Attending the 2015 British Society for Population Studies annual conference

From the 6th to the 9th September I attended the 2015 British Society for Population Studies annual conference held at the University of Leeds. The Social Sciences department at the University of Southampton made up a pretty significant proportion of attendees at the conference - so much so that we were named the ‘Southampton Mafia’!

Firstly, conferences are great; if you ever get the chance to go to one, go! You will meet people who are interested in your research and will make contacts that will help you further your professional career. They are not only attended by lecturers and researchers; often there will be industry representatives there looking for their next graduate recruit, particularly at PhD conferences.

You don't even have to be a PhD or even a Masters student to attend. I fully encourage any undergraduate student who gains a good mark in their dissertation to take the work to a relevant conference.

The very imposing main staging building for the conference at Leeds. 

I took along a poster detailing half of my dissertation research which was focused on using agent based models to better understand fertility decline in modern Germany (don't focus too much on wondering what on earth that means, it's a pretty niche area of research!). My poster was displayed for the whole three days, but on the first night a poster session was held where you had to stand by your poster and try to explain what it's all about.

This was utterly terrifying…for about five minutes. Then I realised that I did actually remember what I had done, and probably wasn't going to embarrass myself that badly. Plus, there was copious amounts of free wine given out throughout the evening, so explaining my work to people gradually became easier!

 

My poster proudly displayed in a corner. As the first conference poster I had ever made I was pretty happy with the result, even if I didn't win the prize for best poster! 

Dr Sabu Padmadas and Dr Amos Channon from Southampton enjoying the drinks and perusing the posters on display. 

 

The poster session filling up. 

The conference was structured around hour-and-a-half long sessions composed of four 15 minute presentations from researchers and academics detailing their most recent piece of research. Unlike presentations you might give in your University seminars, these are made a bit more stressful by the fact that the person you've referenced in your presentation may well be sat in the room with you.

Southampton's own Dr Sabu Padmadas giving a talk on maternal health care in Ghana. 

Another Southampton representative, PhD student Anna Zincenko presenting her early thesis research. 

Conferences are a fantastic way to receive constructive feedback on ongoing research, there are few other opportunities to talk to so many experts.

Southampton’s Dr Pirelli-Harris questioned the presenters consideration of cohabiting couples, evidence of the fear of being questioned by someone you've referenced. 

As well as these sessions there were two Plenary lectures given by prominent academics which were attended by everyone.

Professor Helga de Valk giving a fascinating talk titled: European migrants: new demographic questions and challenges? 

The best thing about the conference organisation is that you have complete flexibility in which talks you attend. There were six sessions happening at the same time, and people were able to pick and mix, and go to the talks that were the most interesting to them. BSPS attracts a wide range of not only demographers but economists, anthropologists and social scientists. The result was a huge range of topics covered meaning that there was always something interesting for me to go along to.

The days were very long. Having come here from what has been quite a lazy summer working as a consultant (meaning that I haven't had to face an early morning for over a month!) waking up at 7 am and sitting in talks through till 6pm hit me in the face like a brick. However, the conference organisers were prepared for this, and provided copious amounts of food and coffee throughout the day, starting with a full cooked breakfast and on the Tuesday ending with a formal sit down dinner.

Please don't take a picture of us while our mouths are full… 

Cheers! Eagerly anticipating food and enjoying more free wine, the evening was looking promising

The organisers really delivered with an outstanding menu that made us all feel very spoiled. I intended to take a photo of the dessert but unfortunately I lost all control of my spoon and only remembered my camera once I had finished. 

Dr Padmadas ….. And Dr Skazbo looking happy after finally having a chance to relax after chairing sessions and attending talks all day. 

It seems entirely strange that I should have to go to Leeds to meet fellow Southampton Postgraduates but there you go, it’s great for meeting new people! Happily I met some wonderful students and researchers and I am thrilled to be leaving with new friends and contacts.

While I am not normally that excited about the idea of spending three days surrounded by strangers and being asked difficult questions about my work (in fact, that's normally the sort of thing I would go out of my way to avoid), the atmosphere at BSPS was so relaxed and friendly that my nerves were (mostly) forgotten.

