Get ready, because Grad Group is ready to roll in the new semester by drinking in a bar.  Especially welcome: Fulbrighters, UDKrs, DAADs and sugar DAADs, dogs, American Academy hangers-on, Humboldters, FU, no, F U, the insured, the uninsured, the assured, the surly.  Come one, come all to LYKIA, a bar of questionable ambience but indubitable location, October 15, 2009, 8:30 PM, yes!

First colloquium of the Winter Semester 2009/2010:

Thursday, October 15, 2009: LYKIA.  Sonntagstrasse 1, Friedrichshain.  Directly across from Ostkreuz; take the Neue Bahnhofstr. exit.

Feel free to show up any time, I’ll be there, drinking nervously.

*If interested in details or whatnot, please contact Kerri at mullen.kerri(at)gmail.com.

*English, Deutsch – alle sind herzlich willkommen!

Info:

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Lykia (bar almost on top of the ruined splendor of Ostkreuz), Sonntagstr. 1, Friedrichshain.  From Ostkreuz take the Neue Bahnhofstr. exit.

Questions?  Contact mullen.kerri(at)gmail.com

Same place – Lykia on Sonntagstr. 1, across from Ostkreuz in Friedrichshain. Time: 9:00 PM. Topic for discussion: Any and all, but especially the Body, Gender, Technology Conference happening at the FU JFK Institute on February 15 and 16.

Come or risk social status depletion…

-Kerri

Graduate Students: A Call to Socialize
NOVEMBER 14, 2007
9:30 PM

MEETING OF SOCIAL LUBRICATION AND THE DAWNING OF A NEW AGE OF GRADUATE STUDENT INTERDISCIPLINARY IN-FIGHTING AND WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A MORE DECONSTRUCTED TOMORROW:

Wednesday, October 24, 2007, 9:30 PM: LYKIA. Sonntagstrasse 1, Friedrichshain. Directly across from Ostkreuz; take the Neue Bahnhof exit.

Feel free to show up any time, I’ll be there, drinking nervously. Again.

*If interested, please contact Kerri Mullen at mullen.kerri@gmail.com.
*website: http://bigmessberlin.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/berlin-graduate-student-colloquia/

Come talk about your new classes, try to make some passes, wear your glasses, join the masses.

2. Goals of the group:
I am going to split the focus of this group into two sessions. The first will be semiweekly meetings of socialization for all grad students, all disciplines, all fields. Hopefully this time there will be enough tables and chairs.

The second goal is going to be a little less ambitious than as it had been first planned. I would very much like to put together some study colloquia. However, I need to know who is absolutely interested in doing academic work in this sort of setting. I am thinking perhaps a monthly meeting of maybe four or five at a table for discussion. Alternatively, if there is much interest, I can envision a monthly presentation by one person (chosen in advance), then a Q&A, then some more socializing.

Anyone interested in the above activities, please write me an email (mullen.kerri@gmail.com). I know it’s early in the semester, but if you imagine you might have interest later, etc. Let me know. Alternatively, show up at the Spectacular Spectacular and let me know what you want to do.

Related to the second goal, I believe that due to my own expertise/interests, I am only really able to do this (i.e., organize something particular) for humanities students. If there is a ton of interest from the science side, though, I will reconsider.

3. Profiles:
Last week we had the first social meeting at the Kaufbar, where we pleasantly ran out of chairs. Here is a smattering of represented disciplines and program:

*Postdoc fellow at University of Potsdam, theoretical chemistry.
“I study the dynamics of small molecules moving on metal surfaces and the selective laser excitation of these molecules to favour particular reaction paths. The model systems I study are prototypes for explaining more complex reaction mechanisms such as heterogeneous catalysis and many atmospheric reactions.”
Also interested in: Music.

*Economics student at TU

*Several JFK Institute of North American Studies students, including:
-An MA student specializing in Culture and Political Science.
“Like to go out, watch movies, travel (go to South America), work on my Spanish, play pool, dance Salsa, read books etc.”

*Medical student at Charite Hospital (HU and FU)
-Working in General Medicine, blood coagulation
-Also interested in: “Photography, Literature, History, Philosophy, Art, Social Theories of Interaction”

4. See you soon.

Graduate Students: A Call to Socialize

Hello, my name is Kerri Mullen, and I am working on a project to facilitate meetings between all the various scholarship, grant, fellowship, exchange, etc. programs for graduate students in Berlin.

*First goal: Have all interested parties meet in some sort of alcohol-lubricated social situation.

*Second goal: Create student profiles:
What is your affiliation institution/university?
What is your field?
What is your project?
Example: Kerri Mullen
JFK Institute, Freie Universität Berlin
North American Studies: literature and cultural studies
Masters Program

*Third goal: Mini Colloquia for Work and Play

One strange thing about being involved with a fellowship or exchange is isolation from your peers in your field, from your home institution at the very least. This group is a way to combat that isolation, although this is not just for fellowship recipients or scholars who are temporarily in Berlin; it is also for anyone getting their Master or PhD degree here.

I want students to form mini discussion groups based around a topic, or a program, or what have you. You can then:
-discuss research methods and options: where do I find this, whom can I contact about this.
-streamline your thesis: present your projects in whatever state of development/completion to others who can credibly pick on your work. Make it better. Argue your points for clarity.
-socialize. The world of books and research is lonely and scary and lonely. These people might remind you to eat, for example. They might make helpful suggestions about creating time in one’s schedule for regular bathing. Friendly suggestions.

*Fourth goal: Shameless Networking/What’s Going On in Berlin
-Are you part of an institution that has a calendar of events? Let’s make a grand calendar of events from all members. You can see if there are any interesting conferences, lectures, etc. in town without the numbness of four hours at the computer when you really should be doing your Work Work, not this sort of personal business work.

Classes start soon. If you are currently picking your nose in Berlin, let me know and we can pick in solidarity.

FIRST MEETING OF SOCIAL LUBRICATION AND THE DAWNING OF A NEW AGE OF GRADUATE STUDENT INTERDISCIPLINARY IN-FIGHTING AND WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A MORE DECONSTRUCTED TOMORROW:

Friday, October 12, 2007, 9:30 PM: KAUFBAR, Gärtnerstrasse 4, Friedrichshain.
Feel free to show up any time, I’ll be there, drinking nervously.

*If interested, please contact Kerri Mullen at mullen.kerri@gmail.com.