We were thrilled to return to one of our member institutions for the 7th International Graduate Student Forum, hosted by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on October 29, 2024. The Grad Forum brings together graduate students from IIES member institutions to share and discuss environmental research from diverse perspectives. Students were invited to present brief overviews of their research, making their work accessible to attendees from a wide range of academic backgrounds. This year’s forum featured 40 participants from 13 institutions across 4 countries.
In the afternoon, we had the privilege of hosting Professor Xiangdong Li from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who gave a presentation on the Path to Academic Career Success: Research and Publication. Professor Li, in addition to his role as a professor, is also an editor for several prestigious journals.
Image: Professor Xiangdong Li (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) leading a session on Academic Career Success
During the session, Professor Li shared valuable insights into the common challenges he faces when reviewing papers for publication. He offered practical advice on navigating an academic career, emphasizing effective research strategies and the intricacies of the publication process. The session equipped students with essential tools to enhance their academic journey and better prepare for future success in the field.
As a follow-up, participants were asked to review two papers ahead of time from the Institute for Scientific Information, the organization behind the Web of Science. The group was divided into smaller subgroups for preliminary discussions – each of which presented and discussed the key points of the papers, including their views on the validity of the content.
Image: Professor Margaret Graham (The University of Edinburgh) engaging in a graduate student discussion during a peer review of research papers
The papers discussed included: How much is too much? The difference between research influence and self‐citation excess by Martin Szomszor, David A. Pendlebury, and Jonathan Adams and National research impact is driven by global collaboration, not rising performance by Jonathan Adams and Martin Szomszor. This exercise allowed students to engage critically with academic research and deepen their understanding of the publication process.
Before the Graduate Student Forum, a group of students and staff from Trent University, The University of Edinburgh, INRS, Laval University, HCMUT, and Phenikaa University had the opportunity to explore several cities across Vietnam, including Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Sa Pa, and more.
Image: View from near the top of Fansipan Mountain in Sa Pa, Vietnam
During the trip, we had the opportunity to visit Phenikaa University in Hanoi, Vietnam, where we engaged with faculty members and toured the university’s cutting-edge research facilities. The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration and foster closer ties between international partners. We were also joined by Phenikaa’s first graduate student, who participated in the tour of Vietnam, connecting with other graduate students and networking with peers who shared similar research interests.
The collaboration between Trent University and Phenikaa University is centred on the project Life Cycle of Rare Earth Elements: Sustainable Development and Reconciliation with Native Populations, led by Professor Huy Dang at Trent University.
Image: Students and staff from Trent University, The University of Edinburgh, INRS, Laval University, HCMUT, VNUHCM, and Phenikaa University
This visit provided valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange, the sharing of innovative ideas, and firsthand experience with the life cycles of rare earth elements. It marked an important step towards fostering a new partnership between IIES and Phenikaa University, with hopes for continued collaboration in the future.
To learn more about the visit to Phenikaa University or the collaboration between Trent University and Phenikaa University, you can follow these links to read the full articles:
- Phenikaa University joins hands to solve environmental challenges with international partners
- Project implementation workshop: “Life cycle of rare earth elements: sustainable development and reconciliation with native populations” with research participation of AEC group
Overall, we had a productive ten days of exploring, learning, and discussions which allowed students to network and collaborate with other students and staff from different parts of the world. We look forward to our next Graduate Student Forum taking place in South Africa in April 2025. Registration is now open!