Plus, having such a strong Southampton presence meant that even though I was in Leeds, I didn't feel too far away from home…

My conference name badge joining the others on my desk!

Emma

The first night

Whether your very first taste of university life is just on the horizon, or you’re a seasoned pro returning for another shot at the student way of being (because you simply just can’t get enough), that all important first night is definitely looming. In fact, for me, that night was actually a few days ago.

After finally moving back to Southampton properly for the last time ever (an insanely scary and daunting thought), it suddenly hit me how bizarre that first night away always is. Be it first year, second year or beyond; shifting gears mentally after being out of the loop for a considerable amount of time is tough. Suddenly being the only person that’s responsible for your survival can be a little jarring at first, but that shouldn’t put you off.

With all of the many millions of boxes of my stuff finally unpacked in my new student house, my new room set up just the way I wanted it, and the shelves fully stocked with enough food to survive a nuclear winter, I realised I was very much in control of myself and what I do from here on. True, it’s a bit of a scary thought, but if you learn to trust yourself it’s also a pretty exciting one too.

After an entire day of travelling, I’m finally moved in. 

No longer are you restricted by dinner times or curfews - you are 100% in charge of what you do and when you do it. Randomly eating cereal in the middle of the night or sleeping in ’til noon is no longer an issue. I mean, you don’t have to do those things, and sometimes they might not really be a particularly great idea (especially if you happen to have a 9am lecture to trek to) but the fact is you can do them if you want to, and no one is going to stop you. You get to decide.

But it’s not just this realisation that makes that first night so strange and unique. Whether you’re in a house or a flat or the university halls of residence, that very first evening is your first taste of what the year has to offer. It’s likely that your living situation might change over the years or even during it if you want it to - but in the large majority of cases, that room is very much where your university experience will unfold.

The bed that you scramble out of after oversleeping before a seminar, the desk that you stare at whilst struggling through a particularly hard bit of reading or even the microwave that, sooner or later, will likely become crusted with some strange substance - these are the tools of your new life. Using them at first may seem odd and different and sometimes a little scary, but in time, it will simply become second nature.

Because as weird and sometimes uncomfortable as moving somewhere new can be, ultimately in time, we all adjust. Yesterday I spent an almost unhealthy amount of time staring at my new oven trying to figure out what all the buttons did. It’s a million miles from my oven back home, and glaring at it so blankly for such a long period of time did make me really miss the old one, but I persevered because in the end, one day down the line, I know that I’m sure to figure it out. For the record, that day wasn’t yesterday - I retreated to the safety of the microwave after nearly half an hour of twiddling random bits to no avail - but I still know that at some point I will conquer it.

The scary, spaceship-like oven in question. 

First night nerves are the most understandable; it always takes a little while to get comfortable with somewhere new. It’s just about trusting the fact that at some point soon you’ll settle in, and you won’t even notice it when you do.

Ben

How to house-hunt - looking for student accommodation

After a week of travelling, I’m finally home in Oslo again. This time my trip was to London and Southampton and I think it’s safe to say that this was my last trip abroad before the University year starts. It also gives me an immense pleasure to say that I am finally completely ready for term to start!

Miranda and I have (finally) found where we are staying for next year! We couldn’t be happier with the place we found and I think that definitely underlines the importance of waiting until you find something you like. Next weekend most Freshers will move in to halls and I’m sure that by October you will start hearing about housing, thinking about housemates etc., so this is why I wanted to dedicate this blog post to student housing.

Although this might be most ‘relevant’ in January/February, I think all year around is ‘housing season’ for students. Why? Because the student housing is a huge business in Southampton and you will meet all sorts of people trying to convince you to look for next year’s houses very early, in September or October.

I think I’m already proof that you definitely don’t need to start looking for anything until after Christmas (at the earliest!). So, here are a couple of things I think you should be aware of in this jungle of house hunting:

Don’t rush!

