Thanks again to everyone who attended the DHP Postgraduate Conference this year. As focus moved to the 2014 conference, I have a favour to ask. I’m speaking with the organiser of the main DHP conference about getting the Postgrad conference more recognition from the BPS. She asked if I thought it would be feasible to make the Postgrad event a pre-conference workshop at the main DHP Conference as of next year. There’s some advantages and disadvantages to this and I feel that we cannot make this decision without the input of current postgrads.

 

Pros:

Logistically easier – can move around the country, and will be held in hotels rather than Universities

No need for additional funding, which means that ticket prices would be cheaper

Possibility of offering a discounted rate to the main conference if attending the PG workshop, would increase the PG presence at the main conference and your ability to see and network with the DHP

Linking with the Conference to offer more awards, such as the MSc thesis award that’s being piloted this year

 

Cons:

Timing – the conference is in September. Therefore, MSc students would be right at the end of their degree and either just about to hand in or just having finished. Would you still want to attend a conference in those circumstances?

Shortening of the workshop – we’d only be able to offer a 1.5 day max workshop. This would been fewer/shorter sessions with the speakers.

 

In addition, we’d love some feedback from you about what you think next year’s conference should include. Do you want it to be more research-focused with talks from PGs about their own projects, or are you happy with information sessions from qualified psychologists? Are there any talks you think would be really valuable for next year, or any speakers you’re dying to see? Would you like the conference to run parallel sessions so that you can pick & choose workshops that are applicable to you?

 

Thanks for all your help. I think merging with the main conference would be great for the image in terms of making it more official and “real,” but that’s no good if a September date means you’d be unlikely to come.

Any thoughts would be really welcomed.

Best wishes,

Emily

 

Emily Doe MSc MBPsS

PhD Researcher: Resilience and Well-Being in Long-Term Conditions

01604 892537

 

Chair of Postgraduate Sub-Committee of the BPS Division of Health Psychology

http://www.health-psychology.org.uk/whos-who-on-the-dhp-committee/postgraduate-chair.cfm

Follow on Twitter @emily_doe

 

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