Afleveringen

  • Jean Paul is a senior scientist at the Medical University of Innsbruck. In part 2 of our conversation, Jean discusses her experience leading an impact-led transcdisciplinary research project focused on supporting families with mental health issues. She highlights the challenges of stakeholder engagement, distributed team management, and transdisciplinary research. Jean emphasizes the importance of community engagement, virtual team collaboration, and fostering diversity in academia. She also reflects on the skills she brings to this role and the importance of investing in the team set up from the very beginning.

    Overview

    [00:29] Introducing Part 2

    [02:23] Recap from Part 1

    [07:27] Working with stakeholders

    [13:35] Leading a distributed international interdisciplinay project team

    [14:59] Learning leadership from diverse experiences

    [18:25] The transferrable skills – listening and learning

    [20:04] Supporting diverse career paths

    [25:16] Insights for parents in academia

    [29:22] Leadership, organisational design and virtual team management

    [34:33] Making virtual collaboration work

    [39:08] Future directions and reflections

    [41:57] End

    Related links:

    Ludwig Boltzmann Institute/Gesellschaft

    The sandpit-funded project – The Village Project

    The Healthy Minds project

    Dr Ghislaine Caulat – consultant on virtual leadership development 

    Simon Martin – consultant for their organisational design in a transdisciplinary project with stakeholder involvement 

    Project Design principles:

    The design principles that came out of the oganisational design workshops:

    Effectively coordinate and involve a wide (but manageable!) network of stakeholdersBe clear on expectations, results and deliverables within the teamKeep momentum, trust and energy going across the project timeline for the core team and wider stakeholdersMake sure that the perspectives of people with lived experience are heard clearly throughout the project (capturing the voices of people impacted by perinatal mental illness and those who are treating and working with the affected person and their families)Enact high ethical standards in our research (especially when listening to personal stories of mental illness and challenges)Demonstrate the value of interdisciplinary research partnerships with stakeholders, and challenge the landscape of traditional research and methodsEffectively lobby and influence (local and national policy makers), and raise awareness in society / politics through making our topics and results visible.


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  • Jean Paul is a Senior Scientist at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria. Jean discusses her involvement in a unique research funding process called a sandpit or an ideas factory. Having then taken on the leadership of the project, she provides insights into the challenges and benefits of transdisciplinary research, stakeholder engagement, and arguing for their impact-focused approach. Jean also shares her academic background in social science, health and genomics research work in Australia.

    Overview:

    [00:29] Introduction

    [03:03] Jean's PhD, Post-Doc Journey & Backup Plan

    [11:23] From Australia to Austria: Applying for research funding sandpit

    [18:00] The Sandpit Experience

    [27:47] Getting Funded, Becoming a Team

    [32:08] Leading the Project and Ongoing Project Support

    [40:20] Transdisciplinary Research

    [48:29] Wrapping up Part 1

    [49:36] More on Jean's PhD and Post Doc Projects

    [56:40] Final Wrapping Up

    [57:47] End

    Related links:

    Ludwig Boltzmann Institute/Gesellschaft

    The sandpit-funded project – The Village Project



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  • Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?

    Klik hier om de feed te vernieuwen.

  • This episode is an edited extract from a ‘Beyond Phrenology’ podcast episode where Dr Madhur Mangalam chatted with me about the impacts of research funding challenges on academic culture and individual well-being. The conversation addresses the need for a shift towards more supportive and diverse cultures, the complexities of academic career paths, and the importance of leadership, mentorship and job crafting. We also discuss the implications of international academic norms on individual career choices.

    Overview:

    [00:00:43] Research Funding Challenges and the Unsustainability of Current Models

    [00:04:57] Promoting Emotional Intelligence and Leadership in Academia

    [00:15:14] Navigating Career Paths Across Contexts

    [00:24:38] On Privileged Positions and Playing the Game

    [00:29:02] Wrapping up

    [00:30:53] End

    Related Links:

    Madhur Mangalam, University of Nebraska at Omaha

    BeyondPhrenology (YouTube)

    BeyondPhrenology (Spotify)

    Daniel Goleman – Emotional Intelligence

    CAL99 episode: On research identity, meaningful work and funding

    TEDx talk from 2016: The craziness of research funding. It costs us all.  

