Annual report Stip-HF 2024
Spring
General meeting and New Board
Stip-HF started the year with a general meeting on January 31st, where we elected our new board: Jorun Larsen (LLE), Marianne Sætre Amundsen (AKHR), Ellen Theander (LLE), Tonje Louise Skjoldhammer (AKHR), Marie Magnor (LLE) and Tegan Pyke (LLE). During the constitutional meeting on February 6th, Jorun was elected as chair, and Marianne as secretary.
Throughout the semester, we held a total of eight meetings. Two of these were with Ole Hjortland, Vice Dean of Research and Communication, to discuss matters related to the Ph.d. program, program evaluation, duty work, and issues for the faculty board. In our other meetings, we planned and organized various activities, applied for funding, and prepared topics for discussions with Ole.
Budget and Plans
We proposed an adjustment to the Stip-HF budget to account for inflation and received an increase for 2024. This means we have more funds available, but the next board must apply again to the faculty next year if they want to maintain the increased funding. STIP-HF also secured funding from the “Støtte til likestilling- og mangfoldstiltak i fagmiljøene,” which we will utilize in the fall semester. Regarding the fall semester, we have already planned a topic day in October about plagiarism, and a cabin trip-writing retreat in December.
Events and social activities
During the spring semester, we organized the following activities and social events:
Writing Retreat and Topic Day
From May 6th to 8th , STIP-HF organized an on-campus writing retreat, located at Christies gate 18, gml. Kantine at the SV faculty. The retreat was structured into shut-up-and-write sessions, aimed at providing Ph.D. candidates a distraction-free environment to focus intensively on their writing. The atmosphere between sessions was social and pleasant. STIPHF provided lunch, coffee, tea, sparkling water, biscuits, and fruits each of the three days. Twenty people registered for the retreat, while fifteen participated. The first day of the writing retreat included the spring semester’s “topic day,” focusing on AI in research and advice for early career researchers, led by Professor Jill Walker Rettberg. Her session was engaging and informative, and we appreciate her contribution. Overall, the retreat was successful and well-received. However, we noted three areas for improvement: 1) prohibiting pets (or other animals or children) due to disturbances and potential allergies, 2) ensuring the availability of extension cords, and 3) sending out invitations earlier. For the fall semester, we plan to hold the topic day and writing retreat as separate events to allow for a more focused approach to each.
Shut Up and Write
STIP-HF organized “Shut Up and Write” sessions every other Tuesday after lunch, from 13:00 to 16:00. Starting February 20th, we held a total of six sessions, and between five and ten people attended each. Next semester, we will collaborate with the University Library, which has been organizing its own writing sessions for Ph.D. candidates on Wednesday mornings. We will coordinate and hold the sessions at the library every Tuesday after lunch.
Payday Drinks
Payday drinks are informal gatherings, where the only aim is to come together, relax, and have a fun time – regardless of whether one chooses to drink alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. STIP-HF arranged payday drinks from 16:30 on the following dates and locations:
- February 12th at Kvarteret
- March 12th at Kolonialen
- April 12th at Lucky
- May 13th at Biskopen
Between five and ten people showed up each time. Two of these occasions spontaneously turned into dinner after the drinks: one at Kafé Spesial, and another at Okidoki.
Summer Pizza Party
The semester concluded with a summer pizza party. STIP-HF ordered pizzas from Peppes and provided soft drinks and snacks for the attendees. One of our Ph.D. colleagues generously offered to host the event at his home, enhancing the personal and enjoyable atmosphere. Eighteen people registered, and ten attended. The increased funding allowed STIP-HF to cover the costs of pizzas, soft drinks, and snacks (cf. “Budget and Plans,” p. 1).
Autumn
The term started with Tonje Skjoldhammer leaving the board. A new member joined: Alejandro Ayala Wold (IF). Marie Magnor replaced Marianne Sætre Amundsen as secretary.
This autumn, STIP-HF has organized various activities. We hosted a topic day focusing on plagiarism and research ethics, organized payday drinks, and arranged a cabin trip. Furthermore, in collaboration with the library, we have facilitated “shut-up-and-write” sessions every Tuesday. We held a total of four meetings dedicated to planning these activities. Additionally, we met with Ole Hjortland and Elisabeth Akselvoll on November 11th to discuss various aspects of the Ph.D. program, including the Ph.D. regulations, with a particular focus on the practice of reusing earlier work in the dissertation. Jorun Larsen (chair) and Marie Magnor (secretary) were invited to contribute to the program evaluation, providing feedback and representing the perspectives of the Ph.D. candidates.
Events and social activities
During the autumn semester, we organized the following events and social activities:
Topic Day: “Plagiarism”
On October 3rd , STIP-HF invited Ph.D. candidates and other employees at the faculty to a topic day on plagiarism. During the event, we addressed questions such as: What is plagiarism? How should we, as Ph.D. candidates, navigate the challenges related to the uncertainty surrounding plagiarism and the use of language models like ChatGPT? What does the legislation say, and how does it affect our daily work?
The event was conducted in Norwegian, with lunch, coffee/tea, fruit, and snacks provided for all registered participants. Thirty-two people registered, while attendance ranged from 20 to 30 participants. The program consisted of six speakers and a closing debate (moderated by STIP-HF member Ellen Theander). The speakers were Ida-Elise Seppola Asplund (Ph.D. candidate and representative for the group B on the University Board at UiB); Ivar Prestbakmo (State Secretary for the Minister of Research and Higer Education); Gisle Selnes (Professor in Comparative Literature, UiB); Helge Gismarkvik Høvik (senior adviser at the University Director’s Office, UiB); Vidar Enebakk (head of the secretariat for NESH); Torjus Midtgarden (professor at the Centre for the study of the Sciences and the Humanities, UiB). The event was a great success and even featured on the Faculty of Humanities’ website: HFstipendiatar med brennaktuell fagdag | Det humanistiske fakultet | UiB The program is attached on page 6.
Shut Up and Write
This semester, STIP-HF partnered with the University Library to organize shut-up-and-write sessions every Tuesday after lunch, from 13:00 to 16:00. We coordinated the responsibility for organizing the sessions, with STIP-HF and the library alternating each week. Typically, 5- 10 participants attended. From STIP-HF’s perspective, the collaboration was only partially successful. As the semester progressed, it became increasingly difficult to hold the writing sessions, as students began using the room we believed the library had reserved for our sessions. The next board will need to decide whether to continue this collaboration.
Payday drinks
STIP-HF arranged payday drinks on the following dates: September 12th (Kolonialen), October 14th (Det Akademiske Kvarter), November 12th (Pingvinen), December 12th (Café Opera). Attendance at the payday drink this autumn has varied significantly, ranging from 3 to 10 participants.
Writing retreat and cabin trip
From December 4th to 6th, STIP-HF organized a combined writing retreat and cabin trip at Eidsholmen. The retreat was structured into shup-up-and-write sessions, aimed at providing Ph.D. candidates with a dedicated period during which they set aside all regular work responsibilities and focus solely on writing. In total, nine candidates participated. STIP-HF provided breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee/tea etc. and covered the cabin fee. We used the funding previously granted to us from the “Støtte til likestilling- og magfoldstiltak i fagmiljøene» program (cf. “Budget and Plans,” p. 1).