Changing Academic Life

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)

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] EndListen here for a version to follow the transcript linked directly to the audioRelated Links:Pernille Bjørn  Kasper HornbækRidiculous SoftwareToggle Track Haruki Murakami, What I talk about when I talk about running 

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

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

Susanne Bødker, Professor of Human Computer Interaction at Aarhus University, reflects on her 40-year career, discussing topics such as mobility, changes over time, hiring practices, creating collegial culture, being active in university politics, transitioning to retirement, and being a single parent. She emphasizes the value of participation and human connections in academia.

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 upRelated links:CoARA: Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment and CoARA CommitmentsLERU: League of European Research Universities LERU Publication: A Pathway towards Multidimensional Academic Careers 2022DORA: San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment 2013Leiden 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 assessmentSarah Davies: Part 1 on mobility, precarity and notions of excellence  and part 2 on luck, disrupting excellence, and cultures of careTanita 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 Evaluation

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 allow myself grace for being on a learning curve. And learning curves are always uncomfortable. Aren't they it's. It's uncomfortable feeling like you don't know, not being an expert. Um, and also dealing with the uncertainty of that, and also the inevitable challenges that come up and problems.  [00:04:46] And it's not just that on top of that, this my whole life situation. These are my last days in my current role before transitioning on. And there's a whole lot to be done practically. And not to mention a whole lot to deal with emotionally and the whole emotional overlay of, um, you know, those interesting aspects to endings and beginnings, you know, the sadness of endings the excitement of new beginnings and. so on., And on top of all of that, we've also had a lot of visitors, both personal visitors and work visitors. So, duh, of course, it's going to be hard to get something out on Wednesday. And that's okay. That it didn't happen.  [00:05:31] And so this week has been returning to the lesson. My recurring life lesson. That it's okay. That I'm okay. Uh, not to put such high expectations on myself and create my own pressures. To hold the expectation's lightly. To be comfortable with adjusting deadlines and to be comfortable with good enough and recognizing when good enough is good enough. And it's okay to also say that. Say the one that I had tried to prepare for this week. Wasn't good enough.  [00:06:05] So. This is just a short podcast today. I'll do my best to get something out next week, but I won't put pressure on myself and I'll just accept that. Work on being kind to myself, recognize that we will eventually get all of this new stuff, worked out, that the learning curve will become a little bit easier. The website will be up and running my new life, whatever that's going to have it, that's going to be unfolding. Will happen and we'll get into the rhythm as well, and just try to maintain, more of a detached curiosity to see how it all works out.  [00:06:45] So thanks for listening to my confession. Uh, maybe this invites you to also reflect on what are your recurring life lessons that the universe needs to present you with again, and again, and again. And hopefully. Maybe you are not as slow as me as at learning those lessons. Have a good week

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 valuesRelated links:CoARA: Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment https://coara.euProf 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.euINORMS: International Network of Research Management Societies https://inorms.netDORA: 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, 2019https://carolinecriadoperez.com/book/invisible-women/ Related podcasts:Sarah Davies: Part 1 on mobility, precarity and notions of excellence https://www.changingacademiclife.com/blog/2023/cal81-sarah-davies-part-1 and part 2 on luck, disrupting excellence, and cultures of care https://www.changingacademiclife.com/blog/2023/cal82-sarah-davies-part-2Tanita Casci and Elizabeth Adams on supporting, rewarding and celebrating a positive collegial research culture https://www.changingacademiclife.com/blog/2021/5/21/tanita-casci-elizabeth-adamsJames Wilsden on metrics and responsible research evaluation https://www.changingacademiclife.com/blog/2023/cal77-james-wilsdon-replay

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!You can access all the latest episodes via this link that will connect you to your favourite podcast player. And don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t already to be sure you don’t miss any episodes!

This is the end of the current season of episodes. I take the opportunity to shortly reflect on the themes we’ve heard - around listening, leadership, wellbeing, peer review, and research excellence and evaluation. I also invite you to share your feedback and suggestions, and I share some of the various transitions happening over the break, all leading up to the next season starting Sept/Oct 2023.If you missed any episodes from this season, you can find them all on your favourite podcast app where you subscribe to this or go to the Changing Academic Life podcast page. I’d also really love to hear from you if you have any feedback generally about what works well, what doesn’t work so well with the podcasts for you, any suggestions for future themes or people you’d like me to talk with, or if you’d like to volunteer to help out with a transcription. You can contact me via the contact form here or via my uni account (email on this page).Full transcript available to download here.Overview:00:27 Introduction and request for feedback and suggestions.02:03 Walking through common themes of the last 23 episodes of this season 09:26 The transition to a new podcasting server platform and new webpage12:59 The personal transition post-Sept 202314:51 Wrapping up, reminder re feedback, and final thanks18:59 EndSpecial Thanks:Thanks to Sabrina Burtscher for all the help with transcriptions and wishing her all the best for her PhD. Thanks too to Rafael Vrecar, Katharina Werner and Silke Buchberger who are helping with transcriptions.