Highlights from the ADR UK PhD Annual Gathering 2025

The annual gathering for ADR UK PhD students recently brought together our whole student cohort for an event filled with networking, peer-led learning, and team-building opportunities. The event served as an inspiring platform for PhD students from diverse research areas to exchange ideas and share insights, fostering meaningful collaborations across disciplines.

Hosted by ADR Wales and Datacise in Cardiff, Wales, the participants engaged in a variety of activities, including developing their elevator pitches, discussing the policy landscape, and taking part in a dedicated public engagement and co-production workshop. These sessions aimed to equip attendees with practical skills for engaging communities and stakeholders, enhancing the impact of their research.

Event highlights

• Interdisciplinary connections: Opportunities for cross-disciplinary dialogue
• Skill enhancement: Peer-led learning sessions focused on building professional capabilities
• Policy awareness: Understanding of the policy landscape relevant to research
• Public engagement: Exploring innovative ways to connect research with wider communities
• Collaboration: Strengthening a supportive and collaborative PhD network.

“The event has provided me with valuable insights that have influenced the way I think about my research. It’s helped me consider new approaches and potential areas of focus and has given me a broader understanding of the tools and data available. The discussions and presentations have also encouraged me to think more critically about how my work can contribute to ongoing conversations in the field.” - Yifan Ge, PhD student

Watch the highlights of the gathering:

Join us in Cardiff for the ADR UK Conference 2025

Many of these PhD students will be participating in the ADR UK Conference 2025, hosted by ADR Wales and taking place in Cardiff from 17-18 September. This marks an opportunity to engage with others about administrative data research.

New members join the Scientific Committee for the ADR UK Conference 2025 

We are delighted to welcome PhD students Tomiris Gilazh and Lijie Zeng to the scientific committee for the conference. Their perspectives and insights will help shape an engaging and impactful programme. We look forward to seeing the valuable contributions they will bring to the event.

Call for abstracts and workshop proposals

We are currently inviting submissions for abstracts and workshop proposals, with the deadline soon approaching on 28 February. Find out more.

Stay tuned for more

As we reflect on the PhD gathering and look ahead to the conference, we encourage you to stay tuned for blog posts from the participating PhD students, which will be published by Datacise Open Learning and on the ADR Wales website. The students will be sharing their experiences, insights, and reflections from this event - offering a glimpse into the exciting work and dynamic community supported by ADR UK.