Short report NOSTER Midyear Meeting by Martha Gabriela Sanchez – student assistant at NISIS

“This year’s Midyear Meeting, hosted by NOSTER, was an informative event with a fruitful turnout. As an RMA student, I found that the topic “Getting your Research Published” addressed a priority of mine at a helpful time in my career. It was clear that this sentiment was shared by many, as numerous peers arrived at the event with earnest engagement. We were fortunate to learn from the expertise of experienced academics, as the speakers were open to offering us practical, contextually embedded advice on growing our publishing endeavors.

Prof. Thijl Sunier offered specific guidance on how to formulate an abstract, drawing from his extensive experience in editing journals. As though we were his own students, Prof. Sunier clearly and meticulously laid out the basics of publishing articles and built on them to create a clear path to success. In his well-attended workshop, he constructively helped individuals improve their work with practical techniques. Prof. Erik Olsman provided insight into a largely unsung topic: how to co-author articles. Given his interdisciplinary background, his perspective on this topic is increasingly relevant, and his lecture was engaging and well-rounded. Prof. Marcel Sarot offered an overview, situating the art of publishing within the broader context of the development of academia. Prof. Sarot noted that, with changing times, one must be strategic in how and what they publish, especially regarding a dissertation. His workshop provided personal attention to attendees’ needs, focusing on how to shape their specific dissertations into book proposals.

In summary, students and PhD candidates who attended this event—particularly the workshops—left with food for thought and points for action. This stimulating event confirmed that, indeed, it is challenging to begin a career in academia during this time. However, we are fortunate to have skilled, insightful, and supportive educators to guide us.”