The Research Commons invites graduate students from any discipline to participate in our next FIREtalk, Tools of the Trade. To be part of the discussion, submit your proposal for a 5-minute presentation by April 16th, 2014. Or, if you don’t want to present, attend as an audience member and join the discussion after the presentations!

This month’s theme is Tools of the Trade:

Our trade is producing knowledge and implementing it. What are some of the tools that are being used? Choosing the appropriate tool or method for your research is one of the most critical components for advancing academic inquiry. What approaches to research are in the academic’s toolbox? Share with an interdisciplinary audience how a tool or method is used in your field:

• interdisciplinary perspectives
• mixed methods designs
• meta-analysis strategies
• cutting edge technology
• classic techniques proven by time

When: Wednesday, April 23, 4-6 pm

Where: Koerner Library, Room 216

For more Info: http://bit.ly/ToolsofTrade

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Koerner Library Poetry Event

When: April 9, 5-6:30pm

Where: Koerner Library, 3^rd floor entrance by the fireplace

Register: It’s Free!  Just register so we can get a handle on catering. 

National Poetry Month is a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets. The concept is to widen the attention of individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals of wide aesthetic range and concern.

To celebrate National Poetry Month, Koerner Library will be hosting some of our own local poets – including Kevin McNeilly, Renee Saklikar, and Elee Kraljii Gardiner – for a night of food and verse. To read more about our lineup of poets, visit the website here: http://koerner.library.ubc.ca/blog/koener-poetry-readings/

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  Tips and Tricks for Formatting Your Thesis: Little Things Mean A Lot

Are you worried about getting your thesis/dissertation into the format required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies? Would you like to know more about how to use the formatting features in Microsoft Word? Research Commons staff will help you with your questions about the nuts and bolts of formatting: tables of contents, page layout, numbering, headings, front matter, and more! As well, find out more about the resources that are available to help you in writing your thesis/dissertation. Graduate students at any stage of the writing process are welcome; some prior knowledge of Microsoft Word will be helpful. 

Thursday, April 10th, 10am-12:00pm: http://elred.library.ubc.ca/libs/dashboard/view/4622

Thursday,  April 17th, 10am-12:00pm: http://elred.library.ubc.ca/libs/dashboard/view/4737 

Have specific questions you think would be best answered in a one-on-one session? See our Consultations page to book a session: http://koerner.library.ubc.ca/services/research-commons/.

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Citation Management Using RefWorks, Zotero, or Mendeley 

Need to manage large numbers of references and citations as part of your research, teaching or administrative work? Citation management tools are for you. These tools provide a simple way to store, organize and retrieve your citations in an effective manner, and can also help you in formatting in-text citations and bibliographies in your work.  

Sign up for a tool specific hands-on workshop about the core concepts of citation management and detailed instruction for use of either RefWorks, Zotero, or Mendeley.  

Are you new to citation management tools entirely, or do you have advanced-user questions? See our Consultations page to book a one-on-one session: http://koerner.library.ubc.ca/services/research-commons/  

Citation Management Using RefWorks:

Monday, April 7th, 2:00pm-4:00pm :http://elred.library.ubc.ca/libs/dashboard/view/4640

 

Citation Management Using Mendeley:

Monday, April 9th, 10am-12pm: http://elred.library.ubc.ca/libs/dashboard/view/4719

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SPSS

Workshop 1- Basic SPSS 

Do you wonder what SPSS is and how it can be useful to manage and analyze your data? Would you like to learn how to work with SPSS just by clicking a few keys? Let us help you learn the basics. 

No previous knowledge of SPSS is required for the first workshop: Wednesday, April 9th, 1200pm-2:00pm: http://elred.library.ubc.ca/libs/dashboard/view/4627 

Workshop 2- SPSS Data Management

Do you know how to edit your data using effective data management software? Do you want to work with user-friendly software without going through a hassle of writing code? SPSS can do this for you with a few clicks. Attend this workshop and learn how to manage your data fast. 

Wednesday, April 16th, 12:00pm-2:00pm: http://elred.library.ubc.ca/libs/dashboard/view/4630 

Have specific questions you think would be best answered in a one-on-one session? See our Consultations page to book a session: http://koerner.library.ubc.ca/services/research-commons/. __________________________________________________________________ Graduate Lit Review Workshops

UBC Library Research Commons offers workshops to graduate students doing a literature review. The sessions are appropriate for students conducting literature reviews in any discipline. 

Topics include: what is a literature review? finding the right databases;  search strategies for databases; finding scholarly articles, theses and dissertations, books, and more; resources to help you keep track of your research. 

Upcoming sessions are scheduled for:

Thursday May 8^th, 10-noon in Koerner Library: http://elred.library.ubc.ca/libs/dashboard/view/4823

 Kelsey Blair
Student Coordinator Koerner Library Research Commons kelsey.blair@ubc.ca

Dear Graduate Students,

First a warm and heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to help us with our photo shoot last week. It was such a help, and we’re so thankful!

GSS Social & Recreational: – The GSS is super excited to host an End of Term Party! We’ll have 3 rounds of FREE Beer Tasting including Spring beers, Dark beers, Pale ales! We’ll have a DJ rocking the most happening music (no matter how young or old you are!), we’ll have a dance instructor for the studious among you, mad snacks and desserts! Tickets available now here, or at our front desk during business hours. Get them! Early bird tickets are $5 until April 15th. PS: Come help us host! We’re looking for 3 volunteers for the night. Your ticket (including a beer or shot) is on us. Come on, email us. 

– GSS Figure Skating Class starts April 25th! Learn spins, jumps, fundamental edge control and figure skating skills. Explore movement on ice and improvise to music! The GSS is offering 7 sessions on Friday’s between 9.00-10.00am at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.Register by April 16th! It’s only $50 for Grad Students & $60 for Non-Grads! More details.

– GSS Ice Skating Class starts April 25th too! Learn to skate in this course, designed for Adults with limited or no experience. Get familiar with the ice and arena environment with our professional instructors and learn to balance and glide. The GSS is offering 7 sessions starting April 25th on Fridays, 9:00­-10:00am at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Register by April 16th! It’s only $50 for Grad Students & $60 for Non-­Grads.

– 2014 GSS Summer Sports League is back! Create your team and come out and play either Soccer or Softball!  Game day will be Fridays over the months of May-July. Click the link for details, then create your team and Register by May 1st!

– GSS & Scotiabank have partnered to help you begin building a more financially secure future. This Monday, April 14th at 5.00pm-6.30pm at GSS Thea’s Lounge, you will learn how to build and maintain a healthy credit history, how to obtain your first mortgage to purchase a home & how to invest for your long-term future. Register by emailing  execassistant@gss.ubc.ca. We will bring the pizza and beverages!

GSS Sponsored Events: – The GSS is proud to support UBC Department of Botany’s Graduate Student Association as they hold their annual BGSA symposium on Friday, April 11th, at Michael Smith Laboratories. The symposium is an opportunity for graduate students to share their research, build cohesion and establish links across the department. The Keynote address will be given by Professor Sean Graham on the evolutionary relationships between land-plants. There will be free snacks provided, including lunch and an evening closing reception at the BioDiversity Building Auditorium. Check out the website for more details.

And best to all of you as the semester proceeds to exit (slowly, majestically) stage left. Air is good for the lungs, and cherry blossoms are a comfort to the screen glazed eye, and thus the part of our brain some of us call the heart.

Joy,
Ngwatilo

GSS Communications Coordinator
communications@gss.ubc.ca