The IGNITE DLA Induction Week begins today! Our Cohort 2 postgraduate students officially started last Monday, 21st of September, and were warmly welcomed into the Doctoral College at an induction day last Thursday. This week, we have scheduled a range of fun, informative IGNITE DLA-specific activities to introduce them to the programme and give them the opportunity to meet the delivery team and their fellow Cohort 2 postgraduate researchers.
The IGNITE DLA Induction Week runs from today, Monday the 28th of September to Friday the 2nd of October. Day one of Induction Week is being led by a group of Cohort 1 volunteers who have arranged a student-led cohort-building day at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Grand Harbour. The day will involve a whole host of fun and creative activities, from a human bingo game, a longest ping pong flight competition, a scavenger hunt around the rabbit warren that is the National Oceanography Centre, a longest domino run competition and a few more puzzle-type games.
Day two will start with an introduction to the IGNITE DLA, which will be presented by the Director of IGNITE, Professor Rachael James and one of our Senior Administrative Officers, Wayne Whitham. The presentation serves as an induction guide covering IGNITE’s funding, people, support services, communication channels and introductory events. After this, Cohort 2 is invited to participate in a poster creation challenge, a fun, friendly and fast‑paced team-building activity where teams design a conference‑style research poster on a ridiculous or fictional scientific topic. Later in the day, Cohort 2 will also be introduced to the IGNITE Deputy Director for EDI, Dr Lauren Nadler, who will give an overview of her role and infromation on EDI initiatives and support.
On Wednesday, the Placements Lead, Dr Ryan Reisinger, will introduce the IGNITE DLA placements scheme and the DLA Manager, Ru Prescott, on behalf of the Training Lead, Dr Gwilym Rowlands, will do the same with a presentation on the training programme. Our Partner Organisations, the Natural History Museum, British Antarctic Survey, Marine Biological Association and the National Oceanography Centre, will be hosting an online presentation and Q&A on Thursday. Thursday is also when Cohort 2 will participate in a city-wide scavenger hunt. We hope that this will be a fun way to allow the students to familiarise themselves with Southampton and better get to know each other.
The IGNITE DLA Induction Week is rounded off with a tour of the Southampton waters aboard the Research Vessel Callista. The R.V. Callista is a purpose-built, fully operational research vessel owned by the University and based at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton in Empress Dock. We’re praying for good weather for this one!
Cohort 2 will also be invited to a couple of student-led events this week.
- Postgraduate Welcome Event, which NOCS PG Society has arranged. This is being held in Node 4 Courtyard at NOCS from 3 pm on the 2nd of October.
- Postgraduate Seminar, hosted by IGNITE Cohort 1 student Faron Quinn. This is being held in Room 074/02 at NOCS from 4 pm on Friday, the 4th of October.
