The ZERO Institute’s ECR Network successfully concluded its three-day DPhil Writing Retreat, held from 21st-23rd April at Holywell House in Oxford. The retreat provided a dedicated space for focused writing, skill development and collaboration, bringing together DPhil students working on energy transition subjects.
Across the three days, attendees benefited from a structured yet supportive environment that combined uninterrupted writing time with expert-led workshops and peer networking opportunities.
Students from the departments of Materials, Engineering, Physics and the School of Geography and Environment were represented researching topics as varied as microbe engineering, climate resilience, batteries, wind turbines, circular economies and gender and mineral extraction.
“I found the session with Dr Pritchard very useful, and her advice was very relevant to the work.”
Day one set the tone with facilitated writing sessions alongside two engaging workshops led by Eleanor Pritchard, focusing on doctoral writing strategies and core skill building. Participants reflected on their writing practices while gaining practical tools to improve clarity, structure, and productivity.
On day two, alongside plenty of time for writing, attention turned to communicating research visually. An interactive poster skills workshop guided participants through transforming complex energy transition research into clear, compelling academic posters. The final day focused on a final day of writing combined with sessions on converting thesis chapters into publishable journal articles and writing for audiences beyond academia, equipping researchers with strategies to communicate effectively with policymakers, funders, and industry stakeholders.
“[There] was a good split of concentrated writing time and learning more about different writing approaches.”
The retreat marks another successful initiative by the ZERO Institute’s ECR Network, reinforcing its commitment to supporting early career researchers in producing impactful, high-quality research to contribute to accelerating the energy transition.
