Sussex Researcher School

SussexDocFest, 3-7 June

Celebrating and showcasing postgraduate research at Sussex

SussexDocFest, the annual festival celebrating all things postgraduate research, brings together our PGR community to learn, share, and connect with others across the University.

Part of the Summer of Research, it showcases the very best of Sussex and highlights the crucial contributions PGRs make to the broader research environment.

By addressing a different theme each day we hope to generate some stimulating conversations!

Bookings will open shortly. In the meantime, explore the full event programme below, and check out what last year's festival had to offer.

Monday 3 June: Careers  

Pathways to Success: Leveraging your research skills for career progress (2.00-4.00pm, Student Centre Woodland 3)

  • An interactive workshop designed to support PGRs in identifying and articulating their research skills for career progression in both academia and commercial or public sector settings. Throughout this event, you’ll engage in various activities aimed at highlighting PGR strengths, building confidence, and exploring career paths.

    By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your extensive research skills and how to effectively communicate them for future career opportunities.

Catalysing Connections networking event (4.30-6.00pm, Student Centre Woodland 3)

  • A networking event designed to foster collaboration, networking, and career development among postgraduate and early career researchers, employers and professionals from various sectors.

    Catalysing Connections aims to create a vibrant platform where attendees can exchange ideas, forge meaningful connections, and explore diverse career opportunities. There will be opportunities for informal networking among PGRs, ECRs, employers, and university staff who can offer guidance and encouragement, as well as hearing from keynote speakers including the Dean of the Sussex Researcher School and Sussex alumni now working in a variety of sectors. Their stories of adaptability and achievement will inspire.

Tuesday 4 June: Neurodiversity

Approaches to Neurodiversity and Postgraduate Research (11.00am-12.15pm, Jubilee 118 and online)

  • Hear from a sector expert and members of Sussex services who support neurodivergent researchers. Followed by lunch and a chance to chat. Full details to follow.

    This event will be in person, however online attendance will also be an option.

Neurodivergent PGRs Lived Experience Panel (1.00-2.15pm, Jubilee 118 and online)

  • What does it mean to be a neurodivergent PGR? What are the advantages, the challenges, and the support networks available? Join us for a panel discssion featuring four neurodivergent PGRs who will discuss their diverse experiences of undertaking a research degree at Sussex.

    This event will explore unique perspectives, challenges and triumphs as the four scholars share their personal journes navigating academia. Attending the event will allow you to gain insight, forster understanding, and celebrate diversity in research and learning.

    This event will be in person, however online attendance will also be an option.
Wednesday 5 June: Interdisciplinarity

Interdisciplinary Research: How to get started panel and Q&A (10.30am-12.00pm, online)

  • Are you curious about interdisciplinary research? Want to get involved but not sure how to make connections? Hear from researchers with a range of backgrounds, undertaking research in different fields, and put your questions to them in a lively debate around what it really means to work across disciplines. 

Speed Collaborating and Poster Presentations (12.00-2.00pm, room tbc)

  • Organised by the Students' Union PGR Officer, this is an opportunity to present your PGR research to a broad audience of Sussex researchers who are interested in interdisciplinary work, and link up with researchers outside your immediate bubble. Make contacts and potential collaboration groupings for future research projects, increase your network, and connect with researchers with different skillsets and knowledge. Full details to follow.

PGR/ECR Cross-Discipline Speed Mentoring (2.00-4.00pm, online)

  • We're bringing together a diverse selection of Sussex's early career and postgraduate researchers for a series of brief, focused conversations around research, career goals and development.

    For PGRs, it's a chance to gain invaluable advice on navigating the next steps in your research journey. For ECRs, it's an opportunity to develop interpersonal skills, share your knowledge and mentor the next generation of researchers.

Creative Outlets Craft and Chat Session (date and time tbc)

  • A SussexDocFest special edition of the monthly craft and chat, organised by and for postgraduate researchers. Come along to celebrate the end of the academic year with us, socialise and chat to other PGRs with drinks and snacks, and get crafty! Full details to follow.
Thursday 6 June: Impact

Research Image and Poster Competition Exhibition (All day, Student Centre Woodland 2 & 3)

  • Drop in and browse the exhibition of academic posters and images representing postgraduate research at Sussex over the past year - and vote for your favourites for the £200 People's Choice awards (you can also vote online via our website).

    Winners will be announced at 4.45pm following the 3MT final. See the Research Image and Research Poster pages for further details. No need to register, just drop in and explore! Please be mindful that other events may be taking place in the same space.

Keynote on PGR Impact (10.00-11.00am, Student Centre Woodland 2 & 3)

  • Details to follow.

HIVE Open Access Panel (11.00am-12.30pm, Student Centre Woodland 2 & 3)

  • Details to follow.

RLI Showcase and Networking Lunch (12:30-2.00pm, Student Centre Woodland 2 & 3)

  • Hear lightning talks from some of the recent recipients of SRS Researcher-Led Initiatives funding. Then grab some lunch, network with fellow researchers, and find out about the opportunities available to you across campus and beyond.

    Chat to teams from the Library, Careers & Entrepreneurship, your PGR Student Union reps, the postgraduate-led Excursions Journal and more.

Impactful PGR Research Panel (2.00-3.15pm, Student Centre Woodland 2 & 3)

  • Impact is a buzzword we hear a lot, but what does it actually mean for postgraduate research? Can PGRs really make an impact with their work - and what can that look like?

    Join this year's winners of the Adam Weiler Impact Award - given to PGRs across all disciplines at Sussex - as they discuss their research so far, where they hope to go next, and how postgraduate research can influence policy, theory and practice in academia and beyond.

Three Minute Thesis Final (3.30-5.00pm, Student Centre Woodland 2 & 3)

  • The 3MT is an academic competition that challenges PGRs to describe their research in just three minutes to a non-academic audience.

    Join us for the exciting live final as PGRs from across the University compete to win £500 towards research and a place in the Vitae national semi-finals. You'll also get a chance to vote for your favourite for the £250 People's Choice award!

    The 3MT final will be followed at 4.45pm by our prize-giving ceremony, announcing the winners not only of the 3MT but also our Research Image and Research Poster competitions. We'll also present the annual Adam Weiler Impact Award, which recognises PGRs who demonstrate the potential to make a lasting, positive impact in their field.

Friday 7 June: Community

Living Library (10.30am-12.30pm, Library)

  • Borrow a fellow researcher instead of a book, and learn about their work, their challenges, and their experience of undertaking a research degree at Sussex. Full details to follow.

End-of-year Barbecue (1.00-4.00pm, Falmer Bar Patio)

  • Celebrate the start of summer at our legendary end-of-year barbecue. With reserved seating on the Falmer Bar patio, it's a great way to get together with other researchers in the open air.

    Choose a beef, vegetarian or vegan option when you register. Includes a free drink voucher! Food is first come, first served so get there early to avoid disappointment.

PGR Film Screening (date and time tbc)

  • Details to follow.
 

If you have any queries about SussexDocFest, get in touch with us at researcher-development@sussex.ac.uk.

Sussex Researcher School

E: researcher-school@sussex.ac.uk