SUSTAIN Task Updates May 2023
On 16th & 17th May 2023, the SUSTAIN Hub held the programmes Task Updates & Board Meetings in the International Digital Laboratory (IDL) at the University of Warwick. The Hub organises two main internal update meetings per year, to inform the Advisory Boards on research progress, as well as providing an opportunity for PhD researchers, PDRA’s, academic staff and industrial representatives to meet face to face and discuss ideas. This May’s meeting marked the final update presentations for many of the Phase 1 Tasks, before the research focus moves to the Phase 2 projects later this year. More information about the Tasks included in Phase 2 will be published on the Hub’s website and social media soon!
On day 1 Prof. Cam Pleydell-Pearce provided an update on the Hub, focussing on the outcome of the SUSTAIN mid-term review which took place in March this year. We were delighted to have received excellent reviews from the visiting panel and will work to progress their suggested actions over the coming months.
To recognise the importance of Mental Health Awareness week, the SUSTAIN team distributed copies of Zoë J. Ayres book “Managing your Mental Health during your PhD: A Survival Guide” to PhD candidates, researchers and academic staff in attendance at the event. These were very well received by the community and we hope to be able to provide more practical support for Hub members over the coming months and years.
There were over 15 presentations delivered by academic and researchers working on the Phase 1 Tasks, including updates from PhD researchers and progress reports from our current competitively funded Early Career Researcher (ECR) and Feasibility Study projects. Significant progress has been made in many areas and there are a number of exciting journal papers currently under review which we hope will be published soon.
On day 2, the team held the Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) and Operational Committee (OC) meetings. These groups provide the Hub with advice, suggestions and decisions on project direction and engagement. Especially as SUSTAIN looks forward to Phase 2, their input is invaluable to the continued success of the Hub.
It was great to visit Warwick University Campus – complete with its very own geese and their goslings!
