Summer Schools
Summer Schools take place annually in the early summer. The workshops during the summer school mainly focus on key competences like scientific writing, time management or presentation skills. Beside these workshops, there is also a part of the programme to foster scientific exchange and networking between the participants.
The workshop topics are suggested beforehand by the members of the graduate school themselves.
Summer School 2019
Photo: HZG/S. Jördens
From 13 to 17 May 2019, the Summer School of the Graduate School for Materials Science took place at Bildungs- und Tagungszentrum Tannenfelde.
Experience report
Hi, I am Khausik Narasimhan. I am in my second year of my PhD in Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht. I have attended two ZHM summer schools and one ZHM symposia so far. The ZHM summer schools have been a great experience. I would like to highlight three main aspects of the summer school.
Non-technical key competencies: Competencies such as scientific writing, presentation skills, time management, etc are very important for a doctoral student. Not only for a career in academia, these skills can be handy even for a non-academic career path. The ZHM summer schools are designed in such a way with various workshop options to choose from, which is suitable for students in different phases of their PhD. For example, project management, time management for first year students, poster presentation, scientific writing for second year students and career management, stress management for students who are about to finish their PhD. Therefore, I think it is better to attend ZHM summer schools more than once during the PhD. Sometimes we might have a chance to meet a trainer from the previous year and have a word about how we’ve implemented the techniques learned in their workshop. It is worth investing time for developing these skills.
Social and scientific networking: The ZHM summer school is the best way to make new friends. For me, it was very hard in the beginning to find some friend outside my department until I attended my first ZHM summer school. Apart from making friends, it helps to get to know fellow scientists who work on topics that are similar or related to ours. This paves the way for a constructive discussion to develop our work and provides a chance to a get feedback on our work. It is very important to know what other people are doing in other departments.
Motivation and rejuvenation: I never miss a ZHM summer school mainly because of the feeling I get after attending it. I feel rejuvenated and motivated at the end of a week-long workshop. Amidst workshop-sessions, we have time for relaxation and other activities like sports and games. It provides a good break from hectic routine, lets us slow down, and facilitates self-reflection.
I highly recommend the PhD students to attend these summer schools to make the most out of their doctoral studies.
Text by Khausik Narasimhan, PhD candidate
Summer School 2018
Participants of the ZHM Summer School 2018. Photo: TUHH/A. Winter
The Summer School 2018 took place from 28 May – 1 June 2018. To provide the participating PhD candidates a good ambience to focus on the enhancement of their key competences and the networking, the off-campus event was held in the seminar centre Tannenfelde in Aukrug, Germany.
Participants discussing their research work in small groups. Photo: TUHH/A. Winter
With the aim of strengthening the key competences of the graduate school members, they could choose between workshops like self-marketing, career management, rhetoric or presentation training in parallel sessions. Additionally, a scientific contribution session was also held, in order to enable the participants to present and discuss a part of their materials science research at the Summer School in the format of collegial counselling.
Participants of the workshop “Leadership skills”. Photo: TUHH/A. Winter
During a pub quiz in the evening, the PhD candidates got to know each other better and were able to test their general knowledge.
Summer School 2017
Participants of the ZHM Summer School 2017. Photo: TUHH/A. Winter
The Summer School 2017 took place from 8 – 12 May 2017. To ensure that the participating PhD candidates and postdocs will be able to focus on the enhancement of their key competences, the event was held off-campus in a seminar centre in Soltau, Germany.
The members of the graduate school chose between workshops in parallel sessions on, e.g., communication, scientific writing or self-presentation. In addition to the enhancement of key competences, another part of the summer school focused on materials science research and provided the opportunity for scientific exchange among the participants.