On Wednesday 5 November 2014, the SWDTC held its third annual conference for postgraduate students, at the University of Bath. This hugely successful regional event brought together over 100 students from within the social sciences and beyond to meet, share and engage with the many different opportunities that interdisciplinary collaboration promises.
The event explored and elucidated the benefits that collaboration and dialogue can bring to researching in an environment characterised by interconnectivity and the transcending of traditional scholarly boundaries. Reflecting this overarching theme, the conference was structured under the three sub-themes of collaborative methods, internationalisation, and PhD experience.
There was much to inspire, with student presentations and interactive discussions, workshop sessions, a panel discussion, and keynote speeches from two of the leading researchers in the south west, Professor Hugh Lauder (University of Bath) and Professor Stephan Lewandowsky (University of Bristol).
Alongside the formal sessions, there was a poster display of outstanding student research projects, including everything from “how the dead live” to “how the sea got salty”. Congratulations to the winner of the Poster Showcase, Jana Kralova (University of Bath), and runner-up, Miguel Cerna (University of Bristol).
Special thanks must go to all of the wonderful student presenters, academic and student discussants, workshop leaders and keynote speakers for their fantastic contributions and participation on the day. Thanks also to all of those who attended, as well as to the University of Bath for their support in hosting what was a truly fantastic event!