    Online Academic Leadership Development Course – sign up by March 7 2024!



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  • Taking this time to celebrate CAL100 – the 100th episode for the Changing Academic Life podcast series (actually 109th episode if we count the nine related work episodes) and thanks to all the people who have been part of making it happen.

    To update and correct the information about Dr Paddy Barrett who inspired this podcast:

    His original podcast was called 'The Doctor Paradox'. He is a preventive cardiologist not an anaesthetist as I stated. And he is now working in Ireland not the US!



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  • Triggered by a comment from Katta Spiel in an earlier podcast, in this solo episode I explore the tensions between the autonomy and freedom we have to shape our research identities and do meaningful work, and the systemic constraints from funding and promotion opportunities. The tensions particularly arise when research interests don’t align well with institutional expectations or funding trends. I explore various ways to navigate these tensions, such as, adjusting research focus to align with strategic priorities, reframing research proposals while keeping the core agenda unchanged, or continuing passion projects outside of formal funded frameworks. I also reflect on potential trade-offs and the importance of maintaining personal connection and motivation in our research work. At the end I suggest some strategies for self-reflection and staying in tune with what 'lights you up' as a researcher. 

    This episode also connects with prior podcast guests Mark Reed and Stuart Reeves.

    Overview:

    00:29 Introduction and Reflection on Academic Freedom

    01:54 Replay from Katta Spiel Part 1

    02:37 Mark Reed's principle for engagement and impact

    05:22 The Tension Between Personal Values, Identity and Systemic Expectations

    07:05 The Reality of Funding Proposals and Strategic Game

    08:40 The Impact of Funding Conditions on Research

    10:27 The Dilemma of Playing the Funding Game

    13:08 Choices for How to Play the Game

    19:59 Choosing Not to Play the Game

    21:54 Reframing Research Identity 

    26:55 End

    Related links:

    Katta podcast Part 1 episode

    Mark Reed podcast episode 

    Stuart Reeves podcast episode

    Mark Reed, What is good practice engagement and impact? Dec 5 2023



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  • Dr Katta Spiel is an Assistant Professor at TU Wien, a recent ERC Starting Grant recipient, and a good colleague of mine. In part two of our conversation, Katta discusses being neurodivergent, and experiences with ADHD, and being an activist for change with an example of how gender is dealt with in research, and about 'epistemic plurality and the importance of making space for different ways of being and knowing. They conclude by advocating for respectful curiosity about individual experiences and allowing others space to perform their best work. They also argue for a lab culture where personal needs can be discussed and respected, suggesting this encourages more open dialogue and a supportive environment.

    This conversation picks up from Part one where Katta shared their experiences on topics like career uncertainty, proposal rejections, coming out as queer, chronic health issues, being successful, and notions of normativity. 

    Overview:

    [00:00:00] Introduction

    [00:01:56] Personal Journey with Neurodivergence

    [00:06:42] Strategies for Navigating Neurodivergence

    [00:10:05] Dealing with a world not made for Neurodivergence

    [00:15:39] Creating a Supportive Environment for Neurodivergence

    [00:20:12] The Intersection of Neurodivergence and Activism

    [00:26:19] Embracing different ways of being and knowing

    [00:33:27] Final Thoughts on Neurodivergence and Inclusivity

    [00:35:44] My final reflections

    [00:38:06] End

    Related links:

    Katta's personal web page, TU Wien web page, LinkedIn page, and announcement about their ERC Starting Grant

    Gender paper: Katta Spiel, Oliver L. Haimson, and Danielle Lottridge. 2019. How to do better with gender on surveys: a guide for HCI researchers. interactions 26, 4 (July-August 2019), 62–65. https://doi.org/10.1145/3338283

    Hanne de Jaegher https://hannedejaegher.net



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  • In this short episode I reflect on the podcast season so far and on my own year of transitions. And I offer some prompt questions to help us reflect on what we have achieved and learnt this past year and encourage us to take some time to savour and celebrate it.

