PGR Matters Podcast

PGR Matters Podcast

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Dive into the world of research with our PGR Matters Podcast! Meet postgraduate researchers and staff from the University of East Anglia and beyond as they unravel mysteries, share their passion, personal experiences and discuss all things academic. Hosted by Dr Matthew Sillence from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Graduate School. Have an idea for an episode? Feel free to get in touch at pgrmatters@pm.me.

Mar 25

Open Research Training

In this episode of PGR Matters, host Matthew Sillence explores how open research training is evolving, with a focus on the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Featuring Dr Samuel Moore (MORPHSS project, University of Cambridge) and Hannah Crago (University of Essex), the conversation looks at how traditional ideas of “open science” can be reframed for different disciplines, and how gamification—including the Copyright Dough game and escape rooms—can make open research concepts more engaging, practical, and accessible for researchers at all levels. [0:00:00–0:03:15] Setting the Scene: Open Research Training & Series Recap [0:03:15–0:07:17] Samuel Moore’s Path into Open Research [0:07:17–0:12:42] Inside the MORPHSS Project [0:12:42–0:25:57] Rethinking Openness: Broadening Concepts, Ethics, and CARE [0:25:57–0:53:18] Gamification in Open Research Training (Hannah Crago) [0:53:18–1:00:00] Adapting Games for Online Open Research Training [1:00:00–1:03:00] Resources, OERs, and Future Directions Links - Dr. Samuel A. Moore - Publishing Beyond the Market | University of Michigan Press - MORPHSS – Materialising Open Research Practices in the Humanities and Social Sciences- Openness in the arts, humanities and social sciences: Documenting open research practices beyond STEM (A MORPHSS Project Report)- Knowledge Commons - Open access, open source, open to all - Hannah Crago | University of Essex - Project - Copyright Dough - Figshare - Gamified Research Support - Support for Researchers - Library & Cultural Services at University of Essex Licence- CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Credits Music by Matthew Sillence.
Mar 18

Open Access Publishing

In this second episode of season 2, Matthew Sillence talks with Sean Andersson, Dr Alison Barker and Dr Sean Seeger about Open Access (OA) publishing for books and articles. Through our conversations, we unpack Green, Gold and Diamond OA routes, Creative Commons licences, image permissions, university OA funding, and how postgraduate and early‑career researchers can make their work more visible and accessible.[00:00-04:15] – What is Open Access? Green, Gold, Diamond routes and CC licences. [04:15-16:08] – OA at Essex: funds, repositories, and read‑and‑publish deals (with Sean Andersson). [16:08-31.20] – Turning an art history PhD into an OA monograph and handling image permissions (with Alison Barker) [31:20-35:38] – Images, third‑party copyright and choosing CC BY‑NC‑ND. [35:38–43:51] – OA monographs, utopian studies and interdisciplinarity (with Sean Seeger). Links- Creative Commons Licenses - Open Access Publishing - University of Essex - Barker, A.C. (2025). The Dissemination of Saint George in Early Modern Art (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003454731 - Seeger, S. (2025). Utopian Variations. Utopia in Literature, Film, and Popular Culture. Peter Lang Verlag. https://doi.org/10.3726/b22926 Licence- CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Credits Music by Matthew Sillence.
Mar 4

What is Open Research?

