Students working towards research degrees in Information Science and related subjects are invited to register for the 6th Information Science Doctoral Colloquium – iDocQ 6 – hosted by the Information Science Pathway of the ESRC Scottish Graduate School of Social Science Doctoral Training Centre (SGSSS DTC) on Thursday 23rd June at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. The event is suitable for doctoral students at all stages of their studies.

The 2016 programme includes:

• A keynote presentation by Dr Alison Brettle, Reader in Evidence Based Practice and Acting Director of Postgraduate Research at the University of Salford
• Break-out sessions on:
  • Choosing the right methodology for your PhD led by Dr Lizzy Tait of Robert Gordon University
  • Publishing from your PhD led by Professor Hazel Hall of Edinburgh Napier University
  • Time management for research students led by Dr Frank Hopfgartner of Glasgow University
  • Research impact and your PhD led by Dr Diane Pennington of Strathclyde University
• A series 20×20 presentations delivered by students to showcase their research –  Presentations may cover research that has been recently completed, is in progress or is being planned. Details of research for which funding, collaborators or participants are sought may also be presented.
• A PhD Q&A session in which the academic panel of speakers and break-out session leaders will answer questions that have been submitted anonymously to the student members of the iDocQ 2016 Programme Committee during the course of the day

There will also be plenty of opportunities for networking during the day, especially during the morning PhD Superhero session, and the tea/coffee and lunch breaks. Those who wish to continue the conversations after the formal end of the day will convene for drinks in a nearby pub before heading home.

Networking at iDocQ 4 (Aberdeen, 2013)

Feedback from previous iDocQ events shows how much research student delegates have enjoyed (and learnt from) spending a day with external peers and academics in a friendly environment away from their desks:

• “The presentations really made me think about my own research in light of the issues that other PhDs are tackling. A welcome eye-opener.”
• “20×20 was a great opportunity to learn a new presentation style. I was so hesitant to do it at first but, after, I’m thankful for the opportunity and would encourage others to give this a go. I also found the research panel very interesting, useful and candid.”
• “This was, quite simply, a wonderful day. Thank you so much to everyone. I leave here confident, upbeat and I feel like I am in-the-know – it’s been a while! I’ve had my nerves hit quite a few times during my PhD. It was most welcome, among other things, to hear a research panel speak so frankly about their first-hand experiences and advise doctoral students. I’ll come again next year.”
• “Very well organised for a day with so much packed in. Very happy to have attended. Perfect. Thank you.”

To register for iDocQ 2016 please follow the link to the iDocQ 2016 EventBrite page. Registration is FREE for all research students based at Scottish universities. If you are based at a university that is outside Scotland, please email Dr Diane Pennington at Strathclyde University (diane.pennington@strath.ac.uk) for details of the fee for the day.

Breakout exercise at iDocQ 4 (Glasgow, 2014)

If you would like to deliver a 20×20 presentation at iDocQ 2016 (and we hope that the majority of delegates do – as incentive there will be a prize for the best presentation), please submit an abstract of around 250 words to idocq2016@gmail.com by Friday 13th May 2016. Following acceptance of your abstract, please submit the full 20×20 presentation to EasyChair by Friday 10th June 2016. (New users of EasyChair will need to register with the service before accessing the iDocQ 2016 EasyChair page.)

Important dates

• Abstract submission deadline: email 250 words to idocq2016@gmail.com by Friday May 13^th 2016
• Notification of acceptance: by Friday May 20^th 2016
• Presentation submission deadline: upload PowerPoint slides to EasyChair by Friday June 10^th 2016
• Registration closes: please ensure that you register for iDocQ by Thursday 16^th June 2016

For further information

• See the iDocQ web site
• Email the Programme Committee at idocq2016@gmail.com
• Email the academic contact at the venue for iDocQ 6 2016: Dr Diane Pennington diane.pennington@strath.ac.uk
• Follow iDocQ on Twitter
• Read blogged reviews (with lots of photos) of iDocQ 5 2015, iDocQ 4 2014, and iDocQ 3 2013.