UQ Mathematics Postgraduate Seminars Program

Schedule

Information for Speakers

Here is a brief, FAQ-style list of important points for speakers.

  1. What are these postgraduate seminars?
  2. What do I need to do before my seminar?
  3. Can I get my talk moved to another date?
  4. Are there any other reasons the schedule might change?
  5. What if I am not on the schedule?
  6. Where can I find more information?

 

Answers:

  1. What are these postgraduate seminars?  [top]

There are three kinds of talks given by postgraduates in the Department of Mathematics. In order of when they are given by any student, they are:
 

    1. The confirmation seminar. Given at the end of the first year of your PhD (or six months for MPhil), on your thesis topic. The confirmation seminar is part of the requirements for confirmation of your candidature. Duration: 20 minutes + 5 minutes questions.
       
    2. General seminars. Given in the middle years of your studies, on any broadly mathematical topic of interest to you (though typically related to your thesis). Duration: 20 minutes + 5 minutes questions.
       
    3. The exit seminar. Given towards the end of your degree (e.g. end of 3rd year for PhD). Exit seminars should clearly display the mathematical skills and theory developed during the PhD or MPhil. The exit seminar is part of the requirements for conferral of your degree. Duration: 40 minutes + 10 minutes questions.
       

Generally speaking, all postgraduate research students are expected to give one talk (of whatever kind) per year.
 

  1. What do I need to do before my seminar?  [top]

Notices of seminars with talk titles and abstracts are typically posted on the Monday before the scheduled session (12pm Fridays). To this end, all speakers are requested to provide the Convenor with a title and short abstract (about 100 words), at least one week before their talks. Provisional titles or topics are also welcome at any time for inclusion in the online schedule.
 

  1. Can I get my talk moved to another date?  [top]

In an effort to maintain a reasonable schedule, talks will not be rescheduled without good reason. However, if you are due to give a talk and have a very good reason why you cannot speak at that time, please do the following as soon as possible:
 

    1. If you are giving a 'general' seminar (i.e. not a confirmation or exit seminar), please try first to swap times with someone else by contacting that person, then notifying the Convenor of that swap. Only in the event that swapping is not possible, contact the Convenor.
       
    2. If you are giving an exit seminar, please discuss a suitable time with your supervisor and the Postgraduate Coordinator. Exit seminars are a part of the School's requirements for both Ph.D. and M.Phil. students.
       
    3. Confirmation seminars are scheduled when the School informs the Department that a student is eligible for confirmation. Please resolve any difficulties with the date of your confirmation seminar when it is assigned to you.

 

  1. Are there any other reasons the schedule might change?  [top]

Occasionally, due to exit or confirmation requirements of other students, it may be necessary to bump one or more general talks to a later time. Typically, these talks will be moved to the first available time after they were originally scheduled. If your talk must be moved in this way, you will be contacted to confirm the new date.
 

  1. What if I am not on the schedule?  [top]

Each research postgrad is generally expected to give one seminar per year. Don't worry; if you haven't yet given a talk this year, you will be informed of all changes to the schedule that might affect you. If your seminar is yet to be scheduled (or rescheduled), please contact the Convenor (in the case of general seminars), or the Postgraduate Coordinator (in the case of exit seminars), to arrange a date.
 

  1. Where can I find more information?  [top]

You can find more information about the requirements for postgraduate students in the School of Physical Sciences on the school's 'information for PG students' web page (including the PG Handbook in the list on the far right of this page). If in doubt about the School requirements for the presentation of seminars, please contact the School's student administration staff.

 

Elise Croft: elise@maths.uq.edu.au ; ph +61 7 334 61428 ; fax +61 7 336 51477
School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia