Hello UiT Community,

We invite you to participate in our ongoing survey focused on mental health services conflict management with supervisors at UiT. Your experiences and insights are crucial for us to better understand and improve these interactions. Participate in the survey here.

Key Findings from 2023 Survey (but long version here):

• Conflict Management: Responses show varied familiarity with ethical guidelines and procedures for reporting issues. Many know about UiT’s “Si ifra/Speak Up” page, and there’s a call for enhanced emotional competency and intercultural conflict management in PhD supervisor training.
• Conflict Resolution: Most favor discussions with independent mediators or an ombud for resolving conflicts, highlighting the need for flexibility depending on the case.
• Mental Health Services: Awareness of HEMIS, UiT’s free health support service, is at 57.6%. Training for supervisors should include recognizing mental health signs, addressing stigma, and understanding PhD-specific stressors.
• Information Dissemination: The majority (84.8%) prefer information via welcome booklets, with emails and welcome meetings also popular. The importance of regular mental health support reminders and maintaining privacy in services was emphasized.

Your participation in our current survey helps us advocate for effective conflict management procedures, enhanced supervisor training, and robust mental health support at UiT. Thank you for helping us make a difference in our community.

The TODOS Team

Dear TODOS Members, 

We’re thrilled to announce an exclusive opportunity exclusively for PhD students at UiT – the 3-Minute Thesis Challenge, happening on April 25^th! This is your chance to present years of research in a compelling 3-minute talk, and we’re inviting you to step into the spotlight. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. More info on past international events and guidelines on the website: threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au 

Why Participate? 

Win Prizes: There are exciting rewards for the most engaging and informative presentations. 

Gain Visibility: Share your work with a wider audience, including peers and faculty. These events are held internationally and you can get recognition worldwide. 

Improve Skills: Hone your communication skills and learn to convey complex ideas succinctly. 

Event Details: 

Date: April 25^th 2024, 14:00 

Venue: Store Auditorium E-101 NFH-bygget (Mazemap) 

Prizes: Yes, for the winners! 

How to Register for the competition: Simply click here to fill out the registration form. 

The registration for competition is open until the 20^th March 2024  

Rules for Presenters: 

• Presentations must not exceed 3 minutes; exceeding this time will lead to disqualification. 
• Only spoken word presentations are allowed (no poems, raps, or songs). 
• Your time begins with your first word or gesture. 
• One static PowerPoint slide is allowed from the start (no transitions, animations, or movements). 
• No additional electronic media (sound or video files) is allowed. 
• No props (costumes, instruments, or equipment) are permitted. 
• The adjudicating panel’s decision is final. 

This is more than a competition; it’s a chance to make an impact and inspire others with your research journey. Whether you’re in the early stages or nearing completion, we want to hear from you! 

For any questions, feel free to reach out to Mizanur Rahman at mizanur.rahman@uit.no 

Let’s make this event a memorable showcase of the incredible talent within our TODOS community.

We can’t wait to see you there! 

As the year draws to a close and winter blankets the Arctic landscapes, do you find your motivation to write flickering like the Northern Lights on a crisp Arctic night? Fear not, for the highly anticipated writing retreat is once again illuminating the polar skies! Rekindle the flames of your writing passion amidst the stark beauty of the Arctic wilderness in Malangen. Join fellow adventurers to engage in spirited discussions, share stories, and warm your souls, banishing the frosty spectre of writer’s block.

The Arctic Call: Details & Program

Intrepid scholars at UiT (University of Tromsø) have a unique opportunity to embark on an Arctic writing adventure. The adventure is set to unfold from Wednesday, November 15th, to Friday, November 17th, 2023. The base camp for this remarkable Arctic expedition is Malangen Resort, situated in Skutvik, 9055 Mestervik. The departure to this Arctic outpost will commence at 0900 from UiT, and the return to the world will begin at 1500 from Malangen.

Sign Up and Join the Expedition

To secure your place in this Arctic exploration, visit the sign-up link here. The deadline to register is Thursday, October 12th, 2023, at 12:00 (noon). All changes and withdrawals must be done before this deadline. Once the deadline has passed, all signed-up participants must pay for the participation fees, regardless of whether they show up.

This opportunity operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and our available slots are as limited as the polar bears that roam the Arctic tundra. Should we reach our maximum we’ll place you on an Arctic waiting list and alert you if an opening materializes.