    Overview:

    00:05 Introduction

    01:32 Podcast highlights

    05:50 Transitioning to a new phase

    7:35 Reflection prompts

    10:17 Gratitude & looking forward

    13:26 End



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  • Dr Katta Spiel is an Assistant Professor at TU Wien, a recent ERC Starting Grant recipient, and a good colleague of mine. 

    In the first part of this two-part conversation Katta shares their experiences on a range of topics like career uncertainty, rejection of proposals, coming out as queer, having a formal gender change, dealing with chronic health issues, and being successful in receiving a prestigious research council grant. Dr. Spiel's struggles and successes reflect their unyielding effort to change academic life for the better. An emphasis is also placed on the importance of authenticity and uncompromised approach when applying for grants. Part two of the conversation with Katta will delve deeper into the topic of neurodivergence and their ADHD experiences.

    Overview:

    0:00 Introduction

    02:42 Navigating Identity and Academia

    07:06 Exploring Alternative Career Paths

    09:37 The Journey to Recognition and Success

    10:34 Challenges and Triumphs in Grant Applications

    23:07 Understanding the Difference Between Access and Accessibility

    25:48 Personal Journey of Gender Identity and Health

    33:58 Experiences with Chronic Health Issues

    38:10 The Impact of Body Shape on Medical Treatment

    40:16 The Role of Technology in Access and Inclusion

    43:23 End

    Related Links:

    Katta's personal web page, TU Wien web page, LinkedIn page, and announcement about their ERC Starting Grant

    People: Raja Kushalnager, Christian Vogler , Abraham Glasser



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  • There were some technical hiccups in Part 2 of my conversation with Irina Shklovski, making the original audio I released very choppy (a lesson in not relying on smart tools!). I’ve uploaded new audio version that is much easier to listen to and doesn't chop off words. So this is an encouragement to you to listen to this now as it is such an important raw honest conversation and Irina shares so many useful ideas about coming back from burnout and learning to be enough, do enough. I include a clip from that conversation as a teaser. 

    Overview:

    00:00 Intro

    00:29 Addressing Technical Issues on Irina Part 2

    01:52 Revisiting Irina's Conversation

    02:35 Snippet from Irina's Conversation

    04:13 Encouragement to Listen to Part Two

    04:30 Outro

    05:25 End

    Episode: Irina Shklovski Part 2



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  • In this short episode I pick on the notion of self-compassion from the discussion with Mark Reed last week, and go back to Kristin Neff’s work and other related self-compassion researcher to unpack the three components of self-compassion and some practices for cultivating self-compassion and also point to some of the research evidence base for the benefits of self-compassion. I also share my own experience in needing to apply self-compassion this week. 

    Overview:

    00:29 Introduction

    01:27 Replaying Mark Reed on self-compassion

    02:26 An overview of self-compassion

    06:37 Examples of self-compassion practices

    08:24 My self-compassion experience

    11:25 Example research evidence base

    17:45 Back to Mark

    20:24 End

    For atranscript to follow automatically with the audio: https://share.descript.com/view/JxbMM1C5ZIZ

    Related Links:

    The podcast conversation with Mark Reed

    Kristin Neff’s Self-Compassion web page 

    Neff, K., Hsieh, Y. & Dejitterat, K. Self-compassion, Achievement Goals, and Coping with Academic Failure. Self and Identity, 4, 263-287, 2005. DOI: 10.1080/13576500444000317 

    Zessin, U., Dickhäuser, O. & Garbade, S. The Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis. Health and Well-Being, 7(3), 340-364 2015

    Ewert, C., Vater, A. & Schröder-Abé, M. Self-Compassion and Coping: a Meta-Analysis. Mindfulness 12, 1063–1077 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01563-8

