Navigating Early Career Research in Critical Defence Studies

This is a joint enterprise by the Defence Research Network and the Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security Research. Spaces are limited so register via EventBrite to avoid disappointment!

Join us to explore ways of navigating the field of Critical Defence Studies as an early career researcher. This one day opportunity is being put together by early career researchers for their peers on the basis of sharing experiences and the ‘things we wish we’d known’. It is a collaboration between the Defence Research Network (DRN) and the Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security (PaCCS) through which participants will be supported in working towards publication through a three-staged process involving two follow on PaCCS events.

What is the Defence Research Network?

The Defence Research Network (DRN) is for PhD and early career researchers studying defence, security or the Armed Forces in relation to policy, strategy, culture and society. We provide a platform to which PhD and early-career researchers can come together to share work, ask for recommendations, create a rapport with one another and support each other in the research process. To find out more check out defenceresearchnetwork.wordpress.com or follow us @DefenceResNet and to join please email defenceresearchnetwork@gmail.com.

What is the Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security?

There is a pressing and complex challenge to address threats to security and substantial capacity within the research community to support this. The Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security Research (PaCCS) is leading the response to this challenge. It is an initiative of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and was established in 2008 as the Global Uncertainties Programme. It aims to deliver high quality and cutting edge research to help improve our understanding of current and future global security challenges. To find out more check out paccsresearch.org.uk.

Agenda

0930 Registration and coffee

1000 Welcome address (Defence Research Network and Prof David Galbreath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, University of Bath)

1015 Keynote speaker (Dr Abi Dymond, Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology, University of Exeter)

1100 Coffee break

1130 Session 1: Research introductions

• Postcard or 3 minute overview or speed networking
• Grouped by research interests or methodologies subject to participant feeback e.g. security; warfare; veterans and families; policy and strategy

1230 Session 2: Things we wish we’d known

6 interactive breakout groups offering repeated 15 minute sessions for participants to move around, led by DRN members. Intended topics:

• Engaging with the Ministry of Defence Ethics Committee
• Using social media
• How to manage your qualitative data (including transcription and storage systems)
• How to manage your reading
• Navigating the early career
• Funding opportunities in critical defence, conflict, crime and security studies

1330 Lunch

• Opportunity to view posters/objects
• Opportunity for informal networking

Participants are invited to bring posters or objects to represent their research and stimulate discussion.

1430 Session 3: Publishing workshop

Participants will be encouraged to bring along a nascent idea for future publication. This session will include some advice/guidance about early career publishing followed by a chance to discuss ideas and questions. Participants will be encouraged to return to the two follow on PaCCS events to present their papers in ever more developed forms prior to submission to a journal at the end. This might be support and encouragement for individual submission or a special issue around an emergent theme from participants.

1530 Coffee break

1600 Session 4: Publishing panel

Panel to include 2 x junior academics to discuss experiences of publication and two journal representatives (e.g. European Journal of International Security, Armed Forces and Society, Critical Military Studies)

1645 Closing remarks