Charting an entrepreneurial career - event on 7th March

With increasing international competition, economic challenges, social change and the growing pressures of a complex and uncertain world, unlocking your enterprising capability as a researcher is vital to maximise the benefits gained from your research, to take forward your career or to start a new business.

Being an enterprising researcher

• includes researchers' skills such as innovation, creativity, problem solving, communication, perseverance, dealing with uncertainty, practical action, and making the most of opportunities - all skills that are applied in research.

and is

• a way of working in different environments such as within organisations (intrapreneurship) including universities, and much valued by employers
• a route to setting up your own new business (entrepreneurship) or social enterprise
• being successful in creating impact and knowledge exchange.

Wherever you are in your research career,  whether you are applying for research funding, moving into a new career or starting your own business (commercial or social) this day will enable you to understand your enterprising potential to create impact through research and take your ideas into a business.

"Individuals successful in enterprise or entrepreneurship often have heightened levels of self-awareness developed through reflecting upon, and continually learning from, their actions."

During the impact day, you will:

• explore your own skills in relation to entrepreneurship
• explore research impact in relation to grant applications and REF
• explore different types of enterprise
• hear from successful entrepreneurs
• hear about social enterprise, commercialisation and knowledge exchange
• network and plan next steps

This workshop is being held in London on 7th March and is free to attend. For more details and to book a place click here.

Junk the Jargon 2013

Can you communicate your research topic to a broad audience in 3 minutes?

Can you make it interesting, engaging and fun?

Do you want to win £400?!

If you think so, you should enter “Junk the Jargon”, the annual competition for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Heats will be held in each faculty in mid February (details below), and successful participants will go through to the final, held on Wednesday 27^th February, from 5pm. Anyone not participating in the competition is encouraged to come and watch and support the finalists. A drinks reception will be held afterwards.

The final will be judged by a panel of experts, Professor Peter McOwan, Vice Principal (External Partnerships and Public Engagement); Dr Thomas Dixon, Director of the Queen Mary Centre for History of the Emotions; Professor John Rentoul, chief political commentator for The Independent on Sunday and visiting Professor in the Mile End Group; and Professor Fran Balkwill, Director of the Centre of the Cell.

Prizes of £400, £200 and £100 will be awarded for the top three presentations.

More details and the rules of the competition can be found here. You can also read about and view videos from previous year’s competitions to inspire you!:

Junk the Jargon 2010

Junk the Jargon 2010 report

Junk the Jargon 2011

Junk the Jargon 2012

All the previous competitions have been really enjoyable, and I’m sure this year’s will be too.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Jo Cordy (j.m.cordy@qmul.ac.uk).

Details of your faculty’s heat:

School of Medicine & Dentistry: Tuesday 12th Feb, 5pm in the Clark Kennedy lecture theatre, Whitechapel

Humanities & Social Sciences: Wednesday 13^th Feb, 5pm in People’s Palace 1 Lecture Theatre.

Science & Engineering: Wednesday 20^th Feb, 5pm in People’s Palace 1 Lecture Theatre.