Current Students and Staff

The conference for doctoral researchers and research staff returned for another year with speakers, presentations and a poster competition.

This year’s theme was ‘Visibility and Impact’ which focused on how researchers can and should seek out opportunities to showcase work and engage with others.

Professor Elizabeth Peel, the Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Doctoral College) opened the conference with a talk about the University’s Collective Ambition at Loughborough for Building Research Excellence (CALIBRE) framework.

The keynote speaker for the conference was Professor Elizabeth Stokoe from the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. She discussed how she has made her research visible through different channels and she shared tips on how to be an effective and persuasive communicator.

Dr Hamid Khan was the second keynote speaker, a public engagement coordinator for the charity Sense about Science. The charity challenges the misrepresentation of research and evidence in public life. He focused on the Voices of the Young Science network (a network of early career researchers) and how they’re changing the way the public and the media view science and scientists.

The conference also shone a spotlight on the work of current Doctoral Researchers and research staff. 31 researchers gave five-minute presentations and 75 displayed posters. The winners of the presentations were as follows:

• Communication and Culture Beacon: Lexy Martin, School of Design and Creative Arts
• Sport and Exercise Beacon: Amber Guest, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
• Global Challenges – Physical: Meena Tamilarasan
• Global Challenges – Societal: Jedidah Tettah

The poster presentation winners were:

• Best poster: Laura Hubbard, School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemicals and Materials Engineering
• Runner up: Rania Harastani, School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
• Highly commended: Cheuk Ki Man, School of Architecture, Building and Civil Building Engineering
• Delegates Choice: Sui Liu, Loughborough University London

Professor Peel said: “This year’s research conference underscored how vibrant the research culture is at the University. The quality and breadth of contributions across all our Schools and disciplines were impressive.

“The focus on inspiring public engagement, and practical strategies for improving the visibility and impact of our doctoral research community will doubtless stand the 250 delegates in good stead, both now and in the future.”