
The Whisper Collective finds and showcases the best, independent academic advice from around the web. We are here to help PhD students, postdocs and academics in their work. We feature blog posts, videos, podcasts and reviews from creators in different parts of the world. This site will update as new content is created: book-mark and visit frequently to see what’s new or become a member for free and get a monthly newsletter. Click on any of the links on this page to visit active bloggers from around the world. Check out the menu for a range of other content, merch and events. Visit our About page to find out more about the Whisper Collective and our work.
Feature article
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Moving house on the Ides of March
On 9 June 2011, we sent this tweet out into the world: So, it begins… — Research Whisperer (@researchwhisper) June 9, 2011 That same day, we set up Research Whisperer on Facebook and started the WordPress blog. Like everyone else starting social media accounts and blogs, we had zero followers. We were amazed how quickly […]...
Latest from our featured blogs
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More thoughts on the enshittification of academic social media
A couple of months ago I wrote a post called ‘The enshittification of academic social media’, riffing on ideas put in the world by Cory Doctorow. It’s fair to say, this post was a minor viral hit, resulting in me being interviewed by Geraldine Dougue on ABC radio, and a...
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Get feedback on your draft application
We recently published a book, Getting research funded: Five essential rules for early career researchers. This post provides excerpts from chapter 4: Get the project right. Until the end of 2023, you can buy the book for 20% off by using the code AFL03 on the Routledge website. For many...
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It just comes back to kindness
I’ve just returned from several weeks travelling in North America. The space to think, observe new things, people and contexts, and to be curious was so embraced. Here is what I have learnt that resonated as most important....
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write short to help write with authority
One of the hardest aspects of academic writing is working out how to take a suitably authoritative stance. To be read as an expert. To sound like an authority on your topic. It’s all very well for people like me … Continue reading →...
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#ICRMC 2024!
The International Creative Research Methods Conference was a tremendous success. So I’m going to do it again next year, on 9-10 September, at the same venue in central Manchester, England. Once again I need to sign a contract with the … Continue reading →...
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Listen: get charged up to write using your breath
Here is another breathing practice. In this fifth practice, I walk you through the second of three breathing practices. This one is best if you need to feel fired up. It's hard to read and count and breathe, but it's easy to breathe if someone else keeps count for you,...
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Building the Post-Pandemic University: Imagining, Contesting and Materializing Higher Education Futures
Coming out in July 2023 from Edward Elgar. Full information here. I’m excited this project I’ve been working on with Hannah Moscovitz, Michele Martini and Susan Robertson will be released soon. It’s the main outcome of the Post-Pandemic University project which we initiated in June 2020 and ran until late...
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Call for contributions to the blog: developing organisational change for diversity, equity, and institutional democracy through the Hidden Curriculum
Our next collective initiative brings together stories of how doctoral researchers, supervisors, developers, and institutional leaders initiate and carry out organisational change in their universities, doctoral programmes, research teams, informal academic networks, and otherwise, through their learning from the Hidden Curriculum. The series of blog posts will bring together examples...
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Written conversations: Break the Rules with Cathy Rentzenbrink
We’re joined by acclaimed memoirist, writing tutor and author of five books Cathy Rentzenbrink. In this honest, frank and occasionally strongly worded conversation we explore how the ‘rules’ we come to believe about our writing aren’t necessarily true. And why we shouldn’t always believe what other writers tell us about...
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The Highlights
Highlighter pens can be a useful part of a viva prep toolkit. You can use one colour to show key references and another to make essential information stand out. You could add a colourful edge to specific pages or mark......
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Are virtual conferences the same? Reflections on virtual conference experiences from a doctoral student (Chih-Wei [Amy] Wang)
In this post, Chih-Wei Wang shares her observations and experiences as a presenter and attendee at different virtual conferences....
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What are informational interviews?
Thanks to my friend Jennifer van Alstyne for this fun conversation about informational interviews, why to do them, and how they can supercharge a PhD… The post What are informational interviews? appeared first on From PhD to Life....
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DoctoralWriting: a resource for practice
From Claire Aitchison, Susan Carter and Cally Guerin After 11 years of working together on this wonderful blog about doctoral …Continue reading →...