This first episode of season 2 on PGR Matters introduces Open Research and why it matters for postgraduate researchers. Matthew explores how open access policies (especially UKRI from 2021) have reshaped expectations that publicly funded research outputs should be freely available and reusable, with evidence that open access work gains wider and more diverse citations. Our guest in this episode is Grant Young, Head of Open Research at the University of East Anglia Library and in conversation, move from open access publications to open research across the whole project lifecycle. Key ideas include transparency (making methods, decisions, and processes visible where appropriate), the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), and planning for future reuse of data by both humans and machines. The episode also introduces the MORPHSS project and CARE principles (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, Ethics), stressing that open practices must be balanced with ethical responsibilities, especially when working with marginalized communities. [00:00:11 – 00:04:11] – Series introduction, definition of open research, UKRI policy, citation benefits [00:04:11 – 00:11:25] – Grant Young’s role, open research beyond publications, transparency as a research attitude [00:11:25 – 00:19:49] – Funders, public money, research impact, and the open research support team in the library [00:19:49 – 00:30:08] – FAIR principles, especially interoperability, metadata, formats, and AI/machine readability [00:30:08 – 00:34:35] – Open research in the humanities and cross-disciplinary learning between humanities and STEM [00:34:35 – 00:39:54] – MORPHSS, reproducibility vs replicability, FAIR vs CARE, ethics and marginalized communities, next-episode teaser Links- Arthur, Paul Longley, and Lydia Hearn. 2021. ‘Toward Open Research: A Narrative Review of the Challenges and Opportunities for Open Humanities.’ Journal of Communication 71 (5): 827–53. APA PsycInfo (2022-60288-008). https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqab028. - Ensuring open research – UKRI - Knöchelmann, Marcel. 2019. ‘Open Science in the Humanities, or: Open Humanities?’ Publications 7 (4): 65–65. Directory of Open Access Journals (edsdoj.5fc9ac3e28c04ae8b32e598c5f86fb10). https://doi.org/10.3390/publications7040065. - MORPHSS – Materialising Open Research Practices in the Humanities and Social Sciences - Openness in the arts, humanities and social sciences: Documenting open research practices beyond STEM (A MORPHSS Project Report) - Open Research - UEA Library at University of East Anglia Licence- CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Credits Music by Matthew Sillence.
08/11/2025

Poetry, Therapy and the Academy with Dr Stephanie Aspin

In this final episode of season one, Matthew Sillence and Dr Stephanie Aspin discuss the intersection of poetry, therapy and academic life. Dr Aspin, who has two doctorates and is a neurodivergent therapist, shares her journey from literature to therapy, highlighting her new book Poetry and Therapy: Why Words Help (PCCS Books, 2025). They explore the therapeutic functions of poetry, including telling and symbolizing, containment, transformation, and access to the unconscious. Dr Aspin also discusses the challenges neurodivergent individuals face in academia and the importance of rituals and symbolic acts in therapeutic and academic contexts. [0:00-5:00] Introduction Dr Stephanie Aspin discusses her academic journey, from literature studies to counseling, highlighting her unique career path and recent book Poetry and Therapy: Why Words Help. [5:00-15:00] Neurodivergence and Professional Identity Explores her work as a neurodivergent therapist and co-founder of A-Typicats, a consultancy focusing on neurodiversity in higher education. [15:00-25:00] Functions of Poetry in Therapy Examines four key functions of poetry: telling/symbolizing, containment, transformation, and accessing the unconscious. [25:00-35:00] Therapeutic Approaches Discusses person-centred therapy and psychoanalysis, explaining how different therapeutic methods can intersect. [35:00-45:00] Academic Challenges for Neurodivergent Individuals Shares insights into the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent academics, particularly around administrative tasks and workplace environments. [45:00-52:30] Ritual and Transition in Academic Life Explores the potential of poetry and symbolic acts to mark important academic milestones and transitions. Summary - Poetry can be a powerful therapeutic tool - Neurodivergence requires understanding and accommodation - Rituals and symbolic language help process academic experiences Links - Aspin, S. (2025) Poetry and Therapy: Why Words Help (PCCS Books). - Website: https://stephanieaspin.com/ - Consultancy: https://a-typicats.com/ Content adviceThis episode contains discussion of anxiety and trauma. If you need urgent help for your mental health, a range of services are available in the UK: Get help from 111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option. Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19 If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill. These services will only share your information if they are very worried about you or think you are in immediate danger.Credits Music by Matthew Sillence.
04/04/2025

