand at writing a 50 word story, public health video competition, and a Dragon’s Den-style competition for innovative ideas.

Monday’s half-day Comic Workshop is suitable for all levels of experience, and is a fun and informal way to explore the form.

Caravan Theatre’s thought-provoking short films are showing throughout the week, alongside Conversation Corners to discuss the issues raised: an opportunity to learn more about the issues of hate crime, sexual harassment, and mental health, discuss them with others, and reflect on the ways these can be communicated to diverse audiences.

Other creative workshops throughout the week include Zine-making, Spoken Word, Calligraphy and a Burns Night poetry reading.

Wind Down and Relax

Friday’s postgraduate event Mindfulness for Studying outlines guided exercises with mindfulness expert and University of Birmingham alumnus Dr. Michael Roberts. Learn about the important role of mindfulness in your academic life, and how to build it into your day.

If lockdown has left you a little green-fingered, Winterbourne’s Head Gardener is giving an online, guided tour of the campus gardens ahead of its spring blooms – but if you’re more interested in what’s underneath the soil, the Lapworth Geology Museum is also doing a lunchtime tour on Tuesday and Thursday.

For international students, The Global Café on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime is a perfect way to socialise with other international students, with activities and socials to get the conversation flowing.

On Thursday, learn more about nutritional medicine at The Doctor’s Kitchen: Cook Yourself to Health with Dr. Rupy Aujla, and join Michael Acton Smith, CEO of the wellbeing app Calm, and explore mental health and mental fitness at the ‘Be You’ flagship online talk.

On Friday, join a fascinating talk, Get your Head in the Game, with former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle, about sport and mental health, and supporting loved ones facing mental health issues.

And for those dark January nights, there are various film watch parties on various platforms throughout the week – we’ll be watching the Oscar-winning South Korean film Parasite (Wednesday) and New England classic Little Women (Friday), but you can also find listings for Knives Out, A Star is Born, and 1917.

Looking Outwards

This year has taught us the value of belonging and supporting both our local and wider community, and this is a perfect opportunity to give back, reflect on the challenges of the year and look towards building individual and collective resilience.

If we can recommend one thing from the festival, it would be to join Wednesday’s information session on How to Become a Blood Donor. On a similar note, you can learn valuable life-saving skills online with Resuscitation for Medical Disciplines Birmingham on Friday afternoon.

Wednesday morning’s interactive workshop Being a Global Citizen reflects on what it means to be part of a global community, particularly in a post-COVID world.

On Tuesday and Thursday, explore community building and communal living with a panel of expert community development practitioners.

On Wednesday afternoon, join Expedition leader Andy Pag to explore approaches to sustainable travel and living.

We hope the UoBe festival offers a chance to relax and unwind after a busy, challenging Semester. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Facebook, tag the events #JustBe, and let us know what you get up to!