This week, we worked on our research posters, which will be displayed at the Laidlaw conference in October. On Monday, my group spent time working on it together, trying to decide what a suitable, readable format should be, what figures we should include, and how to summarize the different elements of our report. It was also quite fun adding in a bunch of little graphics to really personalize our poster!! Since then, I have been working on the poster, while the rest of my group has been working on the first draft of our research report! This is so so exciting because we are finally seeing our month of research coming into fruition as a final report. It's funny to see that at the start, we were so worried that we wouldn't be able to fill up the word count but now we are having to cut words down!
I also had an informal discussion with our programme manager on Monday about my LiA next year. It was fascinating to see all the different options we have, the opportunities are truly endless, it made me feel very fortunate to be a part of this programme. Since then, I have been exploring a few of the different charities and organizations I could help, as well as reading the blogs from the different Laidlaw scholars currently around the world about what they are doing.
Next week, we will have to submit our final report, and that will be the end to our research summer. Very bittersweet.
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Isabella, it is exciting to see the project moving from research and analysis into its final outputs. The fact that you are now cutting material rather than worrying about reaching the word count is a reassuring sign of how much the team has accomplished!
As responsibilities are currently divided between the poster and report, make sure the group comes back together to review both outputs collectively. This will help ensure that they tell a consistent story and that everyone retains ownership of the overall project rather than only the section they produced.
I am glad that our conversation helped make the range of LiA possibilities feel real. The number of options is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. As you explore organisations, consider not only where you would like to go, but what contribution you could realistically make, what you hope to learn, and how the placement would stretch your leadership while responding to a genuine partner need.
The final week is a great opportunity to recognise how far the team has travelled — from uncertainty at the beginning to a team with experience of in-the-field social research. I look forward to seeing everything come to fruition in the final report and poster. Excellent progress.