What to expect at the 2017 Research Support Community Day

Coming to the 2017 Research Support Community Day (RSC Day) in Sydney on 13 February? Not sure what to expect or how to get the most out of the day?

Here’s what some of our 2016 RSC Day attendees said in the post-event survey last year

“Always the best professional development activity I attend in a year!”

“I love attending these events and will continue to do so in the future”.

“It’s one of the best events for research support librarians. Very targeted. Thanks”

See the storify of Tweets from the 2016 RSC Day hosted by Deakin University here.

Here’s my take on the day.

Expect a busy day with a mix of interesting speakers. This year we have full program with speakers from AustLII, Australian Policy Online, ORCID, Western Sydney University, Australian Data Archive, and ANU, and 14 lively 5-minute ‘lightning talks’ by our colleagues! All sessions will be facilitated by research librarians who actively develop and deliver research services, and we make sure that there’s plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Perhaps you might consider giving a lightning talk next year?

The “Birds of a feather” or BoF sessions on topical issues are more informal. Like-minded folk self-select one of these broad-themed, facilitated discussion groups. Key discussion points are noted and there’s a brief report-back to the larger group at the end of the BoF. This year the BoFs on offer are:

  • Data lifecycle – data skills for librarians (Kathryn Unsworth (ANDS) to facilitate);
  • Next-generation researcher training – (Matthias Liffers (Curtin University) to facilitate);
  • Infrastructure literacy – (Ingrid Mason (AARNET) to facilitate);
  • Advances in altmetrics – (Susan Robbins (Western Sydney University) to facilitate)

What’s on your mind? Which BoF interests you?

Networking is a really important aspect of the day. It’s great to hear what other research and academic libraries are doing in the research support space, and networking helps to build relationships that can develop into collaborative projects, and for sharing ideas, advice and news. I always leave the RSC Day feeling more connected to the profession and invigorated by the friendly new people I meet and colleagues I reconnect with. I challenge myself at each RSC Day to meet at least one new person at each tea and lunch break, or at the after-event drinks/dinner (all welcome). The breaks are a great opportunity to speak with the presenters and to get more detail on the 5-minute lightning topics.

How will you expand your professional network at the 2017 RSC Day?

See the full 2017 RSC Day program here. Registrations closing soon.

I’m really looking forward it!

Jennifer Warburton, University of Melbourne.
T @TzenniferW
(serial RSC Day attendee and member of the 2017 RSC Day organising team.)