Dr Stephanie Zihms

I would love an #ADHD setting on my washing machine. Rather than beeping three times and then shutting off when a wash is done , it beeps three times every 15min. If the washing hasn’t been taken out after a certain time the machine does a short refresh cycle and we start again…

Using Creative Writing to Combat Imposter Feelings Using Creative Writing to Combat Imposter Feelings We’ve all been there – that nagging voice telling us we’re not quite good enough, that someone will eventually figure out we don…

Ever notice how you're way more supportive of other people's research than your own?
So... what if you wrote about YOUR work as if you were someone else? This rewriting-in-role technique (Claire Coleman) is surprisingly effective for combating imposter feelings.
stephaniezihms.blog/2025/10/07/u...

Our wee guy did not let the surveyor out of his sight…he will make a good QA person some day.

New! Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer.

This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

📢 Call for Contributions is open for #ICRMC 2026! Find out more here: creativeresearchmethods.com

We're also excited to announce the ICRMC 2026 keynotes: Ranjita Dhital and Alastair Roy — ready to spark debate and inspire new ways of thinking.

#ICRMC26 #CRMethods #creativeresearch

I am working on a really cool project - a pop up science and art shop in Swindon!

We are looking for researchers to run public engagement activities in this space from 25th Oct - 1st Nov. If you are interested, please get in touch via my website contact form: www.sarahcosgriff.com/contact

My favourite distance is the half marathon…training is just more manageable for that. I do a lot of problem solving on my runs…

Apparently Thursday evening is peak Vinted shopping time - most of my baby stuff sold within 2hrs of posting and I spend this evening getting it all packed up ready to be shipped tomorrow…

A PhD is not a marathon – it’s like preparing for one You’ve probably heard people say “a PhD is a marathon, not a sprint.” While I get what they’re trying to say, I actually disagree with comparing something fixed like a marat…

You know that saying "a PhD is a marathon, not a sprint"? I actually think that's rubbish.
A marathon has a fixed distance and finish line. A PhD is more like preparing for a marathon with a moveable finish line and confusing signposts!
stephaniezihms.blog/2025/09/12/a...

#PhD #academia #PhDChat

Going to pick up the wee guy from nursery - that always helps me re-set. Especially after a tricky day!

The joy of a neurospicy brain combined with energy zapping #MS - disability admin here we go

To the whole process to the get this via work has been so inaccessible and not neurodivergent brain friendly…now I wonder what this will look like in the future if I do get a RA around communication since this is an external provider?

So I totally messed some timings today, then got mad at someone because I thought they had messed up. So I apologised and will be anxious until I get a reply. Thanks #ADHD brain! Thats why I need calendar invites and not information in emails…
BTW This was for my reasonable adjustments appointment

Here is a wee poem about #ICRCM25

Interesting and diverse presentations
Connecting diverse but like-minded
Researchers, trying to puch beyond the
Conventional. Through that process
Making research better for everyone

My talk/workshop went really well…but now I’m shattered! Reflections will have to wait until tomorrow and I will add them here or on a new thread…

My presentation is: From inspiration to transformation: Transforming Conference talks into interactive workshops for researcher development

Last session: Cynthia Kinnunen: Who can we be? Weaving and untangling through craft and creativity on a doctoral journey. Followed by Victoria Wright: Three quarters academic and one quarter professional services. Followed by myself…

Next up I’m attending Putting a light in the window: using a creative writing process to analyse ABR generated data (Luci Gorell Barness) & Pictures and Prose: using visuals and infographics to communicate meaning in academic writing (Lucy Robinson)

So I somehow deleted my entire thread…
In a nutshell: IT MEANS BUILDING AND MOBILISING AROUND A COUNTERNARRATIVE

Mitigating the risk of extinction from Al should be a global priority alongside other societal scale risks, such as pandemics and nuclear war [Center for Al Safety, 2024].

#ICRMC Day 2 is about to start - Keynote by Amanda Taylor-Beswick: Postdigital Creative Research: Working through the prenup!

Last session of the day - Rowena Senior How to build a Research Strategy…creatively
And then Kate Carruthers Thomas Snakes & Ladders “Gaming” female career progression in HE

- this is hands on so will share more later as part of my reflection

I was planning to do more creative reflection like that but my sketch pad tells me the last one was November 2024…maybe I have to set some reminders

The left side represents my mum version - lots of hats with some of my pre-baby self fading on the edge. The right side is my academic self away from being a mum. Some of my older parts are stronger (purple) and the mum responsibilities have moved away but are still connected…

A water colour sketch labelled Academic (mum) boundary divide. ICRMC 2025 Day 1. It shows a black squiggly line in the middle. On the left side blobs of colour quite close together bleeding into each other on the left a purple line fading to white. On the right side 3 colours close to the black line and then a fade to three more colours further right. The purple is a bigger section closer to the black line. The entire sketch is outlined with pencil.

The 2pm presentation I wanted to attend was cancelled. I’m having a long lunch break and did some reflecting on being an #AcademicMum away from her wee one for the 1st time

She did reflect that she might have lost the joy of doing the analysis herself but shifted that into the process of AI supporting the analysis
Over lunch we discussed how we can ensure students and new researchers do not miss out on the basic skills development and jump straight to AI…

She then added a 5th step integrating the participant’s perspective.
Her prompts were more detailed and she did ask follow up questions and engaged with the responses.
The AI generated interpretation was close to the participants summary

She did a human led analysis using GenAI as a research assistant or collaborator. Using the model of slow scholarship in the process.
Step 1: describe the visual elements
Step 2: interpret the visual elements
Step 3: describe the composition
Step 4: interpret the composition

Reading Images | The Grammar of Visual Design | Gunther Kress, Theo va This third edition of the landmark textbook Reading Images builds on its reputation as the first systematic and comprehensive account of the grammar of visual

This was followed by Charlotte Albrechtsen talk about using #GenAI in the analysis of collages. Super fascinating project.
Charlotte used ChatGPT to follow Kress van Leeuwen model on reading images www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/1...

Think about your methods early and include any additional cost or labour required for CRM in funding bids

Analysis does not need to be fixed or rigid - we have space to operate in. Sometimes we have to be brave to break the mould and try new things or different things