Changing Academic Life

Rafael A. Calvo is an ARC Future Fellow, Professor and Director of the Positive Computing Lab  at the University of Sydney. He is also a co-author with Dorian Peters of the book, Positive Computing, published by MIT Press. Rafael describes a fascinating academic journey that spans physics, philosophy, computer science, and cognitive and affective computing. He talks about his current work on Positive Computing and designing technology to support people’s mental health and well being. He also shares experiences in managing his own mental health and well being, that includes some great tips. “[a setback] was one of the best things that could have ever happened to me” He talks about (times approximate) …01:42 His current work and his varied career path – “sometimes they seem disconnected but there is a very strong thread in the middle”08:30 His work on Positive Computing technologies, impacts of technology on people’s mental health, challenges of email10:00 Responsibility to design so that we don’t hinder people’s health and well being, changing the mindset of designers to look beyond productivity … with examples eg the psychological benefits of effort in endorsements14:45 Engaging with psychology theories and working with psychologists and interdisciplinary partnerships19:18 Looking after his own mental health and well being and the impact of too much travel20:50 Learning to say no, how you decide what to say yes/no to, email strategies, choosing admin work he can contribute what other people can’t, exaggerated risks of saying no as a young academic26:56 Looking for opportunities where he doesn’t have technology, blocking times without interruptions, and more strategies29:40 Keeping use of devices for work and home separate35:10 End Final notes:Book: Calvo and Peters, ‘Positive Computing’, MIT Press 2014 - https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/positive-computingBook: Wulf, Schmidt and Randall (eds) ‘Designing Socially Embedded Technologies in the Real World’, Springer 2015 - http://www.springer.com/us/book/9781447167198Time Management software: RescueTime  - https://www.rescuetime.comPaper: Cox et al, Design Frictions for Mindful Interactions: the case for Microboundaries, CHI EA 16 - https://uclic.ucl.ac.uk/content/4-publications/0-design-frictions-for-mindful-interactions-the-case-for-microboundaries/cox.chi.2016.pdf Video: Brad Feld on tech and well being - http://www.positivecomputing.org/2016/04/brad-feld-on-tech-wellbeing.html 

Mary Czerwinski  is a principal researcher and research manager at Microsoft Research in Redmond, US. Mary shares some great experiences about her role as a manager and how she plays this out practically in enabling and protecting people, and establishing a culture in a group. She also talks about some of the key insights from her own research work on stress and how to manage stress, from email management strategies, to designing technology interventions as well as some very easy practical interventions that we could all try out. A theme throughout is the importance of getting to know yourself and your values, and of planning– this is the work to do good work.“How you choose to look at stress...” “Honouring your calendar”She talks about (times approximate) …01:45 Her current work and background04:20 Managing and leading a research group07:15 Establishing a group culture, dealing with issues, conflict resolution, one-on-ones11:10 Insights from research on stress, managing email, choosing how you look at stress17:00 Knowing the rhythm of your day, your priorities, and planning18:20 Personal interventions, the ‘tools in the toolkit’ e.g., deep breathing, mindfulness techniques, new work on DBT, Pop Therapy25:05 Challenges now with escalating pace, needing to say no more often, importance of prioritizing based on knowing what are your values28:50 Wish for the younger generation: prioristing the important things and still having time to accomplish what you want to in work, needing to make time for family and self30:08 EndFinal notes:Pop Therapy - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/pop-therapy/Mindfulness – loads of resources https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/mindfulnesshttp://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/Dialectical Behaviour Therapyhttp://behavioraltech.org/resources/whatisdbt.cfm

Jon Whittle is a full Professor in the School of Computing and Communications at Lancaster University, England, and also a Chair of Software Engineering and Head of Department. He covers lots of themes including making career shifts, changing strategies when proposals get rejected, making multi disciplinary work work, creating balance, and leading by example. He lives work-life balance, describing himself as an artist and a scientist.“You have to give yourself a break” ... “you can do very simple things” that make a difference.He talks about (times approximate) …01:15 His varied career path between Scotland, US, India and England05:40 Changing fields and how to move into a new community/field12:40 Experience in the US tenure system, difficulties getting grants, and changing strategies15:20 Working in multi-disciplinary projects, lessons learnt and how to bootstrap multi-disciplinary team work19:40 Work life balance (WLB) – living it as an artist and a scientist, researching it in the Digital Brain Switch Project26:00 Being Head of Department, leading by example, structuring time, setting expectations, handling email, giving yourself a break33:32 Three things to maintain a healthy balance – delegate, learn how to say no, be organisedEnd 36:40Final notes:‘Digital Brain Switch’ projectEPSRC Sandpits

Judy Olson is Bren Professor of Information and Computer Sciences in the Informatics Department at UC Irvine. Judy reflects back on her career, on changes she has seen particularly the increasing expectations of hiring committees, on common issues people deal with, on blooming where you are planted, on paying it forward, on dealing with imposter syndrome, on the value of good colleagues/collaborators and on her work plans after retirement later this year. “What would Olson do? Follow your passion. Hang out with good people.”She talks about (times approximate) …01:40 Her career trajectory06:20 Changes in academia, embracing interdisciplinary work08:00 Being proud of working 25 years on long distance collaboration and broader impacts10:10 The stress of getting a job now and the increasing expectations of search and promotion committees; Needing to talk to senior faculty, start a dialogue and collect data to change this17:00 Common issues she has mentored people about – when you can say no, time management19:55 The T-Shirt – ‘What would Olson do?’ … finding the things you really like to do23:20 Bloom where you are planted, figuring out where you fit, what you can do and the choices along the way25:10 Imposter syndrome, getting nervous before every talk, always rehearsing a talk27:55 Retiring, getting to like writing grant proposals, and writing about couples who work together32:10 EndMy summary of what Judy says is about being authentic, being strategic, not being afraid to make changes and finding good colleagues.Final notes:‘Learning from Notes’ was a CSCW92 paper written by Wanda Orlikowski ‘Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time’ is a time management book by Brian Tracy, published 2007. ACM-W 'Ask Judy' column - example postLiz Gerber's project - Design for America

Carl Gutwin, a Professor in the Computer Science Department at University of Saskatchewan, describes himself as a gentleman farmer in Saskatoon who happens to be a university professor as well."Even with all the bumps, being an academic is the best job in the world"He talks about (times approximate) …2:40 How he moved into a computer science degree and PhD program8:30 How he decided on a faculty position, and the experiences of setting up a new lab, learning how to teach, applying for grants etc10:50 On being told that “the best part of this job is the flexibility, you can work any 80 hours of the week that you want”12:00 On working in academia while others were making money in the tech boom and how after 3 years you figure things out moreOn always wanting to be a scientist …  where the best thing really is the freedom and flexibility, especially after getting tenure15:40 On the practical things to help deal with the stresses of early career, on making choices and the advantages of being a medium large fish in a medium small pond17:50 On first having grad students and moving to the other side of the desk, being a supervisor21:30 On appearing to be calm, prioritizing work and life – a continuous struggleOn getting the perspective even as a young academic to realize that it really doesn't matter whether you get that paper submitted – there is always another deadline and every paper will find a homeOn dealing with rejection and good old reviewer number 227:50 On now working more of a regular work week and cycling to work in the snow.31:15 And how even with all the bumps, being an academic is the best job in the world … make it through those first three years and things do get better after that … we could make institutional changes … we have the chance to change the way it works … and you just have to decide what you want and go and do it!33:08