    Lee, K.J., Lee, S.M. The role of self-compassion in the academic stress model. Curr Psychol41, 3195–3204 (2022).https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00843-9

    Dreisoerner, A., Klaic, A., van Dick, R. et al. Self-Compassion as a Means to Improve Job-Related Well-Being in Academia. J Happiness Stud 24, 409–428 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00602-6

    Phillips WJ, Hine DW. Self-compassion, physical health, and health behaviour: a meta-analysis. Health Psychol Rev. 2021 Mar;15(1):113-139. Doi:10.1080/17437199.2019.1705872. Epub 2019 Dec 22. PMID: 31842689.

    Neff, K. Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 2023. 74:193–218. 

    Acknowledgement: Episode artwork image of person hugging themselves: Photo by Hala Al-Asadi on Unsplash



    This podcast...
  • Professor Mark Reed is an academic, author, podcaster, consultant, trainer, policy advisor among his many roles. His research area is on ecosystem markets and environmental governance, and he studies how researchers can generate and share their knowledge so they can change the world. Reflecting both of these strands, he is both an academic, co-directing a research Centre at Scotland’s Rural College, and he is the founder of Fast Track Impact, a training and coaching company, and he hosts The Fast Track Impact podcast. He also has a host of other roles you can read about on his web page. 

    We discuss the concept of 'impact' in academia, the challenges of mental health and burnout amongst academics, and the importance of self-compassion, self-reflection and self-care. Driven by a desire to make a difference, Mark intertwines his academic inquiries with a commitment to environmental stewardship and decolonizing research. He also talks about his commitment to empowering colleagues, managing postdocs efficiently, and his take on the biases and limitations within the academic system.

    Overview

    00:05 Introduction

    00:30 Meet Professor Mark Reed: A Multi-faceted Academic

    01:18 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Academia

    01:56 Mark's Personal Struggles and the Importance of Self-Compassion

    02:07 The Role of Purpose and Values in Mark's Work

    02:56 Mark's Journey as an Academic and Policy Advisor

    07:23 The Challenges and Biases in the Academic System

    08:32 Building a Compassionate Culture in Academia

    11:33 Decolonizing Research and Influencing Policy

    27:11 The Role of Empathy and Love in Research

    32:13 The Importance of Self-Care and Work-Life Balance in Academia

    48:05 Creating a Purposeful Workplace and Leading from the Bottom Up

    51:24 Conclusion: The Impact of Love and Empathy in Academia

    52:56 End

    Listen here for a version to follow the transcript linked directly to the audio

    Related Links

    Mark's research web page & Fast Track Impact page

    Mark’s books: https://www.fasttrackimpact.com/books#impact-culture

    The Research Impact Handbook  2nd Ed 2018The Productive Researcher 2017Impact Culture 2022 

    Mark’s ‘The Fast Track Impact’ podcast series

    Mark Reed & Hanna Rudman, Re-thinking research impact: voice, context and power at the interface of science, policy and practice, 18, Sustainability Science, 967-981, 2023.

    Richard Watermeyer's 2019 book:

  • In this very short 7mins episode, I talk about choosing to go to the park instead of doing a longer episode as I had planned - making good enough choices and honouring other areas of my life.

    I also point to related older podcasts that talked about issues around burnout, obsessive vs harmonious passion, self care, planning:

    Jolanta Burke on burnout, harmonious passion, positive workplaces & helping others (from 2017)

    Anna Cox on family, work & strategies for making the changes we want (from 2017)

    Amy Ko on being reflectively self-aware, deliberately structured, & amazingly productive (also from 2017)



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  • Professor Irina Shklovski, University of Copenhagen, continues her powerful story about her academic burn-out experiences, returning to work and learning the dance of how to be enough and do enough. She discusses the push-and-pull between professional expectations and personal health, the value of reflection and self-awareness, how to establish work boundaries, and the crucial role of support from colleagues. We also touch on university funding, neoliberal culture in academia, and the importance of nurturing a balanced lifestyle which includes non-work related activities. The conversation ends with a call for change in academia, highlighting the need to redefine standards for success and manage the increasing pressures in academic cultures.

