NICAxRMeS Young Researcher Career Event: Finding Your Value(s) in Society

Date: 15 November 2024
Time: 11:00-16:00
Location: University of Amsterdam (Roeterseilandcampus; REC M1.03)
Registration: VIA THIS LINK

In today’s world of rapid technological change and increasing polarization, humanities skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving have never been more essential. As we seek to translate our value as researchers working across media and cultural studies into broader societal debates, it becomes crucial to reflect on how we actually define and practice these skills within our disciplines. What value do we truly bring with our research? What values are embedded within our own work, and how do these values clash or align with those in other fields, industries, and sectors?

This event is designed to help young researchers, particularly PhDs and RMas, reflect on their role both in society and within the academic community. We will address the question of how to effectively engage with contemporary issues and foster societal change from a humanities-based perspective.

The event offers a chance to connect with peers, exchange perspectives, and think about the value that media and cultural scholars can bring to society today. Additionally, participants will gain practical, hands-on experience through workshops focused on essential skills for advancing their academic careers. Among other various guests and speakers, Dr. Gerlov van Engelenhoven, assistant professor at Leiden University’s Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS), will share insights from his VENI research project, discussing the challenges and strategies involved in applying for and securing competitive research grants.

What to expect:

• A roundtable discussion on values aimed at exploring definitions and encouraging reflection on the multi-disciplinary concept of value
• Interactive workshops offering practical tips on career development, like how to write successful grant applications and navigate the academic job market
• Informal opportunities to reflect on the values guiding your research, whether it’s collaboration, accessibility, or societal change, and how to align those with your career goals

Why attend?

• Gain practical advice for designing your academic career and applying for grants
• Learn how to establish and communicate the social impact of your work
• Free lunch and drinks

Programme

11.15 – 11.30 Opening @REC M1.03
11.30 – 12.30 Plenary Session @REC M1.03

As she takes us along her own career path through different institutions, dr. Marleen van de Vate shares her insights about finding your values in Dutch society. Having worked at Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Dutch Research Council) and Adviesraad voor wetenschap, technologie en innovatie (Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation), she explains the policy landscape in the Netherlands and demonstrates how our skills as researchers are essential to conserve and cultivate social and scientific values in society.

Speakers:

• Marleen van de Vate, council officer at AWTI

12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 – 14.30 Workshops

PhD Workshop: Life after your PhD: designing your academic career, obtaining grants and research support @REC C3.01

Dr. Gerlov van Engelenhoven will be sharing insights from his VENI project and the social relevance of his research. He will be joined by Chris Flinterman, external PhD candidate and Research Manager at LUCAS, who has assisted him throughout the application process. Together, they will engage in an open discussion with the room on laying out your future after your PhD, going through application processes for early-career grants, and the paramount importance of Research Support. All audience members are invited to ask questions throughout and share their own experiences in making career choices and applying for grants.

Speakers:

• Gerlov van Engelenhoven, assistant professor at Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society
• Chris Flinterman MA, PhD candidate at the University of Groningen and Research Manager at Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS)

rMA Workshop: Searching across borders – the benefits and challenges of pursuing a PhD abroad @REC M1.03

During this workshop, we invite you to get acquainted with different PhD-biographies. Early-career researchers Silvia Vari, Max Casey, dr. Ilios Willemars and Franziska Westhäuser will share their perspectives on finding and finishing their PhD abroad. In an open conversation, we want to compare different academic environments and explore how rMA students can best approach their search for a PhD position across borders. All audience members are invited to ask questions throughout and reflect on their own criteria for continuing their academic journey at different universities.

Speakers:

• Silvia Vari, PhD candidate at the University of Warwick
• Franziska Westhäuser, PhD candidate at University of Amsterdam
• Max Casey, PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Ilios Willemars, Assistant Professor at Leiden University

14.30 – 15.00 Coffee Break
15.00 – 16.30 Roundtable @REC M1.03

Roundtable: Defining value and impact; finding shared grounds about the role of cultural & media studies in the public sphere.

We bring together engaged practitioners from different corners of society to discuss and problematize definitions of the core concepts of the day: value and impact. Taking the ideas and research practices of Chris Julien, Ohad Ben Shimon, Tanne Harris-Nijmeijer and Nele Kadastik as a starting point, we aim to come closer to shared grounds on the contribution of cultural and media studies to society. How can we add ‘value’ through collaborations with different departments and institutions? And how to do so on the basis of our own ‘values’?

Speakers:

• Chair: dr. Pepita Hesselberth, assistant professor at Leiden University and NICA director
• Chris Julien, PhD candidate at Utrecht University and activist
• Ohad Ben Shimon, PhD candidate at Utrecht University and artist
• Tanne Harris-Nijmeijer, PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Nele Kadastik, PhD candidate at Radboud University

16.30 – 16.45 Closing
17.00 Borrel @REC M1.50

Please RSVP through this link. We look forward to seeing you there!