Academic skills and career development
Researching in museums
Friday 10 October 2025, 1–2pm, Whipple Museum
Joshua Nall (Director of the Whipple Museum) and Hannah Price (Curator of the Whipple Museum)
Why is there a museum inside the HPS Department? And how can you use its collections in your research? Get the answers to these questions, and many more.
The main goal of this session is to show off the diverse array of instruments, models, and ephemera in the Whipple Museum's collection, and to encourage postgraduate students to consider using material culture in their research. Many former students have produced outstanding essays and dissertations based on the investigation of Museum object/s, and this session will present examples of this past research and discuss how to work successfully with museum collections.
What is this thing called HPS?
Friday 10 October 2025, 3–4pm, Seminar Room 2
Staffan Müller-Wille
The History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine is a large field of research that spans centuries, cultures, and scientific disciplines. To help new students navigate this expansive subject, Staffan Müller-Wille will lead an informal introductory session. This session is open to all incoming postgraduate students and is especially recommended for those new to HPS. The session will introduce the various strands within the field, suggest key foundational readings, and discuss areas of common ground with other disciplines.
Using Cambridge archives and manuscripts
Wednesday 15 October 2025, 11am–12noon, University Library
Katrina Dean (Keeper of Archives and Modern Manuscripts at the University Library)
This session will introduce students to the rich scientific collections in the University Library, from iconic manuscripts to new acquisitions covering a wide range of scientific disciplines and historical periods. Whether you are looking for inspiration for your essay or thesis, or a sneak peek at some highlights of Cambridge's scientific heritage, now is your chance. Everyone is welcome but the session is intended primarily for HPS Part III and MPhil students.
How to survive the MPhil and Part III
Wednesday 15 October 2025, 4.30–5.30pm, Seminar Room 2
Katya Bungay-Hill, Mika Hyman, Scott Partington and Hale Salman (HPSM MPhil and Part III alumni), chaired by Marta Halina
This informal session gives HPSM MPhil and Part III students the chance to discuss strategies and share tips.
How do undergraduate supervisions work?
Friday 17 October 2025, 11am–12noon, Board Room
Marta Halina and Sachiko Kusukawa
All PhD students and postdocs are encouraged to supervise undergraduate students taking Part IB and Part II HPS courses. If you have never done supervisions before, this workshop is an essential prerequisite. It will explain the relationship between lectures and supervisions, departments/faculties and Colleges, and also cover practical topics such as managing reports and payments through CamCORS. It will also provide guidance on effective ways to plan and deliver supervisions for Part IB and Part II, with a particular focus on how to mark and comment on essays, based on real-life examples. There will also be a discussion of the pedagogical functions of supervisions.
How to write an essay in history and philosophy of science
Friday 17 October 2025, 1pm–2pm, Seminar Room 2
Rosanna Dent and Stephen John (HPSM MPhil Managers), Richard Staley (Part III Manager)
What is an essay in history and philosophy of science and how does one produce one of high quality? This session – which is strongly recommended for MPhil and Part III students – covers the basics of writing history essays and philosophy essays and the challenges of doing interdisciplinary work.
How to locate resources in history and philosophy of science
Friday 17 October 2025, 2–3pm, Whipple Library (Old Library)
Jack Dixon (Whipple Librarian)
Because HPS is such a large and sometimes loosely organised field, it can be challenging to locate the full range of published resources relevant to your work. Jack Dixon will discuss practical strategies for using library resources to quickly and effectively find the resources you need.
Apply for a PhD!
Friday 24 October 2025, 1–2pm, Seminar Room 2
Nick Hopwood (Director of Postgraduate Education) and David Thompson (Postgraduate Administrator)
For those considering doing a PhD, in Cambridge or elsewhere, deadlines will soon be looming. This workshop, run by the Director of Postgraduate Education (Nick Hopwood) and Postgraduate Administrator (David Thompson), will explain the Department's PhD admissions requirements and processes. More generally, advice will be provided on choosing places to apply to, finding a workable topic and appropriate potential supervisors, writing a convincing proposal, applying for funding, and securing references.
How to supervise examinable coursework
Friday 31 October 2025, 1–2pm, Seminar Room 1
Matt Farr
This session is required for first-time supervisors of examinable coursework (Part III and MPhil papers, and Part II dissertations and primary source essays), and optional for supervisors with previous experience. This workshop will give guidance on helping students choose topics, find and use good sources, plan and carry out research and writing, and manage the constraints of deadlines and word limits. We will also consider strategies for coping with various problem scenarios: how and when to ask for help; questions of confidentiality; and how not to end up doing all the work yourself!
An introduction to data management and digital humanities
Friday 7 November 2025, 1–2pm, Seminar Room 1
Kim Alexander and Jack Dixon
This hour-long session will cover the basics of data management, some digital tools to help, and an introduction to the wider Cambridge Digital Humanities landscape.
How to turn an essay into a publishable article
Friday 5 June 2026, 1–2pm, Seminar Room 1
Tim Lewens and Emma Perkins
It's one thing to please your examiners, but how do you go about impressing journal referees and editors enough to persuade them to publish your work? In this session we will look at the different demands made on examinable work and publishable work, the issue of how to choose a journal, and how to give your work the best possible chance of being accepted.