7. BCN Master classes

Optional for all BCN PhD students. BCN EC's for each attendance.

Target Group

PhD students within BCN. Maximum number of participants: 10.

Application

Phd students wil receive an invitation e-mail.

Credits

0,5 EC.

After this course you should have improved your abilities to:

1. formulate questions to researchers in your field
2. discuss with senior (and junior) researchers on topics of joint interest in your field

Period

Spread throughout the year.

Form

Whereas most of the other courses organised by BCN cover large parts of the research field of the behavioural and cognitive neurosciences, each master class deals with a narrow theme, the theme of the master, an internationally outstanding researcher. Only those BCN PhD students whose research interest is closely related to that of the master are invited to participate in the class. Participants will receive study material, one or more articles of the master, to prepare for the master class. Furthermore, they will be asked to formulate a question or statement they wish to discuss with the master before attending the class.

Every PhD student is invited to make suggestions for internationally famous scientists that they would like to see invited to Groningen to deliver a master class. Often, the master class is combined with a public lecture. Also, scientists who for some other reason already happen to come to Groningen (or the Netherlands) can be asked for a master class . Please mail your suggestions or requests to d.h.koopmans@med.umcg.nl.

Organising master class yourself(?)/How to organise a masterclass? (By Marte Swart)

For PhD students it can be most interesting to participate in a master class given by an experienced researcher in the field of interest of the PhD student. But how does one contact the researcher in question, arrange such a master class, and what can BCN offer the invited researcher?
What is a master class? An experienced researcher is invited to give a master class. The topic of the master class lies within the field of interest of the invited researcher. Usually, participants of the master class receive a couple of articles to read in advance and think of questions related to the selected literature. During the three hour master class, there is time to discuss the topic and ask questions related to the selected literature and/or your own research. Thus, if your own research is related to that of the invited researcher, this can contribute considerably to your own research.
How to organise a master class yourself? It can be rather easy to organise a master class. Money is available for travel costs, accommodation expenses etcetera for the invited researcher. If you would like to invite someone to give a master class, send an e-mail to Diana Koopmans (d.h.koopmans@med.umcg.nl). Together you can discuss things that need to be arranged, such as for whom this master class might be interesting, a date for the proposed master class etcetera.
Therefore, if you are looking forward to having a master class from a specific researcher, don’t hesitate, but organise it!