PhD students gather for Participants Conference

We had a fantastic day of PhD workshops on day one of the Soil CRC Participants Conference in Adelaide. 30 students came together to network, learn and share their experiences as Soil CRC PhD students.

These students were from nine universities and covered a wide range of disciplines, nationalities, and stages of candidature.

The aim of the workshops was to enhance the students’ communication skills, foster connections, build a sense of community, and gain a better understanding of how the Soil CRC can support our students throughout their PhD studies.

The workshops were run by the Soil CRC PhD Program Manager, Dr Cassandra Wardle, and facilitated by Dr Shari Walsh (Resilient Researcher). After having to cancel previous workshops because of COVID, it was wonderful to have so many students attend in person in Adelaide.

During the workshops, students focused on improving their communications, presenting, and networking skills. They also looked at identifying and developing their skills and communicating their research impact.

Each student then had the opportunity to present their PhD project to their peers and receive feedback.

The afternoon session was dedicated primarily to a great student-led facilitated discussion (thanks Phil Kay, University of Tasmania) about the positive aspects of the PhD experience, the challenges (and how to address these), and how students can maximise their PhD experience and professional development through their involvement with the Soil CRC.

The full day program also included visits from Soil CRC staff. Our CEO, Dr Michael Crawford shared his own experience of having been a PhD student in a CRC. COO Jodi McLean, IP Officer Dr Rhona Hammond, and Communications Manager Katherine Seddon also dropped in and highlighted the areas of support they can offer students. Two of the Soil CRC Program Leaders, Professor Catherine Allan (CSU) and Associate Professor Richard Doyle (UTAS), also popped in at various times to chat with the students and listen to some of the discussions.

It was a very rewarding day, especially as it was the first chance to meet face to face for most students. And they took full advantage of this fantastic opportunity to connect with and learn from the collective wealth of knowledge, experiences, and networks that our PhD Cohort brings together.

PhD student Salini Khuraijam from the University of Newcastle said, “Previously, I had been struggling with my PhD data collection. It helped so much to talk to other PhD students and see what worked for them!”

To maintain this momentum, Cassandra is running a ‘post-conference workshop’ for students to reflect on their experience across the three days of the conference, share insights about their networking strategies and the connections they made, and discuss how they can maintain these professional networks throughout their PhD and beyond.

Another key thing that came out of the day was the students’ desire to engage more frequently with farmer groups and industry participants in the Soil CRC. And after the connections they made throughout the conference, this feeling is widely reciprocated.

As Michael Crawford said in his closing remarks, “Through this conference, the wider Soil CRC community has discovered its PhD students.” Many delegates shared their excitement to connect with PhD students. One of the advantages of doing a PhD with a CRC are the connections and networks that can be made with each other and with farmer groups and industry.

The Soil CRC PhD program is building capability in the future of Australia’s soil research. A PhD through the Soil CRC provides an opportunity to contribute to the health, sustainability and profitability of soils in Australia, and the communities that depend upon them. Students who complete their PhD through the Soil CRC are part of a cohort that are supported with training, information, resources and networking opportunities.

Six students were selected to present their PhD research in a five minute presentation at the Conference. You can watch them here.