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We are taking part in the virtual Southampton Science and Engineering Festival and want you to join us! We are going to create a podcast where you, our audience, reflect on your experiences of coronavirus and have a go at thinking about what that means for our society.

Listen to this trailer to find out more about what it is and how you can take part.

You can email us your recordings at: [email protected]

And ask us any questions you have via email or on twitter @universe_social

For more information about the festival visit:

https://www.sotsef.co.uk/

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After a short break, we are picking up the podcast again with an episode discussing how we have found the coronavirus lockdown so far. It is mostly a personal chat about our experiences, including the challenges of childcare and a postponed wedding, but we also share our reflections on the political situation and what we have learnt through the lockdown.

Resources

A twitter thread on coping with the crisis from Dr Aisha Ahmad

Thanks to ProleteR for the music, licensed under creative commons - check them out on social networks.

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This breakout episode brings you the latest updates from the dispute negotiations before replaying the orignal PGR Striker covering all you need to know about the UCU strikes and why, as PGRs you can get involved.

Solidarity!

This is what we're fighting for.

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In this episode of The Social Universe we explore the Higher Education research culture

and the extent to which the environment we work and study in is making us sick. Join Katy and Bea

as they discuss the proliferation of poor mental health in the sector and what’s fuelling it.

We also discuss what needs to change and the challenges PGRs face when standing up to

so-called ‘toxic research cultures’.  

To lean more check out the reports and articles we referenced in

the episode:

• Welcome Trust Report on Research Cultures
• Mark Erickson, Paul Hanna & Carl Walker article including a staff satisfaction league table
• Are you in a Bullshit job? Article by David Grarber (see also his book Bullshit Jobs, A Theory)
• UCU report into casualization affecting mental health

If you are affected by the issues we discuss, or want to seek help, support or guidance about an issue we raised,

here are some places to start:

• Join UCU.  Check out the PGR Charter and tools on bullying, harassment and Stress
• The Mind guide to managing your studies

As always, thanks to ProleteR for the music, licensed under creative commons- check them out on the social

networks.

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In this episode of The Social Universe we take a deep dive into the world of PhD literature reviews. Listen to three battle-weary 2nd and 3rd year students reflecting on their respective experiences and get all the pro tips you need to avoid the sort of traumas they went through! This is great listening for anyone considering doing a PhD or those of you in the thick of their 1st year.

Thanks as ever to ProleteR for the banging music - check them out on all the social networks

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This break-out episode is our final dispatch from the UCU picket lines at the University of Southampton.

Hear reflections from staff and students about how this round of strikes went, and what we can learn moving into any future industrial action.

Find out more about the strikes on the UCU website

Thanks as always to ProleteR for the music - licenced under creative commons.

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Have a listen to how, as social scientists and activists, we are engaging with this pivotal general election

Thanks as always to ProleteR for the banging tune - licenced under creative commons. Check them out on all the socials.

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So what's it all about then?

We discuss why we got into the PhD game, and what we hope to get out of it, as well as hearing from people we stuck a mic in front of in our office.

Thank you to all our contributors for telling us about their PhD jouneys, and a big shout out to ProleteR for their track Downtown Irony - licenced under Creative Commons

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