 

SUSU, the Students' Union, and the University of Southampton run campaigns every year about how important it is to be sure who you want to live with before looking for houses, while letting agencies tell students how important it is to find a house early, because ‘all the good stuff will go first’. I think SUSU put it very nicely last year when I read an article from them saying that it was important to remember that there is no shortage of student housing in Southampton. Hence, you won’t live on the street if you don’t find a house by January.

As said by SUSU: “Get to know the people you want to live with before you commit to a contract. Second years will say “Housemates are more important than the house!””. Therefore, it is a good idea to visit the SUSU pages on housing and stick to what they say and also go to the housing day in January/February organised by SUSU. You can read the article I've quoted here.

To be fair, when considering accommodation it is always a good idea to listen to the University and SUSU. We were told this week by multiple letting agencies that September is a really busy month for them, mostly because the international students arrive to find houses for this academic year, so I hope I’ve made my point about waiting with the house hunting!

Civic Centre in Southampton with Mayflower Halls!

Be aware of the landlords and/or letting agents.

 

As I mentioned, student housing is a huge business in Southampton (as it probably is in every major UK student city), so you are bound to meet a few dodgy landlords and/or letting agents. Again, SUSU has done surveys amongst the students about the different letting agents, and identified the ones which are worth your time.

The number of people who were shocked and almost concerned we waited this long to find a house was surprising. I do agree, we probably waited a bit longer than we should have, but we ended up finding an apartment we really liked with a very desirable location for us and therefore it was definitely worth the wait! We have tried to be very conscious about everything in the process.

I would be lying if I didn’t say we have had a couple of viewings where things weren’t quite right – for example, lack of communication, professionalism and customer service. This is so important to remember in the whole house hunting process. It is perfectly OK to expect certain things from your potential landlord. For example, if you like a house/apartment, but it hasn’t been cleaned properly you are fully entitled to say you expect it to be cleaned thoroughly before you move in. Most students will rent furnished houses/apartments, but if you end up with a bed that isn’t OK, you are allowed tell your landlord this, or negotiate about getting a new desk.

During your viewings you will be told how amazing the place is, but if you don’t agree, you shouldn’t be afraid to say so and hear what can be done to change the things you don’t like.

Highfield campus with its local inhabitants, the ducks

The condition of the house is important!

 

This is not to argue against that housemates are more important than the house, but don’t forget that the condition of the house is important. After all, it will be your new home for a year (maybe more), so even if we know a student house will have its quirks, it still needs to be in a bearable condition.

You would never buy a house with mould in it, so if you see mould on the viewing you shouldn’t think that it is acceptable, even if the house looks nice. The location of the house is also important, so this is something all future housemates should discuss and agree on before starting to look at houses.


This post is not intended to scare anyone into thinking house hunting as a student is a nightmare - after all, most of the ‘horror stories’ you hear are minimal compared to all the positive experiences people have when renting. Just remember to be aware and determined (without not being open to new or different ideas). Just because you are a student doesn’t mean you any less important than any other tenant, so think about what is important to you in the process of finding a house and don’t settle for something you are not happy with. I hope you find this advice helpful!

 

I just had to post a picture from my trip to London

Bye for now, England – see you again soon! I can’t wait to move into my new apartment - it was well worth the wait.

Alexandra

Polishing my networking skills

The word networking alone was enough to make me cringe a while ago. I thought networking was all about putting myself out there when, actually, compared to other people I didn’t really have that much to offer them.

It’s safe to say that my networking was ‘not working’ at all!

My perceptions were flawed to say the least. Since then, I’ve learnt that networking doesn’t have to be such a hard task. The bottom line is it doesn’t have to be forced; all you really need is the curiosity to learn about what people do and it should come naturally. It doesn’t just have to be you taking things from people since you also have something to give to them. If you think about it, you’d be surprised that a connection with you has a lot to offer.