Postgraduate Research Supervision: The Status Quo

The podcast episode features Dr Karen Clegg and Dr Gill Houston discussing their book, co-authored with Dr Owen Gower, Doctoral Supervision and Research Culture: What We Know, What Works, And Why, which was published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis in 2024. They explore the challenges and importance of doctoral supervision, highlighting the lack of research on supervisors' experiences. The conversation covers topics such as supervisor recognition, professional development, feedback incorporation, and the impact of institutional support on research culture.1. How can institutions better recognize and value the contributions of their doctoral supervisors?2. How do supervisors effectively incorporate feedback from their supervisees to improve their supervisory approach?3. What does Continuous Professional Development (CPD) look like for doctoral supervisors, and how can it be implemented effectively?4. What are the challenges and opportunities in supporting supervisors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?5. What recommendations can be made to improve the research culture and support system for doctoral supervisors and their research students?The episode provides insights into the complex ecosystem of doctoral supervision, emphasizing the need for institutional support, peer learning, and recognition of supervisors' critical role in research development. Biographies and Links Dr Karen Clegg is a Reader in Doctoral Education in the School for Arts and Creative Technologies at the University of York and Co-PI/Director of the Next Generation Research SuperVision Project (RSVP), a £4.6million, Research England funded project designed to transform the practice and culture of research supervision. Recent publications include Clegg K., Quinlan L. and Palmer N. (2025) Research Supervision in the Context of REF - time for a stepchange? Wonkhe 24 January; Gower O., Clegg K. and Cleaver D. (2024) The UK Research Supervision Survey (UKRSS) 2024. UK Council for Graduate Education; Clegg K., Houston G. & Gower O. (2024) Doctoral Supervision and Research Culture: what we know, what works and why. Routledge.Dr Gill Houston is an independent researcher. She has worked extensively in doctoral education, culminating in the roles of vice-chair and chair of the UK Council for Graduate Education. Recent (2024) publications include: Clegg K., Houston G. & Gower O. (2024) Doctoral Supervision and Research Culture: what we know, what works and why. Routledge; Houston, G. and Lunt, I., The final examination of the UK PhD: fit for purpose? Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 49(8), 1182-1195.CreditsMusic by Matthew Sillence
03/11/2025

Supporting PGR Wellbeing: Policy and Practice

In this episode, Dr John Turnpenny discusses his latest research on postgraduate researcher (PGR) wellbeing, focusing on policy implementation and practice. He highlights the Courage Project at the University of East Anglia, funded by the UK's Catalyst Fund, which aimed to support PGR wellbeing through various interventions. John introduces the policy capacity framework, which examines political, operational, and governance capacities at individual, organizational, and systemic levels. He notes many of the challenges to policy implementation, such as organizational marginalization, low political capacity, and fragmented governance. John also indicates how future research could explore analytical capacity and co-creation processes to improve PGR wellbeing interventions.What motivated research into PGR wellbeing? Identified significant challenges faced by postgraduate researchers Recognized a lack of focused support compared to undergraduate students Aimed to explore political and organizational dimensions of wellbeing interventions What are the main challenges for PGR wellbeing? Ambiguous status (neither staff nor student) Organizational marginalization Low political and operational capacity within institutions Fragmented governance and limited resource What framework was used to analyze PGR wellbeing? Policy capacity framework examining: Political capacity Operational capacity Governance across individual, organizational, and systemic levels What are the future research directions? Updating policy capacity framework Comparing international PGR support models Exploring analytical capacity in intervention design Investigating co-creation processes Links Turnpenny, J. (2025). A critical political analysis of wellbeing support for postgraduate researchers in higher education. Policy & Politics (published online ahead of print 2025). https://doi.org/10.1332/03055736Y2024D000000056 Catalyst fund: Supporting mental health and wellbeing for postgraduate research students - Office for Students CreditsMusic by Matthew Sillence
03/04/2025

