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Student Representative’s Report 2005-2006
The RSPSoc Annual Conference has always provided a strong focal point for the Society’s students, and the 2005 Portsmouth event was no different. Students from across the country were able to present their work through oral and poster presentations, and there was ample opportunity for networking both with fellow-students, and also amongst the wider research community. In addition, evening socialising opportunities provided the chance to renew old friendships and develop new ones, in a relaxed setting.
After the success of the 2005 Annual Student Meeting, it was important to try to maintain the momentum and enthusiasm this had generated. The 2006 meeting was hosted by the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne from the 10th to 11th April. Through the generous support of thirteen sponsors, who contributed a total of £2000, plus prizes, registration costs were minimised, while still enabling an all-inclusive approach. With a total of 40 students registered, this proved to be one of the best-attended meetings of recent years, and it was extremely encouraging to welcome so many new faces to the Society. Keynote speakers from Durham and Newcastle Universities provided engaging and wide-ranging contributions to whet the appetite. These were followed by high-calibre oral and poster contributions from the students, who provided insights into a diverse range of research areas, stimulating much discussion over coffee and lunch breaks. An evening of organised socialising got off to a fiercely competitive start as (the male!) students vied for the title of ten pin bowling champion. The generosity of the meeting sponsors cannot be over-emphasised, but a huge vote of thanks must also go to the students for firstly making the effort to get involved, and secondly for taking the time to prepare such high quality contributions. This provides great encouragement for the 2007 Annual Student Meeting, which will be held at the University of Edinburgh.
The forthcoming launch of the revamped RSPSoc web site offers a great opportunity for further student involvement, and it is hoped that over the coming months and years, this can provide a real focal point for student issues, opportunities and general information sharing.
As we approach the summer, attention now shifts again to the RSPSoc Annual Conference, which this year is being hosted by the University of Cambridge. Plans are already afoot for an informal student-oriented evening, with details to follow shortly.
Pauline Miller
RSPSoc Student Representative 2005-2006