    Overview:

    [00:29] Episode introduction & recap Part 1

    [04:53] Trying to plan

    [06:29] Saying no and yes

    [14:44] Value of professional help

    [22:57] Tracking work

    [32:10] Making time for rest

    [40:24] Culture/structure influences

    [49:39] Supporting students in what is enough

    [54:46] Wrapping up

    [59:04] End

    Listen here for a version to follow the transcript linked directly to the audio

    Related Links:

    Pernille Bjørn 

     Kasper Hornbæk

    Ridiculous Software

    Toggle Track 

    Haruki Murakami, What I talk about when I talk about running 



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  • Professor Irina Shklovski, University of Copenhagen, has a powerful story to tell about her burn-out experiences.  In Part 1 she talks about how she got there, having an amazingly supportive department and colleagues, and how her body tells her when to stop. Implicated in this are issues such as being across two departments, defining her scholarship, starting a new uni during COVID, the downside of getting grants and what it’s like getting to the point of not being able to function and having to ask for help. 

    Apologies for missing music - trying to get that sorted!

    Overview:

    [00:29] Episode introduction

    [01:58] Navigating two departments…during COVID

    [10:32] Deciding for CS, being uncomfortable, having impact 

    [24:25] Journey to burnout

    [29:35] Making the call for help

    [38:45] How her body tells her when to stop

    [42:32] Wrapping up

    [45:17] End 

    Click here for a walk-through transcript

    Related Links

    Gender studies (TEMAG) - Linköping UniversityIrina Shklovski, Uni of Copenhagen web pageKasper HornbæckPernille BjørnBob Kraut, Carnegie Mellon Uni, HCI Institute


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  • In this short solo episode, I reflect back on recent conversations around academic mobility, discuss some benefits, and also point to an EU initiative to improve support for mobility across sectors, countries and disciplines. I also discuss some of the costs and issues around mobility, and in particular pensions, something we don’t often think about. In sharing my experiences with a complicated pension situation because of my international and sector mobility, I encourage everyone to think about this now.

    Overview:

    [00:29] Episode introduction, revisiting mobility form past episodes

    [02:16] EU initiative towards better mobility support, mobility benefits

    [04:47] Shadow sides of mobility

    [06:12] Pension challenges with mobility

    [08:12] My mobility and pension story

    [15:08] Encouraging people to think more about pensions

    [16:50] RESAVER pension fund

    [19:24] End



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  • Professor Susanne Bødker is a professor of Human Computer Interaction at Aarhus University in Denmark. She reflects on 40 years at Aarhus University (AU) touching on issues including mobility, changes over time, hiring practices, creating collegial culture, being active in university politics, transitioning to retirement, being a single parent, among many others. You’ll hear a strongly held set of values around participation and human connections. Susanne is one of the most respected and impactful HCI researchers yet you’ll also hear her humility. Thank you Susanne for a career well served and that will hopefully continue in some ways as you explore your new opportunities.

    Apologies for missing music - trying to get that sorted!

    Overview

    0:05 Welcome to Changing Academic Life.

    [00:00:29] Episode introduction

    [00:02:21] Susanne introduces herself and her PhD times

    [00:14:36] Reflecting on 40 years in Aarhus

    [00:21:31] The collegial social culture at Aarhus

    [00:25:29] Hiring people for fit

    [00:30:18] The value of mobility

    [00:38:06] The big changes over time

    [00:40:49] Being involved in university politics

    [00:47:39] Transitioning to retirement

    [00:54:39] How she sees her legacy

    [01:00:05] Being a single parent

    [01:04:52] Wrapping up

    01:07:21 End

    Related links:

    Susanne Bødker, Google Scholar profile 

    Her published thesis: Susanne Bødker, Through the Interface: A Human Activity Approach to User Interface Design, Routledge, 1990

    Austrian Academy of Sciences Lecture, 21 Sept 2023, “How do we understand tools, and why is that important for contemporary human-computer interaction?"