Mapping Britain’s Coast: Greenvile Collins’s Legacy

In this episode, Peter Wells, a PhD candidate with a background in music, discusses his research on Greenvile Collins, a 17th-century naval officer and mapmaker. Collins's 1693 atlas, Great Britain's Coasting Pilot, was a significant contribution to naval hydrography, despite challenges like limited funding and outdated maps. His work highlighted the dynamic nature of coastal environments. Wells emphasized Collins's intellectual curiosity and connections with figures like Samuel Pepys. He aims to write an academic literary biography, blending historical accuracy with engaging storytelling, to honor Collins's legacy and its impact on British cartography. What was Peter's academic background and how did his initial interest in maps lead him to his current research project? What was the significance of Greenvile Collins's atlas Great Britain's Coasting Pilot? What were some of the key challenges that Collins faced in surveying the entire British coastline? What insights have Peter uncovered from studying Collins's journals and observations? How was Collins connected to influential networks and the intellectual environment of the time? What was the impact of Collins's work on the development of modern hydrography? How did the concept of "Great Britain" and national identity evolve during the period Collins was working? Why did Peter decide to approach this research project as an academic literary biography? What resources does Peter recommend for further learning about maritime history? Links Baigent, Elizabeth. "Collins, Greenvile (d. 1694), naval officer and hydrographer." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 23 Sep. 2004. Collins, G. (1693). Great Britain’s Coasting-Pilot Being a New and Exact Survey of the Sea-Coast of England from the River of Thames to the Westward with the Islands of Scilly and from Thence to Carlile ... With Directions for Coming into the Channel between England and France; the First Part. Printed by Freeman Collins and are to be sold by Richard Mount. Hollingsworth, M. (2004). The Cardinal’s Hat: money, ambition and housekeeping in a Renaissance court. Profile. The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. CreditsMusic by Matthew Sillence
02/12/2025

The PGR (Digital) Toolkit

Matthew Sillence discusses the importance of digital tools for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and introduces the concept of digital minimalism, advocating for selective and intentional use of technology. He highlights the challenges of choosing tools in an ever-evolving market and emphasizes the benefits of open-source, community-supported software. Matthew recommends five tools: Obsidian for note-taking with markdown, Zotero for bibliographic management, Tropy for organizing research photos, OpenRefine for data cleaning, and WeekToDo for minimal weekly planning. He encourages listeners to share their own digital toolkit suggestions, emphasizing the importance of reducing distractions and enhancing productivity.Outline1. Introduction to Digital Tools for Postgraduate Researchers - Abundance of productivity apps and the challenge of choosing the right tools - Referencing Cal Newport's "Digital Minimalism" and its relevance in hybrid work2. Why Should PGRs Have a Digital Toolkit? - Most research work is conducted digitally - Benefits of having choice in digital tools beyond institutional offerings - Minimizing distractions from integrated networking features3. Deciding What Goes in the Digital Toolkit - Focusing on open-source, community-supported software - Importance of interoperability and compatibility - Prioritizing lightweight computing to avoid overburdening devices4. Understanding Digital Minimalism - Selective and intentional use of digital tools - Reducing time spent in shared workspaces - Staying offline when possible to focus on tasks5. Suggested Digital Tools for PGRs - Obsidian: Markdown-based note-taking with visualization - Zotero: Bibliographic management and citation tool - Tropy: Organizing and managing research photos - OpenRefine: Cleaning and transforming messy datasets - WeekToDo: Minimal weekly planner for task management6. Conclusion and Call for Listener Suggestions - Invitation to share personal digital tool recommendations - Instructions for submitting voice recordings - Promise of future episodes on research projects and doctoral supervisionCall to ActionSend a voice recording of a digital tool suggestion to the email address pgrmatters@pm.me with the subject line "digital toolkit".Links Zotero Tropy Obsidian OpenRefine WeekToDo Carroll, R. (2021) The Bullet Journal Method: Track Your Past, Order Your Present, Plan Your Future. The 4th Estate. Newport, C. (2020) Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. Penguin Books. CreditsMusic by Matthew Sillence

Dive into the world of research with our PGR Matters Podcast! Meet postgraduate researchers and staff from the University of East Anglia and beyond as they unravel mysteries, share their passion, personal experiences and discuss all things academic. Hosted by Dr Matthew Sillence from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Graduate School. Have an idea for an episode? Feel free to get in touch at pgrmatters@pm.me.

Creator

PGR Matters Podcast
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

13
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
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PGR Matters Podcast