2021 Spring Forum

Build Back Better: A Peri-COVID Response

The 2021 UHMLG Spring Forum was once again be held as a completely free, and purely online event. This year we were focusing on the response to the COVID pandemic from a number of different viewpoints. The day was a mixture of talks and activities with delegates able to learn, talk, and reflect.

The Speakers

Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste
Anna O’Neill, Director of Library Services and Arts Strategy, University of Southampton

Winston Churchill is credited with the saying ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’ and while the good has been hard to find in a global pandemic it has provided some significant opportunities for Library Services. This talk reflects on the acceleration of change in the last year and what this might mean for the future.

How to Become Resilient and Take Back Control of Your Life
Dr Olivia Remes, Researcher in Mental Health, University of Cambridge

Anxiety and depression is high and we’re looking for new ways to take back control of our lives.  New ways to become resilient and bounce back.  Whether you’ve been dealt a good or bad hand in life, now is the time to take charge and bounce back to get closer to the life you want.  Dr. Olivia Remes will be sharing tips on overcoming obstacles in life and becoming resilient, based on research.  This is especially important now that we’re dealing with a second lockdown and our mental health has been affected in more ways than one.

Just Because We Can Doesn’t Mean We Should
Dr Rachel Williams, Fellow in Medicine and Director of Studies for Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge

Necessity is certainly the mother of invention, and over the last 12 months, along with all other sectors, the world of medical education has been inventing at speed (and often in haste) as we have adapted to the restrictions necessitated by the COVID 19 pandemic.
 
In this talk I will discuss my experiences of small and large group teaching, and clinical assessments over the last 12 months – exploring the pros and cons of the virtual world.

Shut Up and Reflect
Alison McKay, Academic Skills Co-ordinator for Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England

Close your emails and join us for some camera-off, mic-off, protected thinking time. This session is a dedicated moment for you to reflect on all you’ve seen and heard today and start to make connections with your own context.
After setting the scene and providing some inspiration in the form of reflective models and guiding questions for you to consider, we will Shut up and reflect for 30 minutes.
This session is inspired by shutupwrite.com and writing retreats.

The Programme: Friday 26 March

Time	Item
10:00 – 10:10	Welcome
10:10 – 11:00	Anna O’Neill
11:00 – 11:20	Break
11:20 – 12:10	Dr Olivia Remes
12:10 – 12:45	Break
12:45 – 13:35	Dr Rachel Williams
13:35 – 14:10	Break
14:10 – 14:20	Welcome
14:20 – 15:00	Randomised Coffee Trial
15:00 – 15:50	Alison McKay: “Shut Up and Reflect”
15:05 – 15:35	Shut Up and Reflect
15:50 -16:00	Final Words