Stirling Graduate Research SchoolStirling Graduate Research SchoolNovember 2007November 2007

’’ Doing a PhD at Stirling Doing a PhD at Stirling University’University’

IntroductionIntroduction

Ian SimpsonIan Simpson

Deputy Principal - Research and Knowledge TransferDeputy Principal - Research and Knowledge Transfer

‘‘What is research?’What is research?’ ResearchResearch

‘‘to investigate to investigate thoroughly’thoroughly’

Discovering new Discovering new knowledgeknowledge

Revising existing Revising existing knowledgeknowledge

Doing researchDoing research Scientific methodScientific method

Hypothesis drivenHypothesis driven Systematic observation / Systematic observation /

experimentationexperimentation QuantitativeQuantitative

Arts and HumanitiesArts and Humanities Textual, material Textual, material

analysesanalyses EthnographyEthnography

Cross-disciplinaryCross-disciplinary New frameworksNew frameworks New synthesisNew synthesis

The researcherThe researcher CuriousCurious

Poses questionsPoses questions IdeasIdeas

Offers new thinkingOffers new thinking IntellectualIntellectual

Application of mindApplication of mind

‘‘Why do research?’Why do research?’ Because we can’t help Because we can’t help

itit Basic , blue skies researchBasic , blue skies research

To better ourselves To better ourselves and othersand others EmployabilityEmployability Applied researchApplied research

Freedom to decideFreedom to decide Historical perspective on Historical perspective on

contemporary contemporary environmental issuesenvironmental issues

Commentary on national Commentary on national and cultural identityand cultural identity

Foundation for heritage Foundation for heritage resource managementresource management

Stirling makes a Stirling makes a differencedifference ‘‘Fish pathogen detection’Fish pathogen detection’ ‘‘Great ape conservation and Great ape conservation and

protection’protection’ ‘‘Human migration and Human migration and

identity’identity’ ‘‘Faces, communication, child Faces, communication, child

development’development’ ‘‘Enhancing self care’Enhancing self care’

‘‘A community of international A community of international researchers’ researchers’

Stirling ResearchStirling Research AquacultureAquaculture Arts, histories and culturesArts, histories and cultures Children and young peopleChildren and young people Enterprise and economyEnterprise and economy Environments and societiesEnvironments and societies People-centred health carePeople-centred health care SportSport Work, welfare, well-beingWork, welfare, well-being

Academic supervisionAcademic supervision Principal and second Principal and second

supervisorsupervisor Post-graduate tutorPost-graduate tutor SGRSSGRS

World-class facilitiesWorld-class facilities Within StirlingWithin Stirling Through Scottish ‘Pooling’ Through Scottish ‘Pooling’

initiativesinitiatives International integrationInternational integration

Academic publishingAcademic publishing Journals, monographsJournals, monographs

Conferences & Conferences & WorkshopsWorkshops Presenting your workPresenting your work

Research fundingResearch funding Research Councils; Research Research Councils; Research

Charities; Government Charities; Government Departments; Business and Departments; Business and IndustryIndustry