LERU Doctoral Summer School Trinity College Dublin 9th - 13th August 2021
Re-evaluating the Role of the Expert
Exploring the Role of the Expert
We will explore both the current and emerging threats to the role and value of the expert in Europe, and the ways in which researchers, and especially early-stage researchers can respond to this. How, in other words, can the next generation of researchers reclaim the role of the expert and convince people (including the suspicious and the cynical) as to the value of expertise and thus of research and researchers?
The event will provide doctoral researchers with unique professional and personal development opportunities, beyond those to which they are generally exposed in the course of their doctoral studies. Over the course of the Summer School, participants will develop and submit a position paper on the Expert and Research.
League of European Research Universities – LERU
The League of European Research Universities (LERU) is a network of 23 leading research universities that are located in 12 European countries. LERU is a respected voice in the European Higher Education Area and is committed to upholding sound conditions for research, especially doctoral research and teaching.
Trinity College Dublin has been a member of this prestigious network since February 2017 and contributes to its numerous working groups in a variety of ways.
Go to https://www.leru.org/doctoral-summer-school to find out more about the previous LERU Doctoral Summer Schools.
LERU Summer School Programme Highlights
The LERU Doctoral Summer School will be hosted as an online event by Trinity College Dublin, from August 9th-13th. The theme for the week is Re-evaluating the Role of the Expert. Each morning starts with a 2-hour keynote session on a range of themes related to the role of the expert, led by internationally distinguished speakers, and incorporating an interactive discussion facilitated by a session host.
Thursday, August 5th, 2021
Time |
Event |
17:00 – 18:00 |
Informal Introductory Session |
Monday, 9th August 2021: Topic “Are Experts Important?”
Time |
Event |
09:00 – 09:15 |
Welcome Session This presentation will welcome participants and review collated information as submitted by participants prior to the Summer School. The content and themes of the proposed output from the Summer School will be confirmed by the end of this session. |
09:15 – 09:30 |
(Minister for Further and Higher Education and Research) to launch the 2021 LERU Doctoral Summer School and address participants and guests. |
09:30 – 11:30 |
Theme: Are Experts Important? Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Professor Linda Doyle Chaired Discussion |
11.30 – 12.00 |
Coffee break |
12:00 – 13:00 |
Student session: Thoughts in 3 At these online meetings, participants will speak to one allocated theme in a slot designated as Talk in 3. Participants must present 3 PowerPoint slides and will have a max of 5 minutes to speak to the topic. Only ‘core’ participants present in these slots in their allocated groups. |
14:00 – 16:00 |
Small Group Sessions Participants will work on the development of allotted themes and the group’s approach to construction of the proposed paper (or other resource). Groups will be facilitated by Prof Martine Smith, Prof Neville Cox and Dr Cormac Doran |
16:00 – 16.30 |
Large Group Discussion |
16:30 – 17:30 |
Online Social Event |
Tuesday, 10th August 2021: Topic “Are Populism and Anti-intellectualism Connected?”
Time |
Event |
09:30 – 11:30 |
Theme: 'Are populism and anti-intellectualism connected?' Professor Darrin Durant, University of Melbourne
Chaired Discussion |
11:30 – 12:00 |
Coffee & Comfort Break |
12:00 – 13:00 |
Talk in 3 Session |
13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch Break |
14:00 – 15:30 |
Small Group Work Participants will continue to work on the development of allotted themes and the group’s approach to construction of the proposed paper. Facilitated by Professors Neville Cox, Martine Smith & Dr Cormac Doran |
15:30 – 16:00 |
Group Presentation |
16.15 – 17:15 |
Online Quiz: University Challenge |
Wednesday, 11th August 2021: Topic “Anti-Intellectualism and Science: From Vaccinations to Climate Change”
Time |
Event |
09:30 – 11:30 |
Theme:'Anti-Intellectualism and Science: From Vaccinations to Climate Change.' Professor Luke O’Neill, Trinity College Dublin Chaired Discussion |
11:30 – 12.00 |
Coffee & Comfort Break |
12:00 – 13:00 |
Talk in 3 session Facilitated by Professor Martine Smith |
13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch Break |
14:00 – 15:30 |
Small Group Discussions and Presentation Each group will present their draft contribution to a combined paper for discussion by the entire group. |
16:30 |
Social Event |
Thursday, 12th August 2021: Topic “Doctoral Students, Early Career Researchers and the Experts of the Future”
Time |
Event |
9:30 – 11:30 |
Theme: 'Early Career Researchers and the Experts of the future: Potentials and Pitfalls' Professor Lorraine Leeson Associate Dean of Research, Trinity College Dublin Respondents: Followed by Questions and Answers |
11:30 – 12:00 |
Coffee & Comfort Break |
12:00 – 13:00 |
Talk in 3 |
13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch Break |
14:00 – 15:30 |
Small Group Sessions Materials to be presented by 15.30pm to workshop facilitators to be collated in advance of Friday's session. |
15.30 –16:30 |
Workshop with Intel: 'Experts: Employer and Employee perspectives.' |
16:30 |
Social Event |
Friday, 13th August 2021: Conclusions
Time |
Event |
09:00 – 11:00 |
Presentation of the collated Policy paper plan, including discussions on future actions |
11:00 – 11:30 |
Coffee Break |
11:30 – 12:00 |
Final Remarks and Presentation of Certificates Prof Kurt Deketelaere, Secretary-General of LERU |
Welcome from the Dean of Graduate Studies
Trinity College Dublin is Ireland's leading university, steeped in history with a reputation for excellence in education and research. While our campus dates back over four hundred years, our research facilities and institutes sit right in the twenty first century.
The university has research strengths that span the Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Arts and Humanities - a spectrum that is mirrored by our broad range of taught post-graduate courses and research opportunities at Masters and Doctorate level.
As a truly international university, we look forward to welcoming you to the LERU Doctoral Summer School in Trinity College Dublin.
Professor Martine Smith
Dean of Graduate Studies
Our university is pulsing with people, energy and ideas. Discover more about our community of staff, students and alumni, and how one of the world’s great cities is home to one of the world’s great universities – Trinity College Dublin.An introduction to Trinity
Contact Us
Please email Leru.Summer.School@tcd.ie if you have any questions.