This month Rebecca enters a temporary solo era and sits down to chat to Emma Francis & Hannah Franklin, two (newly minted!) PhD students who lead the national campaign to increase UKRI-funded PhD stipends…and won! In this second part of an ongoing discussion on how the cost of living crisis is affecting PhD students, Emma and Hannah share their inspiring experiences of organising the successful campaign in 2022 and update us with the facts and figures on where things stand now. They also tell us about all the work they’ve been doing to engage UK government representatives to ensure PhDs are included in policy dialogue on increasing cost of living for students. How do you talk to politicians…and get them to listen to you?
Follow Emma: @emmarubyfrancis (Twitter)
Follow Hannah: @neuroblonde (Twitter)
Read Hannah & Emma's Nature article on taking action for UK PhD students during the cost of living crisis: here.
Listen to ‘Part One’ with Sophie Langdon
Learn more:
The House of Lords Office for Student Investigation Report (2023): here.
The Office for Students response statement to the report: here.
The latest from UKRI on UK PhD stipends: here.
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Recorded: 2nd Feb 2024 & 29th Feb 2024
Released: 1st March 2024
Hosts: Rebecca Casterton, Jodi Barnard
Producer & Editor: Rebecca Casterton.
Music: Right Place, Right Time | Silent Partner (YouTube Audio Library).