The first of ACC's Phd workshops for 2012 was held on February 28. The workshop was dedicated to the demystification of the PhD process, with a specific focus on methodology and the craft of writing a PhD. ACC postdoctoral fellows Godfrey Tawodzera; Jenny Fatou Mbaye & Koni Benson shared their experiences and presented their reflections on their PhD journey. A screening of Gary Hustwit's documentary film 'Urbanized' was held as part of the workshop, followed by a discussion. Another session dedicated to the practical process of writing with a focus less on its substantive content and more on its quality or effectiveness followed. The PhD Workshop marked the beginning of the PhD Seminar Series in 2012, whose over-arching focus is on the craft of academic writing and publishing and the sharpening of peer-review skills. Each participant in the group is expected to prepare a 6000-8000 word article for presentation and critical discussion by the group, and ultimately for submission to a journal for review and publication.