We have created an FAQ that could be useful for preparing the course:

1. Administration

1.1. Q. How can I be enrolled in this course?

A. Please contact phadmin@cbh.kth.se. In some programs, this course is mandatory as its main goal is to create a culture of active participation in seminars.

 

1.2. Q. I'm now enrolled in the course, but I have not seen any sessions in my calendar. Is it OK?

A. This course has no planned sessions. The students must attend 12 seminars and write a report at the end. The students are free to choose the most relevant to their fields.

 

1.3. Q. What is required to pass the course?

A. 1) Active participation in 12 scientific seminars, 2) presentation of own work in a seminar series organized by a university, 3)  opponent of at least 1 seminar, 4) list all seminars and write a critical reflection on the seminars, focusing on how they will/were used for improving the PhD project. 

 

1.4. Q. How much time do I have to collect my 12 seminars?

A. There is no fixed time limit, but most students collect them in around 1 year. It depends a lot on the availability of meaningful seminars.

 

1.5. Q. Who are the examiners of the course?

A. Andrea Eriksson (andrea4@kth.se), Rodrigo Moreno (rodmore@kth.se), and Seraina Dual (seraina@kth.se).

 

2. Seminars

 

2.1. Q. What is counted as a seminar?

A. Typical seminars usually last between 45 min and 1 hour. The speakers must be at least PhD students or higher. Seminars that are counted in other courses (e.g., credits from journal clubs at KI or KTH or conference attendance) cannot be counted for this course. It is very important that the open discussion portion (excluding the opponent discussion) lasts at least 15 min. A small number of participants is preferable so everyone can have the chance to participate in the discussion.

 

2.2. Q. Must the seminars be hosted by faculty members?

A. It is recommended that at least one faculty member be present in the seminar, but it is not required that that person host the seminar. Mention the name of the faculty member in the report.

 

2.3. Q. Do the seminars need to take place at KTH?

A. KI or any other university can host the seminar.

 

2.4. Q. Must the format be on-site, or is it possible to attend seminars online?

A. The format is irrelevant; what matters is the seminar's discussion component. In principle, we prefer seminar series organized by KTH or KI, but other seminars are also allowed. Notice that there are online seminars organized by major entities, such as international societies. Those seminars are more similar to keynotes than seminars. A rule of thumb is that if you think you can ask the speaker questions and have a meaningful discussion, then the seminar has accomplished its goal and can be considered valid. If the discussion is limited, then it will not be acceptable. We suggest discussing this with your supervisor and/or the examiners for specific cases.

 

2.5. Q. Can my oral presentation at a conference count as a seminar?

A. Usually, conferences have very tight schedules that limit discussion time, which is the most relevant aspect of the seminars in this course. But you can organize a longer session with plenty of time for discussion at KTH. That one could count.

 

2.6. Q. Can keynotes in conferences count as seminars?

A. The idea behind the seminars is that students should have the opportunity to discuss. Time at conferences is very limited, so interaction for discussion is also limited.

 

2.7. Q. Do half-time seminars count for the course?

A. While half-time seminars have a significant discussion component, this is constrained by the time allotted to the opponent. This largely limits the opportunity for open discussion among other attendees. So in principle, no.

 

2.8. Q. Can PhD defenses count as seminars?

A. No, for similar reasons. However, some students organize "grilling" sessions. If those sessions are open to other students and faculty, those sessions can count as seminars.

 

2.9. Q. Do annual seminars count for the course?

A. Usually, annual seminars are more relaxed and informal than half-time seminars and defenses. If the discussion is open and long enough, they can count for this course.

 

2.10. Q. Must the speaker be a faculty person?

A. No, PhD students, postdocs, and faculty are good. Master's thesis presentations are not allowed, as their purpose is different and the general discussion is rather limited.

 

2.11. Q. I'm attending a journal club. Does it count?

A. Yes, as long as the open discussion is long enough (at least 15 min), there is a presenter, and you are not getting credit points for attending that journal club. See other restrictions in previous questions.

 

2.12. Q. I was at an international summer school/course/workshop and attended different seminars. Do they count as seminars for the course?

A. In principle, no (see the answer to previous questions). If you feel the seminars meet the criteria described earlier (min 45 min, 15 min for open discussion), and you have not received points for them, please contact Andrea, Rodrigo, or Seraina to assess the specific case.

