“Transparency in Science and Research” was the motto of this year's ICBM PhD Day. More than 40 doctoral students came together at the ICBM site in Wilhelmshaven on August 29. They discussed current research work and had the opportunity to learn about various topics, such as abuse of power in the scientific community, academic career paths and data management. The event was organized by a group of doctoral students themselves and the topics and program were tailored to the needs and interests of the doctoral students. For example, various breakout groups offered in-depth discussions on topics such as health management, social media or start ups from academia. This mix was very well received by all participants. ”The PhD Day provided a great opportunity to connect with fellow PhD students from all ICBM locations and exchange insights about our research and experiences throughout the PhD journey”, says ICBM PhD student Nicole Schröter. “The organizing team also invited interesting guest speakers who addressed very relevant topics, such as mental health, data management, and valuable advice for pursuing an academic career - or exploring alternative paths with a PhD. I found the event extremely beneficial and I am already looking forward to participating again next year.”

There was also positive feedback from the invited speakers. “Thank you very much for a great day at the ICBM! I really appreciated the open discussion culture and am delighted that we were able to exchange ideas again in this context”, says Prof. Dr. Katharina Al-Shamery, Vice President for Academic Career Paths, Equal Opportunities and International Affairs at the University of Oldenburg.

The poster session at the end of the day, to which all ICBM members were invited, also provided an opportunity for a lively exchange beyond the working groups and locations.

We would like to thank all the speakers who made this diverse program possible. Special thanks go to the organizational team from the ranks of our PhD students: Jasmin Müller, Valentina Di Mauro, Magali Roberts, Isabel Martinez, and Torben Schucht.

We would like to thank the Nordwestdeutsche Universitätsgesellschaft e.V. (NWDUG) and the Marschenrat e.V. for their financial support.