    Morten Kyng, Kristen Nygaard, Kim Halskov, Joan Greenbaum 

    Winograd, Terry and Flores, Fernando, Understanding Computers and Cognition: A New Foundation for Design, Intellect Books, 1986. 

    Dreyfus, Stuart E. and Dreyfus, Hubert L. (1986). Mind over Machine. New York, NY: Free Press.

    Utopia project & Participatory IT (PIT) Centre 

    Keywords:

    Academia, Career paths, Research culture, Retirement, Values

    Click here to subscribe via the player of your choice.



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  • Following the conversation with Dr Karen Stroobants on the EU CoARA agreement, I discuss some other top-down initiatives at international and national levels for reforming research assessment. I also share some of my own bottom-up experiences trying to put these principles to work eg in writing references and being part of evaluation panels. It is also my hope that these actions can also have some middle-out influence.

    Overview [41:33 mins] - full transcript available:

    [00:00:29] Episode introduction

    [00:02:10] The 10 Commitments of CoARA

    [00:05:02] Other international initiatives

    [00:10:34] Netherlands as example of national initiatives

    [00:17:20] Some of my 'bottom up' examples

    [00:34:18] Middle out strategies

    [00:38:35] Wrapping up

    Related links:

    CoARA: Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment and CoARA Commitments

    LERU: League of European Research Universities 

    LERU Publication: A Pathway towards Multidimensional Academic Careers 2022

    DORA: San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment 2013

    Leiden Manifesto for Research Metrics 2015 

    The Metric Tide: Review of metrics in research assessment 

    Strategy Evaluation Protocol 2021-2027 

    Room for Everyone’s Talent 

    Related podcasts:

    Karen Stroobants on changing research culture and reforming research assessment

    Sarah Davies: Part 1 on mobility, precarity and notions of excellence  and part 2 on luck, disrupting excellence, and cultures of care

    Tanita Casci and Elizabeth Adams on supporting, rewarding and celebrating a positive collegial research culture 

    James Wilsden on metrics and responsible research evaluation 

    Keywords:

    Academia, CoARA, Diversity, Governance and policy, Research culture, Research...

  • In this short episode I reflect on my recurring life lesson about putting unrealistic pressures on myself, in this case to put out a full podcast this week. Especially when the platforms I am using are a work in progress. And accepting that I am also a work in progress. What are your recurring life lessons?

    Transcript [08:03 mins]

    [00:00:29] Geri: Do you ever have any of those life lessons where it seems like the universe needs to serve them up to you again and again and again? Because you're so slow to learn them. And so you need to be reminded about them over and over and over again. Well, this week I've been returned to one of my recurring life lessons that it seems like I still don't learn. Which is about setting up unreal expectations for myself. 

    [00:01:02] I made the bold claim in the short intro session to season four. That my aim was to try to release a podcast every week on a Wednesday morning. And so I've already put myself under enormous pressure to do that. Uh, we put out the great conversation with Karen last week Karen Stroobants about reforming research evaluation. And I wanted to follow up that podcast, just responding to some of the issues she raised in terms of my personal experiences. And so I did record something and then I spent ages processing the audio and so on. And doing it quite uncritically because I was just driven by, I had to get it out. I had to get it out. Uh, and then Wednesday came and I miss my 8:00 AM release time and it still wasn't done. And I'm still feeling the pressure last night and it just occurred to me. It has stepping back a little bit. It's actually not very good at all. Despite the huge amount of time and effort that I've put into it, it's really not ready to go out. And it's something that I should take just as a, as a rehearsal . So then I was feeling doubly bad about it. 

