IDEA Committee News
Published in the RSAA Lunations
Vol1 Issue40 1–31 May 2023
We, the IDEA student representatives for this year (Sarah Bradbury & Madi McKenzie), are excited to announce a new initiative called the "Buddy System." This program aims to create an inclusive and collaborative environment between honours, masters, and HDR students. By connecting postgraduate research students (PhD and MPhil) with Honours and Masters by coursework students, we hope to foster a sense of community and support among our peers.
The Buddy System will provide an informal platform for students to share strategies, tips, and advice for navigating an intensive year of research. We understand that the Honours year is often considered the most challenging stage in one's academic journey. Our goal is to make this experience less daunting and more enjoyable for the most junior members of our community. We believe that this initiative can become an integral part of the student experience at the RSAA, and we welcome any suggestions from our community members.
Last week, we sent out a survey to PhD students inviting them to volunteer as buddies. We are grateful to the ten outstanding individuals who have already signed up. If you are a PhD student who missed the message and would like to join or learn more, please feel free to contact us directly. Next week, we plan to reach out to our Honours and Masters student cohorts. We kindly request that supervisors with Honours or Masters students inform them about this initiative and encourage their participation.
The IDEA committee is committed to fostering a greater sense of community among members of RSAA, following the main outcome of the 2022 climate survey. One of the main initiatives forecasted for this year is the sponsorship of monthly morning teas. These gatherings are designed to encourage conversations among members of the School, and to provide an opportunity for individuals to meet and interact with others. At the ANU level, each School within the College of Science will be responsible for organising and hosting one community event per year. The RSAA event will take place in November and more details will follow! If you have ideas for such an event, please don’t hesitate to send us an email (idea.rsaa@anu.edu.au) or to talk to any of the IDEA members during morning tea.
On May 17th, we will be celebrating the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia; this year’s theme is "Together always: unity in diversity". When we unite, in all our beautiful diversity, that’s when we can really bring about change! Let's come together to celebrate diversity on this day and raise awareness against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
Sarah and Madi, on behalf of the RSAA IDEA committee