If you’re an undergraduate student, for example, your bargaining power is that you have what organisations need in their work force: young, fresh talent who can learn at a high level! So these past few weeks, I have had the chance to do some *gasp* real networking…

One of the events I went to was organised by the Civil Service. It was with fellow university students from all over the country who were taking part in their internship programme. It was initially daunting at first. Countless worries flooded my thoughts as soon as I entered the room. How do I approach a closely huddled group of people I’ve never met in my whole entire life? What if they ignore me because I don’t actually have anything exciting to say?

Yikes… Where to begin in a crowd like this? Safe to say that the lunch and coffee helped tremendously!

Now that I think about it, most of the people in the room were on the same boat as me. It really does help to keep in mind that everyone worries about these things too!

The most effective way I overcame these fears was by simply throwing myself out there with a welcoming smile and a simple “Hi, how are you finding it?” I found that this question invited a comfortable response as opposed to starting with a hasty declaration of who I am.

I have to admit that I did practice introducing myself a few times. Your introduction is like a selling point, if I have to be honest. Like an ‘elevator pitch’, it can’t be too long but needs to be short enough for you to open up the conversation and invite a reply. A good conversation tends to have a balance between the amount you talk and the other person talking.

I also read somewhere that body language is crucial to getting people to warm up to you. I tried to maintain an open posture (not arms crossed or looking down!) and a smile. You can pretty much go anywhere from there; for example, by asking them what university they go to, what course they do, and why they were at the event itself. The key thing here is to be open both with the types of questions you ask (asking questions that start with how, what or why) and your body language.

Key speakers in these events include Sir Jeremy Heywood, Head of the Civil Service (pictured above), former footballer Fabrice Muamba, university graduates now working for the organisation, and TV journalist Clive Myrie. 

One thing I wish I had done was a bit of research on keynote speakers at the events. These speakers are likely to take questions after their speech and it’s a good idea to know a little bit about their work. Most of them even stay a while to chat to people. The more you know about them, the more you feel prepared to go up to them and actually ask about what they do.

Students I’ve met at the Summer Diversity Internship Programme 2015

Another important thing about networking is to follow up. Normally this means sending them an ‘it-was-great-to-meet-you’ email but this isn’t always necessary. LinkedIn is perfect for setting up formal business connections on social media – it is a platform that is professional enough for you to re-connect with them after unlike other sites that may be too personal.

Don't forget that the Universrity of Southampton's Employability Service can help too, giving advice on interviews, networking and more!

I know the word ‘networking’ can sound daunting but, when you really think about it, it really is just talking to people. There are some things that the most intelligent search engines can’t answer for you. Sometimes human contact is the best way to find things out.

Rylyn

Tips for postgraduate freshers

To an incoming postgraduate student it can feel like Freshers’ week is all about the incoming undergraduate students, but Southampton’s Students’ Union (SUSU) and the University represent ALL students and all of the events that may appear to be for undergraduates are available to everyone. Your department will also be running meet and greet sessions and informational tutorials specific to your degree programme – so there are plenty of ways to meet fellow postgraduate students when you arrive!

So where can you find out the information you need to make the most of your postgraduate Freshers’ experience? The Official SUSU Freshers' Facebook page has all of the information on events for incoming students, and you can also visit the SUSU calendar to find out about all the events that are happening each day, allowing you to pick and choose which ones to visit.

Another key SUSU website to visit is their postgraduate page, which has links to course specific postgraduate societies and social and networking opportunities. This page also details the Students’ Union council members that will be representing you for the coming year, which is always useful to know.

The University also has a great course-specific Welcome Calendar that lists events from the meet-and-greet services, guides for international students and informational events such as advice on what to see and do in Southampton. These course-specific introductory events run from Wednesday 16th September to Friday 18t September.

One event that I personally highly recommend that postgraduate students don’t miss out on is the Bunfight, which is when all University Societies get together in a bit fair and you can find out more about what to get involved in. My partner is a PhD student here and when he started he didn’t hear about the Bunfight or many of the great Freshers’ events that SUSU runs, which is what inspired me to write this post. This year the Bunfight is on the 23rd September – so make sure you try and get there as early as possible to avoid the long queue and make the most of what’s on!

9:30 am and already packed – the Bunfight is always popular and it’s worth getting there early!

The key thing for postgraduate students is to pay attention to your email inbox and go along to the events your department will be running.

Socially, if you don’t fancy going out with a big group, I really recommend finding a small group and booking a table at The Rockstone (a pub in the local Portswood area). A group of us (PhD, Post-doctorate and Master’s students) meet there once a month to catch up and chow down on some amazing food. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere makes for a great evening out with new friends. There are plenty of other great local venues to choose from if you want to try somewhere different too!

The Rockstone is one of our favourite Postgraduate hangout spots, but there are so many places to choose from for social events!

For many of you, September is also Conference month, so to any presenting a talk, paper or poster, good luck! I’m off to BSPS (British Society for Population Studies) in Leeds in a couple of days, and am entirely jealous of my partner who is going to the SCCS Conference in Granada for a week!

So to all incoming postgraduate students, make sure you make the most of everything Freshers’ Week has to offer you! It’s not just for first-time students. I know I can’t wait to experience it all again.

Emma

Saying goodbye

As we’ve all no doubt realised by now, it’s September, so as expected, it’s nearly impossible to shake that back-to-school feeling that seems to be hidden around every corner. Although the return to university may still be a few weeks off yet, the process of preparing for the new academic year and saying goodbye to summer is well underway.

No matter where you’ve been or who you’ve seen, bidding farewell to all that that summer offers can be a little difficult, especially when it means potentially not seeing your nearest and dearest for quite some time.

It is important to remember that saying goodbye doesn’t mean you’ll never see that person - or even that place - again. They don’t disappear in a puff of smoke the second you cross the threshold. I’m not denying that it’s tough. Even heading into my third year, it’s hard to leave my family and friends behind at home, but I get by because I know there’ll always only be a phone-call or a Facebook message away.

Just because you’re not physically close to someone, it doesn’t mean that your relationship with them has to suffer. Think of being apart as adding a new dimension to your friendship, instead of something that simply defines it. Over the past two years of university I’ve actually seen my relationships with some friends grow stronger because, by being apart, it’s meant that we’ve taken more care and put more effort into keeping the friendship alive.

Whether it’s the odd Snapchat or text every now and then about some in-joke you might have or a funny story from your day, any bit of correspondence, no matter how small, shows that you still think about them.

In fact, keeping in touch with friends and family is easier now than it ever has been before. Whether you realise it or not, just by flicking through Facebook or Twitter every now and then, you’re keeping up to date with all the goings-on in each other’s lives.

If that’s not quite enough, or you really just don’t fancy finally adding your mum or dad on Facebook, there’s nothing stopping you from firing off a quick 20-minute phone or Skype call. You’re never 'uncool' for missing home - everyone does.

The quality may not always be great, but Skype is pretty useful for keeping friendships alive.

Believe it or not, the options for staying in contact don’t stop there. Depending on where your friends or family members happen to be in the world, there is always the option to travel to them too. We’re lucky in Southampton - we have two well-linked train stations, an airport, and our very own coach terminal at the University’s Highfield Campus Interchange, meaning no matter your budget, travelling to and from Southampton is always easy.

In fact, exploring each other’s universities and showing friends and family members around the city can be great fun in itself, and it’s a fantastic way to discover parts of Southampton that you never knew existed. In my second year, I formed a pact with two of my best friends from home and over the course of the year, we travelled up and down the country together and explored each other’s universities. Not only did it allow us to see more of England, but it also brought us closer together as a unit.

Trains are significantly easier to master than you would think. 

On a more serious note, this advice works just as well for couples attempting to take their relationship long-distance too. In my first year, I embarked on a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend from home, and within a few weeks of settling in, we had set up a regular routine of visiting each other on the train and spending time together via FaceTime. Even just spending the odd evening in, and watching a film or TV show at the same time as each other, made the distance between us seem significantly smaller than it was.

Then of course, there’s the holidays. University term times in Southampton leave usually several weeks free around both Christmas and Easter and an even longer stretch over summer, meaning that even if you have to travel abroad to see your family and friends, there is plenty of time to actually do so!

