From undergrad to PhD: Equate Scotland’s ‘Chat & Connect’ event for women and non-binary students
By Gabriela Krawczyk and Mia Fan
As this year’s Equate Scotland Student Champions at the University, we’ve had the opportunity to build community, create conversations, and spotlight underrepresented voices in STEM. We applied for funding from the EUSA Student Opportunities Development Fund to round off our year of activities. We hosted a final event on 31st March 2025: Chat & Connect with PhD Students in STEM, held in the Rowan Studio in the Nucleus building, organised in collaboration with Piscopia.
This informal, cake-and-tea-filled afternoon brought together over 30 undergraduate women and non-binary students from across STEM disciplines for relaxed conversations with PhD students from the School of Mathematics. Each PhD student was stationed at a table with a sign introducing their research topic, and attendees rotated between tables, creating a low-pressure, chatty atmosphere where everyone could explore different fields and ask honest questions about academic life.
A relaxed space for real conversations
Many students feel uncertain about the idea of postgraduate research: whether it’s for them, how to get there, or even what day-to-day life as a PhD student looks like. Our aim was to demystify the PhD experience, particularly for women and non-binary students who might not always see themselves reflected in academia. We also hoped it might help students reflect on course choices and get a broader sense of what different fields look like at the postgraduate level.
As undergraduates, we rarely get the chance to casually speak with PhD students in our school. This event was about breaking that barrier in a friendly, approachable way, by creating a space to talk openly, connect personally, and feel encouraged to ask about anything. Topics ranged from the application process, to how students discovered their research interests, to navigating the transition from undergrad to PhD life, to candid discussions about what it means to be a woman or non-binary person in academic STEM environments.
We were delighted to see a great turnout, especially from second year pre-honours students and honours students. We also had a couple of enthusiastic first year students who were curious to learn more, and we were thrilled to have them.
What we heard from attendees
Feedback from our post-event survey gave us lots to smile about as all responses were unanimously enthusiastic.
“I used to think PhD life was mysterious and kind of intimidating,” said one undergraduate attendee. “But after this event, I feel like it’s something I could actually see myself doing.”
One PhD student also reflected, “I really wish there had been an event like this when I was an undergrad. It’s so helpful to hear honest stories about the challenges and rewards of doing a PhD.”
Several positive themes stood out from the feedback:
- People loved the atmosphere: warm, welcoming, and relaxed. The smaller size made conversations more natural and personal, and the one-on-one chats allowed for deeper connection than a formal panel or presentation would.
- It felt like a safe space: attendees appreciated that this was an event specifically for women and non-binary students, and several noted that this made it easier to ask questions they might not have felt comfortable voicing elsewhere.
- It was great for peer connection: students valued not only the time with PhD students, but also the chance to meet and talk with peers who shared similar uncertainties and aspirations.
Looking ahead
Some attendees mentioned they left the event with new questions they hadn’t thought to ask at the time, and that they’d love this to become a more regular fixture. Many also said that events like this, if held regularly, could help build a sense of community that’s often missing in larger lectures.
In the future, we would love to explore two approaches:
- Hosting school-specific versions across STEM, to keep discussions relevant to students’ disciplines while preserving that cosy, conversational vibe.
- Or, running cross-disciplinary events, bringing together PhD students from a range of fields. This could give students a broader look at postgraduate options and help spark interdisciplinary curiosity.
We’re also excited by the idea of creating similar casual ‘chat’ events that would include inviting women and non-binary professionals working in STEM industries. These could offer valuable insights into different career paths while maintaining the same informal, supportive, and inclusive environment that made this event so special.
Thank you to everyone who came along, to the incredible PhD students who shared their stories, and to our academic mentors and the School for their support. Events like these serve as evidence for the demand and value of gender equity work in STEM across the University, and we hope they can become a regular feature – because sometimes, the best academic advice starts with a cup of tea and a friendly chat.
About Equate Scotland and Piscopia
Equate Scotland supports gender equality across STEM and the built environment in Scotland. Through events, training, and student-led networks, Equate helps make STEM more inclusive for women and minoritised gender groups.
Piscopia is a UK-wide initiative focused on increasing gender diversity in mathematical research by connecting students with mentors, events, and role models in the field.