    [00:02:15] But do you know what? That all just comes from me? I created that. No one else. I know that no one is sitting around at 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM on a Wednesday. Waiting for the podcast to drop. But still I felt the pressure. I felt bad. And I ended up putting a whole lot of misdirected time and inefficient effort. Having bought into that pressure. And that whole unrealistic expectation. 

    [00:02:43] So I'm not going to release that podcast. I am still going to get something out this week. So what's my minimal commitment that I can do. And I'm just going to do this short one with yet another confession. About this time, setting up unrealistic expectations. 

    [00:03:01] And when you think about it, logically of course they were unrealistic expectations. What on earth was I thinking. Of course, it's going to be hard to do weekly at the moment. Because this whole new podcast set up is a work in progress, literally. We're still getting the new technology platforms in place for the podcast and that that's everything from the recording platform. The platform where I process the audio, do the transcriptions. Um, we're setting up a whole new podcast server. They're all new. At once. And so every aspect of the workflow now is brand new as well. And on top of that, they're really great platforms, but in being great, they're also quite complex. And so there's a huge learning curve, both just in getting to know the software and what each of the platforms can do. As well as how I want to use them and how to make that workflow work. 

    [00:04:02] And the other aspect, that's a big work in progress and taking time and effort is the website. And. And also there's a lot of interplay between the new podcast server and the new website that we're trying to work out as well. So that the whole environment I'm trying to work in. Is a work in progress. 

    [00:04:21] And I'm clearly a work in progress as well. Because I forgot to

  • We need to reform research evaluation because "It's not just which people are we excluding, which profiles are we excluding, which ideas are we excluding, but also whose problems are we not solving" says Dr Karen Stroobants.

    Karen is a researcher, policy adviser and consultant on research policy and strategy, with a focus on research culture. Her research background and PhD is in chemistry. She now manages a portfolio of activities, combining roles as (part-time) lead policy advisor on research landscape & economy for the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK and as freelance consultant, focusing most recently on contributing to the drafting of a European agreement on research assessment reform. 

    This agreement on reforming research assessment from CoARA, the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment, is the reason I wanted to speak with Karen. We cover: concerns of current research assessment approaches; the need for both top-down and bottom up buy in to create research culture change and what that change might look like; how we can navigate career choices while the system is still in transition; the importance of reflection for research culture change and embracing a diversity of people ideas and research problems; the core commitments of the CoARA agreement; and the move to more qualitative assessments at both individual and institutional and national levels. We finish with Karen reflecting on her own career choices driven by values and what is important. 

    [00:00:29] Episode introduction[00:02:39] Welcome & Introduction[00:04:39] Concerns around research system[00:13:05] Research culture change needs top-down and bottom-up buy-in[00:20:12] Negotiating choices while the system is undergoing transition[00:23:25] Importance of reflection for research culture change[00:30:21] Diversity of people, ideas and research problems[00:34:17] CoARA Agreement on reforming research assessment[00:40:04] Signing up to the CoARA agreement[00:50:10] Narrative CVs - for inividuals, organisations and national level[00:54:02] Other ways of brining a qualitative lens[00:56:15] Karen's career path - setting boundaries, choosing values

    Related links:

    CoARA: Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment https://coara.eu

    Prof Frank Miedema, UMC Utrecht, https://www.umcutrecht.nl/en/research/researchers/miedema-frank-f#

    Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions MSCA https://marie-sklodowska-curie-action; San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment s.ec.europa.eu

    INORMS: International Network of Research Management Societies https://inorms.net

    DORA: San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment https://sfdora.org/dora-community-engagement-grants-supporting-academic-assessment-reform/

    The Metric Tide: Review of metrics in research assessment https://www.ukri.org/publications/review-of-metrics-in-research-assessment-and-management/

    Book:

    Caroline Criado Perez, Invisible Women, Vintage Books, 2019

  • This is a short episode to kick off the new Season of the Changing Academic Life podcast series.

    Looking forward to bringing some great conversations coming on a range of topics fro reforming research assessment, burnout and neurodiversity.

    A new website will be coming very soon!

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    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy