Marilyn Rose

The Faculty of Graduate Studies will mark the 10th year anniversary of its Mapping the New Knowledges Graduate Student Research Conference with the presentation of a new annual award.

The Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award will be presented for the first time at the conference on Thursday, April 9. The award recognizes faculty, staff and students for their vision and leadership on behalf of graduate studies at Brock in areas such as academic programming, research and scholarship, student services, and student experience initiatives.

This is the second award to be set up by the Faculty in conjunction with its annual conference. In 2011, the Graduate Mentorship Awards were established to recognize excellence in graduate student supervision.

Mike Plyley, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, says the award is another way in which the conference can celebrate the best of graduate education at Brock.

“We have opened the award nomination to the Brock community as a way to hear about the many and far-ranging contributions that individuals in our graduate programs are making to the graduate studies experience,” he says.

Plyley adds that he’s thrilled that the award is named as special recognition of the former Dean, Marilyn Rose.

Rose will give a keynote address to open the conference on April 9 and will also be part of the awards ceremony later in the day.

“Marilyn made innumerable contributions as Dean over her seven-year term and provided leadership during a period of rapid growth in graduate education at Brock,” Plyley says.

“In particular, she envisioned Mapping the New Knowledges as a means by which students from diverse disciplines could connect as researchers and scholars. The conference provided a foundation from which we have built a strong and vital graduate studies culture of researchers and scholars at Brock.”

About 120 graduate students will give oral and poster research presentations throughout the day. The conference will also feature the finals of Brock’s 2015 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) contest, the winner of which will advance to compete in the Ontario contest on April 23 at Western University.

Plyley extends an invitation to the Brock community to join in the celebration.

“This is a milestone year for the conference. Jointly organized by the Faculty and the Graduate Students’ Association, the conference is unique for its focus on giving graduate students an opportunity to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with students and faculty across all of our programs,” he says.

“Mapping the New Knowledges provides a welcoming and transdisciplinary environment in which Brock’s graduate studies community, students and faculty, can strengthen our alliance as researchers and scholars to discover new ways to work together in making a difference in our world.”

MNK schedule

8 a.m. Registration and Breakfast, Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine
8:30 Welcoming/Opening Remarks, Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine
9:15 Concurrent Session 1, Plaza
11 a.m. 3MT® Contest, Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine
Noon Lunch, Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine
1 p.m. Presentation of Graduate Mentorship Awards and the Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award, Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine
1:40 Concurrent Session 2, Plaza
3 p.m. Coffee Break and Poster Viewing Session, Scotiabank Atrium, Cairns Complex
4 p.m. Concurrent Session 3, Plaza
5 p.m. Graduate Students’ Association Social, Isaac’s
Closing remarks and the announcement of the 3MT® winner and runner-up and draw prizes

Research Matters Curiosity Shop Thursday, April 9, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Isaac’s:

In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of Mapping the New Knowledges, Research Services is hosting the Research Matters “Curiosity Shop.” Come to the booth to ask any questions you might have about any subject.

Faculty and student researchers from one or more of Ontario’s 21 universities will answer your questions later online. The booth is a great way to engage in research conversations. Faculty, students and staff interested in helping out can sign up at the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) office or contact cmajtenyi@brocku.ca; 905-688-5550, x5789.

Special 10th anniversary MNK presentation – Jorge Cham, creator of PhD Comics, Friday, April 10, 2:30 to 5 p.m., Thistle 325

The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Graduate Students’ Association will welcome Jorge Cham, creator of PhD Comics, to campus on Friday, April 10.

Jorge will be in Thistle 325 to give a lecture, “The Power of Procrastination,” and sign books from 2:30 to 4 p.m., followed by the screening of The PhD Movie from 4 to 5 p.m. Register online.