Global themes for Postgraduate Research Festival

The postgraduate research community from every faculty came together for LJMU’s annual PGR Festival at the Maritime Museum.

Taking place at the heart of the Royal Albert Dock, just around the corner from the Eurovision Village, this year’s festival focused on globalism, inspired by Liverpool’s hosting of the song contest.

More than 140 delegates attended the day which included panel discussions on topics from EDIR (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Respect) and global scholarship to international PGR experiences.

Keynote Dr Catherine Baker (University of Hull) drew on her research into the cultural politics of Eurovision to illustrate ways for PGRs to build international research networks.

A core element of the festival was the chance to share doctoral work in progress with other researchers from different disciplines and faculties. Sixty PGRs presented research posters while 15 presenters took part in the university final of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

3MT winner Hanna Nsugbe from HSS now goes through to the quarter finals of the UK 3MT competition in July, with her presentation ‘Could YOU get away with murder? Diplomatic immunity as a get out of jail free card’.

Alexia Hesten (BES) won first prize in the early-stage PGR category for her poster on ‘Understanding disease risk in the UK pet trade of reptiles and amphibians’.

Zoe Bell (SPS) won the later-stage PGR prize for her poster on ‘Factors affecting the adoption of contact centre health initiatives’

For a full list of winners, runners-up, and People’s Choice awards, see the PGR Festival website.

The organisation of the event was led by three PGR festival assistants - Elysia Greenway, Molly Hawker and Gabriela Saenger Silva - in collaboration with the Doctoral Academy. 

Professor Keith George, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, who closed the event and was also part of the 3MT judging panel, said: “I really enjoy university PGR days – they bring together so many passionate, motivated and talented people to share ideas and experience. 

“There is something to learn from everyone and as a university it is great to recognise this community as the real “engine” of LJMU’s research and knowledge exchange.”

Pictured: PGR Mo Abbasi, co-facilitator of the international PGR experience session.