Participation Fee and Practicalities

We’ll cover a portion of the costs, which include comfortable accommodations in a cozy three-bedroom cabin, as well as your meals – from conference snacks to two hearty breakfasts, three satisfying lunches, and two delightful three-course dinners.

Additionally, TODOS will arrange your voyage to and from the mystical Malangen Resort, and this transportation is already included in the participation fee. Speaking of fees, each participant is required to contribute 2700 NOK per person to ensure the expedition’s success.

Reimbursement Potential

As this is an academic event, you may be eligible to seek reimbursement for the cost through your project funds or annual resources. Simply discuss this possibility with your department, and upon payment at the resort, you will receive a receipt to facilitate the reimbursement process.

Ready to embark on this Arctic adventure and let the Arctic landscapes be your frozen muse? Remember, the Arctic spirits favour the bold!

Should you have any questions or need further information, feel free to contact TODOS at todos@uit.no.

After the success last autumn, we held another weekend writing retreat at the beautiful Malangen Resort this spring.
Thank you to the 24 wonderful PhD students who attended for making it such a productive and social experience!

Do you have a lot of writing/ working to do? But you lack the focus? Or you just want a change of scenery?

Join us in May for one of our full-day writing retreats in Alta, Harstad, Narvik or Tromsø, or the weekend retreat at Malangen Resort!

The aim for these retreats is to create a social environment for working and/or writing. Come and meet your peers, discuss your work and socialize during breaks!

May 3rd – Tromsø
May 4th – Alta
May 10th – Narvik
May 18th – Harstad
May 20th-22nd – Malangen Resort (see below for more information)

The local full-day writing retreats

TODOS has booked rooms (either locally on campus or at a nearby hotel) and provides lunch and snacks. You just have to show up with your laptop and anything else you need for a full day of focused work.

To register for one of our local full-day writing retreats, click here: https://nettskjema.no/a/262447

Limited spaces. First come, first serve-rule applies. Deadline for registering is one week before the respective writing retreat.

You will receive more information about the exact location and time after registering approximately one week before ‘your’ writing retreat. Please let us know if you can’t join after all.

If you have any questions about the local full-day writing retreats, please contact us at todos@uit.no.

Weekend writing retreat at Malangen Resort

The weekend writing retreat in Malangen was a great success last Autumn, so we have decided to run it again this semester.

This will be an opportunity for you to work with your peers, discuss your research and socialize. We have reserved accommodation in the beautiful seaside apartments available at Melangen Resort as well as the conference center for us to work in over this period.

TODOS will cover the costs for accommodation for two nights, the conference room hire and transportation to and from UiT, Tromsø. By registering for this event, each participant agrees to pay the remaining cost of maximum 2200 kr per person to cover food costs each day. This is the maximum amount and is dependant on the total number of participants that attend. These food costs include conference center snacks, 2x hotel breakfasts, 2x buffet lunch and 2x three-course dinners. Due to that this is an academic event you may be eligible to reimburse this cost through your project funds (or annum). Please talk to your department for how this may apply to you. You will receive a receipt upon paying at the resort to use for this.

Spaces are limited and filled up fast last time, so if you are interested in joining for the full duration of the event, please fill in your information below no later than 12:00 on the 6th of May . You will receive an email confirming your registration and further details after signing up. All registrations exceeding the limited spaces available will be put on a waiting list.

Travel info:

Friday 20th May, 14:00 departing from UiT, Tromsø by bus.
Sunday 22nd May, 15:00 leaving Melangen resort with expected arrival at UiT (latest) 17:00.
For more information about the location please check out https://malangenresort.no/
Seaview apartments https://www.malangenresort.com/accommodation/standard-cabins/#seaview

To register for the weekend writing retreat at Malangen Resort, click here: https://nettskjema.no/a/263234/ (the form will close on 6th May, 12:00)

If you have any questions about the weekend retreat, please contact Nadine Jacques (nadine.jacques@uit.no).

TODOS is hosting a hang-out at Storgata Camping Thursday, the 18th of November, from 18:30. UiT PhDs will play FREE MINI GOLF and pay student prices on beer throughout the evening. Please remember to wear a face mask when you are not seated at the table. Due to the covid situation, TODOS should collect registrations; therefore, if you would like to attend, please register before the event by sending an email to Nadine (nadine.jacques@uit.no).

Hope to see you there!