PhD research can be a rewarding but often isolating experience. Researchers frequently spend years working alongside colleagues from different groups without many opportunities to interact beyond their immediate research environments. Recognising this challenge, Melissa Yeo initiated the Walk & Talk programme within the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at Queen Mary University of London in November 2024.
What began as informal lunchtime walks has since evolved into a broad programme of academic, social, cultural, and wellbeing-focused activities designed to bring together PhD students, research associates, and staff from across the School. The initiative aims to foster collaboration, encourage interdisciplinary engagement, support student wellbeing, and strengthen the sense of community within EECS.
Since its launch, the programme has expanded considerably and now includes weekly Walk & Talk sessions, Eat & Talk lunches, hiking activities, cultural celebrations, the Inter-Group Presentation Workshop (IGPW), Writing-Up Surgery sessions, and other community-led events. These activities provide opportunities for researchers from diverse academic disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds to connect, exchange ideas, develop professional networks, and support one another throughout their PhD journey.
The programme has also organised visits to parks, museums, university campuses, cultural venues, Stepney City Farm, Mile End Stadium, and other locations across London and the UK, providing opportunities for researchers to build connections beyond the traditional academic environment.
The initiative is currently coordinated by Madhumitha Krishnakumar and Zhansaya Amangeldiyeva, with support from a wider team of activity leads and committee members. Sofia Zahri leads the Inter-Group Presentation Workshop (IGPW) and contributes to community and cultural events, Yuli Sutoto Nugroho leads the Hiking activities and Writing-Up Surgery sessions, and Juexi Shao Leads the Basketball activities. The programme has also benefited from previous contributions by Daniel Gill and many other students who have helped organise activities and support the EECS postgraduate community over the years.
Walk & Talk
The Walk & Talk initiative remains the foundation of the programme. Organised by Madhumitha Krishnakumar and Zhansaya Amangeldiyeva, every Friday, participants gather at the QMUL Graduate Centre for a relaxed lunchtime walk around Mile End and the surrounding area.
The activity was originally introduced to encourage students to step away from their desks, engage in informal conversations, and connect with colleagues from different research groups. Unlike traditional seminars or meetings, Walk & Talk provides a low-pressure environment where academic discussions often emerge naturally alongside conversations about wellbeing, career development, and life beyond research.
Since November 2024, the group has completed more than twenty organised walks and visits, including: Stepney City Farm, Mile End Stadium, Local parks and green spaces around Mile End, UCL Bloomsbury Campus, Swiss Cottage and various locations across East London
The initiative has helped build connections between students who might otherwise never interact despite sharing the same building and research environment.
Eat & Talk (Building Community Through Shared Lunches)
Eat & Talk is a weekly social activity that takes place during lunchtime every Monday and provides an informal setting for students to meet, share experiences, and build friendships. Participants bring their lunch and gather in communal spaces within EECS to discuss research, exchange ideas, and socialise. While simple in concept, the activity has become one of the most effective ways of bringing together researchers from different groups and academic backgrounds. Eat & Talk sessions have supported both new and continuing students, helping create a welcoming environment for researchers joining EECS from around the world.
Inter-Group Presentation Workshop (IGPW)
The Inter-Group Presentation Workshop (IGPW) was proposed during a Walk & Talk session following an idea originally suggested by Raymond Hu. The initiative was subsequently supported and implemented by Melissa Yeo as part of the wider Walk & Talk programme. Led by Sofia Zahri, the workshop was established to provide PhD students with a supportive environment in which to practise presentations, receive constructive feedback, and prepare for conferences, progression milestones, viva examinations, and research group meetings.
Since its launch, the workshop has hosted presentations from researchers across multiple EECS groups and research areas, including: Dr Richard Clegg – How to Give Research Presentations, Yufeng Li, Yuli Sutoto Nugroho, Daniel Allan Gill, Carlos Dazaeth Quintal Gueta, Yaqi Sun, Wenqing Wu
The workshop has attracted strong participation from students across EECS and has become a regular platform for interdisciplinary research exchange.
Writing-Up Surgery (Supporting Students Through the Final Stages of the PhD Journey)
The Writing-Up Surgery was introduced to provide practical guidance and support for PhD students approaching thesis submission and completion. Led by Yuli Sutoto Nugroho and supported by Prof. Mark Sandler, these sessions create an open and supportive environment where students can discuss challenges associated with writing, planning, and completing their doctoral research.
Topics covered include thesis structure, time management, publication strategies, writing techniques, viva preparation, and maintaining motivation during the final stages of the PhD. The sessions also provide opportunities for students to share experiences and learn from peers who are at different stages of their doctoral journey.
The Writing-Up Surgery has become a valuable resource for EECS postgraduate researchers, particularly those entering the writing-up phase of their studies.
Other activities
There are a huge number of other activites organised by the group. Sports activities include Basketball and Hiking. The hiking has gone over to distant places like Canterbury and Durdle Door including historic and cultural locations. There have also been events celebrating diversity and other events for holidays such as Christmas (Secret Santa) Nauryz and Eid-Al-Fitr Celebration and Lunar New Year.