Amongst the high impact research and commitment that lies in the Faculty of Health’s new HDR Student Spaces, is a budding tradition with research students. The Pot-Luck Lunch – a culinary spoil of multicultural delicacies, home-grown wonders and students from all faculties and walks of life.
At the helm are Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care (CCCC) member Pauline Murray-Parahi, who started the monthly pot luck lunch and Sabera Turkmani from Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health (CMCFH); who initially noted the need for a regular communal event. The two worked on ways of taking HDR students out of their ‘caves’ and into a hub of conversation and likeminded individuals. As a team-building exercise, the potluck lunches have become a highly anticipated occasion to network and academically collaborate with students as well as an opportunity to build a strong and unified community of individuals within the fabric of research culture at UTS. Now far from its initiation stages, an average pot-luck luncher can expect new hosts every month, a food theme or special guests to welcome new members, farewell international students, and congratulate peers on HDR milestones and achievements.
Describing the potluck lunch, Pauline says “It’s a little taste of home! We each bring something to share, often from our country of origin, or try something new. Each month seems better than the last because we never know what culinary masterpieces, treats or even new conversations await us – that’s all part of the potluck experience. Everyone who attends makes an effort to join in and invariably say how much they enjoy it - sharing and trying something new or an old favourite from childhood. The group is a welcoming and eclectic mix of HDRs from all faculties, who frequent the HDR space. This makes for an impressive multicultural table with very interesting and lively conversation and where there is always room for one more at the table”
For more information or if you would like to get involved, contact Pauline Murray-Parahi or Sabera Turkmani.
