Previous UCSD Undergrad Designs Cheap High-Quality Images for 3-D Video Games |
Next |
August 13, 2008, 03:42 PM ET
Networking, but Not Intimidating, Graduate Students
Graduate students have a problem, no matter what field they are in. And the problem, says Daniel M. Colgate, is that they can’t find others who share their academic interests. So he and a fellow student started the Graduate Junction. The Junction “does not aim to be a social-networking site,” says Mr Colgate, a graduate student himself, in chemistry, at the University of Durham in Britain. The networking is intended to be academic, and specific to early-career researchers. Mr. Colgate recently told The Chronicle a few things about the site.
Q. So what’s wrong with Facebook? Can’t academics use its groups?
A. It is already so big, and nobody I know would consider putting a technical keyword into the groups search there. I have discussed using Facebook groups with many friends and contacts, and they agree with me: It is just too big to be useful. They would prefer a more focused academic site.
Q. But those exist, too.
A. There are literally hundreds. But existing networks project a very academic atmosphere, which makes people feel that if they don’t have 10 publications and a lectureship lined up, they can’t contribute.
Q. Were you intimidated?
A. My co-founder, another student, and I felt isolated within our own projects. Literature reviews only reveal completed work, and relevant conferences happen infrequently. The Graduate Junction aims to prevent this isolation.
Q. How is your site going to do that?
A. Members can e-mail each other, leave notes on their profile blog, create research groups, each of which has a group forum, along with the generic forums. The site has been live for a little over two months and has over 6,000 members. On August 11, we’re adding a lot more interactive features.
Q. And you want to open up communication among disciplines?
A. It’s all free-form and searchable. There can be so much crossover between subjects. Most people aren’t even aware of these overlaps because they have never had the chance to find them before. That is why we focus on keywords, rather than institution or department. I believe it is better to find a handful of people who are really interested in your work than 6,000 who also work in a “XXX” department somewhere.—Josh Fischman
Categories: Social-Networking
Add Your Comment
Commenting is closed.