Ultimately, my point is simply that although the time to say goodbye to loved ones feels fast approaching, it is only ever a temporary farewell. The life of a student is as crazy as you make it, and there’s always room for keeping in touch.

Ben

A practical packing list

It’s officially September! Within the next thirty days it’s time to say goodbye to summer and hello to autumn and the new academic year.

I’m obviously excited to start my second year, but compared to how I was last September, I’m a lot more relaxed this year. Going back to Southampton this September will not be as nerve-wracking as it was last September! I’m sure there are a lot of other people out there who are extremely nervous and excited for university to start. In my opinion, that’s exactly how it should be! You should be a bit nervous, a bit anxious, a bit excited – you name it. I don’t believe there are any ‘right’ answers to how you actually should feel.

However, there are right answers to what you should be packing for university!

Being stressed about what to pack and when to start is just adding to the anxiety many people already feel about moving away from home and starting a ‘new’ life at university. Therefore, I hope this list and my experiences from last year may help!

Last year I started packing about a week before I moved, with the last two days being the most intense. The actual planning side of what to bring and what to buy started around this time last year. I made a list of absolutely everything I was bringing and this made the packing process a lot easier and faster.

Since I was flying to the UK I was forced to have everything I was bringing in two suitcases, whilst at least from what I have seen it looks like most British students drive with their parents and hence can fill up a car with everything they want. This isn’t necessarily an advantage, because there’s a higher chance that you’ll bring too many things! Both my dad and I was a bit shocked to see exactly how much stuff some people had brought with them during the moving day last year, so remember this: your room in halls is not that big and storage possibilities are limited.

Distinguish between the things you need to bring and things you can buy when you arrive in Southampton. There is a huge IKEA with very convenient opening hours in the City Centre where you can buy everything you might need for your room.

If you are thinking about bringing those shoes or clothes that you in fact haven’t really used in a long time, my advice would be to leave it at home. No matter how careful you are while packing you are bound to bring things you wont use or use that much, but its always OK to try to limit this as much as you can.

So, what should you bring then? This list consists of stuff I brought last year and found extremely helpful.

A washing bag. 

For a lot of people moving away to University, this will be their first time washing clothes on their own. I am forever grateful that my mum forced me to bring washing bags last year! I’m even confident that this smart invention has saved some of my clothes from being ruined by the washing machine.

This is what they look like if you are curious 

Raincoat, rain boots and an umbrella. 

In all honestly, I didn’t use my rain boots as much as I had expected to, but on those days when it was really heavy rain from morning to evening they were like gold to me. A raincoat is also essential especially with the strong winds that often comes with the rain in Southampton at winter!

One of the many rainbows spotted throughout the year from my room at Mayflower Halls. 

Bathrobe. 

This is probably the thing I have been most happy about bringing from the day I moved in to the day I moved out. From early mornings in the kitchen to late nights making food my bathrobe followed me. If you by any chance are living at Mayflower Halls I promise you the staff in the shop downstairs won’t be surprised when students walk down there in a bathrobe and slippers!

Adapter.

If you are an international student, remember to bring an UK adapter. Furthermore, I would advise all international students, especially the ones from outside EU/EEA, to visit the University’s International Office webpage and take a look at what you need to bring for border control inspection, visa etc.
 
Last but not at least, bear in mind that most of you are not packing for a whole year. Many people go home for Christmas, so pack clothes suitable for September, October, November months and when you go home in December you can bring the clothes you don’t need for the months before Easter holiday, and if you go home for Easter you can again swap clothes!

Before you move into University accommodation make sure you read all the paperwork like hall regulations and make yourself familiar with what you can have in your room and what’s prohibited. At some point during the year you will have a room inspection, so to save you from any surprises you should be aware of these things – for example, candles are prohibited from halls!

Probably my most exciting birthday yet was last year moving into Mayflower Halls!

Remember to find the Official SUSU Facebook pages for Freshers 2015/2016 and the different halls. They’re great if you have any questions or want to see what questions other people have.

Happy packing!

Alexandra