 

2.13. Q. I have attended many seminars, but none related to my thesis. Is it OK?

A. Yes and no. It is a good idea to attend seminars in other fields for inspiration and cross-fertilization. However, the goal of the course is to foster a culture of attending meaningful seminars, so it's important that most seminars are related to the PhD students' field. Also, if the topic is not in your field, you would be more afraid of asking questions because you might think they are irrelevant.

 

2.14. Q. I cannot find any relevant seminar series in my field. What should I do?

A. Why not start a seminar series or a journal club with other members of your research group? Seminar series do not need to be run by any faculty; it is more relevant if they are interesting and useful to the attendees. Look around as well. Seminar series from other groups at the main campus and KI could be an alternative. You can also invite someone you met at a conference to discuss more about his/her research. As mentioned, the speakers do not need to be faculty. You can also get suggestions from your supervisors or open a seminar series with them.

 

2.15. Q. I can invite a speaker for a seminar, but I'm not part of any seminar series. Does this seminar count for the course?

A. It is irrelevant whether the seminar is part of a seminar series. What matters is the seminar's discussion component. You can talk to your colleagues, and they can find other speakers. Then you can have your seminar series!

 

2.16. Q. OK, we can organize some seminars with colleagues, but they will likely not be organized regularly. I guess, they cannot be called a seminar series.

A. That's a matter of name. Seminars in a seminar series do not need to be held at regular intervals. It is more important to have relevant seminars than to hold them at regular intervals.

 

2.17. Q. I'm an industrial PhD, how can I attend so many seminars?

A. There are many options. Ask whether some interesting on-site seminars can be held in a hybrid format. Why not combine more than one seminar back-to-back? Discuss options with your research group and peers. Look for sustainable solutions for the future, as our goal is to create a culture of attending seminars that can continue after you finish the course.

 

2.18. Q. How can I be an opponent of one seminar? Is there a formal procedure?

A. Just coordinate with the speaker, so you can volunteer to have extra questions than other attendees. No formal procedure. Don't forget to mention in the report which seminar you acted as an opponent and what you learned from the experience.

 

2.19. Q. My group is very small, so there are no other PhD students I could serve as an opponent or get opposition from. What should I do?

A. Please discuss this issue with your supervisor first; maybe he/she can find someone suitable for you. You can contact us, Andrea, Rodrigo, or Seraina, so we can also suggest solutions.

 

2.20. Q. How can I get notifications of seminars?

A. Organizers usually advertise the seminars through different communication channels. You can ask to be added to e-mail lists. Also, if you know of a seminar series/journal club that might be of interest to other PhD students at MTH, please encourage the organizers to send notifications, for example, to mth-all@cbh.kth.se. 

 

3. Report

 

3.1. Q. Is there a required structure for the report?

A. No, there is no predefined structure, but you can briefly summarize each seminar and its possible relationships with your own work. You can go a little deeper in the one you were the opponent, for example. You can discuss not only the content but also the form and the discussion. Also, you can reflect on your participation: would you dare to ask questions? Depending on personality (or the topic), some students are too shy to ask questions, but a relaxed environment can help them dare to ask (which we encourage!). Then, you can go on to a general reflection and outline the steps you will take to benefit from the seminars you will attend after the course is finished, along with your goals for active participation. Suggestions for changes to the format of the seminar series you attended are also appreciated. We recommend that students meet with their supervisors to discuss and share these reflections to explore new ways to maximize the usefulness of seminars in their PhD projects. You can discuss if and how these seminars were helpful for your PhD studies. Remember that the goal of the course is to foster a culture of seminar active attendance; this should be reflected in the report.

 

3.2. Q. Do I need a certificate of attendance for a seminar to attach to the report?

A. No, the attendance is controlled by summarizing the seminar in the report. It is always a good idea to keep your supervisor informed.

 

3.3. Q. To whom do I send my reflection after having finalized all seminars?

A. Send the reflection to Andrea Eriksson (andrea4@kth.se), Rodrigo Moreno (rodmore@kth.se), or Seraina Dual (seraina@kth.se). Select the person who you feel is closest to your field: Andrea - Ergonomy, Rodrigo - Medical Imaging, Seraina - Medical Devices.

 

3.4. Q. Should I also send the report to my PhD supervisor?

A. It is highly recommended to send a copy of the report to the main PhD supervisor. This is because the goal of the course is to create a culture of attending seminars beyond the course. The student and supervisor can devise strategies toward that aim.

 

3.5. Q. I have attended more than 12 seminars. Can I discuss all of them in my report?

A. Absolutely!