{"id":5857,"date":"2025-09-10T04:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/?p=5857"},"modified":"2025-09-18T01:49:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T01:49:42","slug":"celebrating-5-years-of-curtin-thesis-fest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/celebrating-5-years-of-curtin-thesis-fest\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating 5 years of Curtin Thesis Fest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Reading time: 3 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year we celebrated the 5th anniversary of Thesis Fest, a flagship event of the Curtin University Library and one that is dedicated to supporting Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students. It is designed to strengthen research skills, support wellbeing, and help students move towards completing their thesis with confidence and success. With a record-breaking attendance of 100 students in-person on day one and over 50 online, Thesis Fest 2025 was our biggest and most vibrant event yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2782-1000x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2782-1000x500.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2782-740x370.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2782-480x240.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2782-1260x630.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2782-1520x760.jpg 1520w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2782-1920x960.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The event featured an exciting line-up of guest speakers, including Curtin&#8217;s Vice Chancellor, Professor Harlene Hayne; Professor Ingrid Mewburn, the renowned Thesis Whisperer; and Dr Vicki Wright, the inspiring PhD Life Coach. We also heard from two Curtin Professors who shared candid reflections on their personal research journeys, including what they wish they\u2019d known during their own PhDs, offering valuable insights and encouragement. A panel of recently completed HDR students also shared strategies especially around staying motivated, maintaining wellbeing, and staying on track to completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2954-1000x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5861\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2954-1000x500.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2954-740x370.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2954-480x240.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2954-1260x630.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2954-1520x760.jpg 1520w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2954-1920x960.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Across two days, students explored a wide range of topics such as publishing, presentation skills, thesis by publication formats, creating smarter habits, approaches to note-taking, and how to be your own best supervisor. Importantly, the event also provided a valuable space for HDR students to connect with peers, form research collaborations, and build friendships, adding value to a journey that can often feel isolating. Many students left feeling inspired and encouraged by the sense of community and shared experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A3249-1-scaled-e1757306221511-1000x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5865\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A3249-1-scaled-e1757306221511-1000x500.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A3249-1-scaled-e1757306221511-740x370.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A3249-1-scaled-e1757306221511-480x240.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A3249-1-scaled-e1757306221511-1260x630.jpg 1260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Student feedback from this year\u2019s Thesis Fest has been overwhelmingly positive. One student wrote \u201c<em>Thank you for such a wonderful Thesis Fest. It was encouraging to see that everyone has their own challenges, and even more reassuring to know that University, especially the amazing Library Team, is always there to support us.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;Another student remarked, \u201c<em>After this event I feel so much more connected to Curtin and the HDR challenge<\/em>,\u201d while others praised the event as \u201c<em>the best run event I have attended at Curtin<\/em>\u201d and declared, \u201c<em>This is my third Thesis Fest and it is a winner every time<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2989-1000x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5863\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2989-1000x500.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2989-740x370.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2989-480x240.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2989-1260x630.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2989-1520x760.jpg 1520w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2989-1920x960.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thesis Fest provides a holistic experience for HDR students, that includes not just practical skills and strategies, but also opportunities to connect with peers, inspiration, and fun. Across the two fully catered days, students enjoyed celebration morning teas, delicious lunches, and plenty of opportunities to engage, from networking bingo to a graduation gown photo booth to capture the moment with new friends. There were fabulous show bags, an interactive online event guide, makerspace activities, and raffle prizes that included the Vice Chancellor\u2019s favourite book,&nbsp;<em>How to Fix Your Academic Writing Trouble<\/em>. Whether you\u2019re just starting your HDR journey or inching towards the finish line, Thesis Fest brings together all these elements which is what makes it our signature event for HDR students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2887-1000x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2887-1000x500.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2887-740x370.jpg 740w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2887-480x240.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2887-1260x630.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2887-1520x760.jpg 1520w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1H0A2887-1920x960.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Written by Research Engagement Librarians Jaya Ralph &amp; Kitty Delaney<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading time: 3 minutes This year we celebrated the 5th anniversary of Thesis Fest, a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":5861,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_category":9,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,4],"tags":[18,56,3,82],"class_list":["post-5857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-library","tag-18","tag-curtin-library","tag-library","tag-thesis-fest"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5857"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5857\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5907,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5857\/revisions\/5907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}