By Nadia Jackson, Senior Marketing Manager, British Dental Association

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©Malte Mueller/Getty Images Plus

As we begin to emerge from the global pandemic that has had a profound effect on the way we live our lives, we can see the world has changed beyond measure. How we communicate and interact with colleagues, peers, friends and family has evolved into a hybrid version of what went before.

And how we disseminate information has changed too. Sitting in common rooms, browsing through magazines and literature is no longer an option. Web based resources that supported physical teaching, are now the main event. Online learning, mobile optimised websites, digital content and social media give instant access to the information you need as a dental student. That's why Bda.org will be seeing some dramatic changes in the coming year, with a new look website that works on your phone and fully meets the needs of the dental profession, to provide the best possible user experience.

BDJ Student is no different. From 2022 your magazine will move exclusively online to bring you the latest clinical insight, news, views and opinions as soon as it's available. You'll be able to read, save and share your favourite articles anywhere, anytime, with information instantaneously at your fingertips, rather than three times a year on your doormat.

Our team is more devoted than ever to creating engaging, practical resources for continuing education and professional growth in a digital world. We've been working with some fantastic speakers to cover a range of subjects in our live lectures over the past year.

Our team is more devoted than ever to creating engaging, practical resources for continuing education and professional growth in a digital world

That's why we're delighted that our Chairside podcasts; Conversations about careers in dentistry, are now available to download. The podcast series explores the unlimited, unexpected and maybe even unknown opportunities that qualifying as a dentist opens up to you. In each episode, Andrea Ogden, a general practitioner and our Undergraduate and Career Development Lead, is joined by dental professionals who discuss their journey and the paths they took which changed the course of their career. The podcasts are available on all major platforms including Apple, Spotify, Google, and Podbean. What's more, student members can access these anywhere from the comfort of your own home to the daily commute to clinic.

We've pulled together an online mock-exam to help dental students who are looking to apply to National Recruitment Dental Foundation Training, allowing fifth year students to practice different scenarios and build confidence in answering SJTs. You'll be able to compare results with recommended answers and be able to access additional resources available through our library and website.

Looking forward to next year, the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show will open its doors once again in May 2022, giving the profession a chance to get together and student members are encouraged to attend. The two-day exhibition and conference on 15 and 16 May will provide clinical, leadership and practical training via an extensive educational programme as well as hands-on workshops.

With so much to look forward to, make sure you don't miss out, visit bda.org/login and subscribe to our monthly student newsletter to stay up to date.