Graduate Researchers in Print (GRiP)
GRiP is an innovative program for Higher Degree Research candidates to encourage and mobilise them to write and publish in their fields. Find out more about our publications arising from this program. See also the Thesis Writing Workhops run under this program.
- Listen to the recent seminar on media writing at Monash (15/05/09)
- Listen to the seminar on converting a thesis into a book (08/04/2008)
The following comments were received from past participants:
- A sense of being supported instead of pressured to publish
- Confidence that they knew how to get published
- A sense of community with other postgraduates, and
- Increased awareness about what makes good writing.
How GRiP runs
The program provides peer support and consists of a number of groups made up of 6-10 people. The groups are facilitated by Dr Kate Cregan, who completed her PhD at Monash in 1999. She has since authored, co-authored and edited books, journal articles, government reports and non-academic publications and been the recipient of an ARC APD. She has been Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry (Springer); she has taught across literary studies, cultural studies and sociology; actively mentored ECR colleagues; and she has extensive experience mentoring both post-graduate students and colleagues in writing national competitive grant applications.
In initial group meetings, graduate researchers are asked to bring an abstract of an article they will write over the ensuing months and to identify 1-2 journals in which they aim to publish. This enables GRiP participants to develop a writing goal as well as giving them time to familiarise themselves with one another.
Group members then make a commitment to bring in a complete draft of an article they have prepared on the basis of their abstract. At each monthly meeting, one to two of these articles are discussed in a highly supportive group setting.
Participants have been very positive about the process of receiving feedback, saying that it was an enormously helpful and expedient way of readying drafts for publication.
Through the year sessions are run on various aspects of publishing, including: identifying appropriate journals, preparing submissions, responding to reviewers' reports, writing book proposals and writing for the non-academic media.
The outcomes
GRiP has very positive outcomes including:
- The great majority of GRiP participants draft an article for publication in a refereed journal
- A significant number have articles accepted for publication in journals, edited book collections and edited conference proceedings or collections.
In addition, students report that their participation in GRiP:
- expedites the process of completing the thesis
- provides a sense of being 'supported' instead of 'pressured' to publish
- provides a sense of solidarity and community with other postgraduates, and
- gives them confidence and increased awareness about what makes a good article and good writing
See our full list of publications that have resulted.
Comments from GRiP participants
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"Without structured workshops such as GRiP, I would not have had the confidence or ability to submit "publishable" work".
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"Before coming to GRiP I really knew nothing about the publishing process and it was all very daunting. However following my participation in GRiP, I feel much more confident to submit for publication."
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"It was a great opportunity to share and discuss ideas. I would recommend GRiP to every postgraduate student."
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"I found the workshops to be helpful in assisting me to improve my writing in general and in particular for publication."
- "I have thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and found it probably the single most useful institution on my way into academia. It is a fantastic idea and very, very useful program that should be highly recommended to all students undertaking their degree with the aim of publishing and/or remaining in academia."
- "Excellent, encouraging & focused towards publication."
- "Openness to group suggestions was good - felt like there was lots of room for it to be tailored."
- "I really enjoyed the program and have gotten a huge amount out of it."
- "I received good feedback which enabled me to restructure my work as required. Feedback from other participants also enabled me to consider angles that I previously hadn't thought of."
Time commitment
The time commitment for GRiP participants is attendance at one two hour workshop per month and the time required to draft material and read selected drafts of other members of the group.
Nomination form
Contact
If you are interested in finding out more about GRiP, please email the facilitator, Dr Kate Cregan or telephone 990 58779 (office hours: Thursdays and Fridays).