Milestone One: Symposium
Overview
First year PhD students put together a PhD symposium in year one to fulfill the requirements of the seminar milestone. The Program Director and Program Administrator will invite the first year PhD students to a kick-off meeting within the first 12 months of study to initiate the process. For information about the recent/past symposia, visit the EnSciMan PhD Symposium page.
The PhD Symposium is a Pass/Fail program milestone completed collaboratively by the first-year PhD cohort. Students are responsible for conceptualizing, planning and delivering a one-day symposium focused on a timely topic related to environmental applied science, policy and/or management.
The symposium is intended to provide students with experience in academic leadership, collaboration, event planning, professional communication and knowledge mobilization, while creating an opportunity for discussion and engagement among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, community members and/or other relevant audiences.
Evaluation
Successful completion of the milestone will be based on the cohort's demonstrated participation in the planning and delivery of the symposium. Rather than being evaluated on the size of the event or the prominence of invited speakers, students will be expected to demonstrate:
- meaningful and equitable participation within the organizing team;
- effective collaboration, communication and division of responsibilities;
- development of a clear, relevant and academically appropriate symposium theme;
- appropriate planning and professional engagement with speakers, partners and participants;
- organization of a coherent program that encourages discussion and knowledge exchange; and
- successful execution of the event.
The symposium is a collaborative milestone; students are therefore expected to contribute meaningfully throughout the planning process as well as to the event itself.
Anticipated Deliverables
Exact activities will depend on the format selected by the cohort, but students should generally expect to:
- identify a symposium theme, objectives and intended audience;
- establish an organizing structure and assign roles and responsibilities;
- develop a project timeline and event plan;
- identify, invite and coordinate speakers, panelists or other contributors;
- develop the symposium agenda/program;
- coordinate event logistics, registration and attendee communications;
- develop promotional materials and provide information required for program/website promotion;
- facilitate and support the symposium on the day of the event; and
- complete any necessary post-event follow-up or wrap-up.
Students are encouraged to review previous EnSciMan PhD Symposia for examples of themes and event formats. The cohort is not expected to replicate previous events and is encouraged to develop a format that best supports the objectives of its chosen topic.