Reflecting on 2023

Geri: 00:00:05

Welcome to Changing Academic Life.

2

00:00:08,058 --> 00:00:12,869

I'm Geraldine Fitzpatrick, and this is

a podcast series where academics and

3

00:00:12,870 --> 00:00:17,970

others share their stories, provide

ideas, and provoke discussions about what

4

00:00:17,990 --> 00:00:22,829

we can do individually and collectively

to change academic life for the better.

5

00:00:31,933 --> 00:00:36,493

Welcome to this short

episode at the end of 2023.

6

00:00:36,523 --> 00:00:37,483

And in this.

7

00:00:37,993 --> 00:00:40,033

I just would like to reflect on.

8

00:00:41,053 --> 00:00:43,123

What's happened in 2023.

9

00:00:43,663 --> 00:00:48,043

Both for the podcast to myself,

as well as to provide some prompt

10

00:00:48,043 --> 00:00:50,833

questions that you might find useful.

11

00:00:50,933 --> 00:00:53,843

To help you reflect on 20 23 as well.

12

00:00:54,233 --> 00:00:59,543

And what I particularly be wanting

to encourage us all to do is to.

13

00:01:00,353 --> 00:01:02,963

Stop and take some time.

14

00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:08,363

To reflect on the year and in

particular, just to celebrate.

15

00:01:08,813 --> 00:01:12,053

What we've done, we've been able

to achieve what we've been able to

16

00:01:12,053 --> 00:01:13,943

get through and that we got here.

17

00:01:13,943 --> 00:01:16,402

We often don't take the time.

18

00:01:16,913 --> 00:01:22,223

To just sit with and recognize what

we've done, because especially in

19

00:01:22,223 --> 00:01:25,173

academia, there's always the next thing.

20

00:01:25,203 --> 00:01:25,533

And.

21

00:01:25,863 --> 00:01:27,573

Yeah, so end of years, always.

22

00:01:27,663 --> 00:01:30,573

It's nice transition points

for just taking that time.

23

00:01:32,563 --> 00:01:35,113

So with the podcast.

24

00:01:35,803 --> 00:01:41,293

I did an end of season reflections and

transitions piece in July this year.

25

00:01:41,923 --> 00:01:45,853

So just reflecting on

the episode since then.

26

00:01:46,933 --> 00:01:49,753

We've produced 13 episodes.

27

00:01:49,843 --> 00:01:50,263

At.

28

00:01:50,343 --> 00:01:53,313

Up to this point, this'll

be the 14th for the year.

29

00:01:53,973 --> 00:01:57,003

Some of them have been

interviews with people.

30

00:01:57,003 --> 00:02:00,743

Some have been more my reflections

bouncing off something that was

31

00:02:00,743 --> 00:02:02,483

said in one of the episodes.

32

00:02:04,413 --> 00:02:09,933

Doing a quick recap, we had Karen

Stroobants Talking about how we can change

33

00:02:09,963 --> 00:02:14,073

research culture and reform research

assessment, and particularly talking to

34

00:02:14,073 --> 00:02:19,213

us about what's happening at the European

level in terms of the CoARA initiative.

35

00:02:19,813 --> 00:02:25,513

Which is really exciting in terms of just

seeing some of these shifts taking place.

36

00:02:26,453 --> 00:02:31,593

Suzanne Bødker talked about yeah,

similar issues around culture.

37

00:02:31,923 --> 00:02:33,543

Importance of research culture.

38

00:02:33,823 --> 00:02:39,403

And also what I thought was particularly

interesting was the making of choices.

39

00:02:39,883 --> 00:02:43,903

That aren't just about advancing

career, but bringing in other

40

00:02:43,903 --> 00:02:47,743

values that are important in life

around family and connections.

41

00:02:50,273 --> 00:02:56,993

We had Irina Shklovski also talking

to us very honestly and openly.

42

00:02:57,623 --> 00:03:02,633

About her burnout experiences and

the process of coming back to work.

43

00:03:03,323 --> 00:03:08,813

And again, just through that we

heard about the value of having a

44

00:03:08,813 --> 00:03:13,355

supportive, collegial research culture,

because her colleagues were really

45

00:03:13,385 --> 00:03:17,435

key in helping her being able to.

46

00:03:17,795 --> 00:03:21,425

Take the time off that she

needed to heal and recover.

47

00:03:21,755 --> 00:03:26,675

And then the process of coming back

and just learning how to do enough and

48

00:03:26,675 --> 00:03:30,635

be enough and saying no appropriately.

49

00:03:31,005 --> 00:03:32,805

And continuing this theme.

50

00:03:33,285 --> 00:03:38,505

We also had Mark Reed talking about the

challenges of mental health and burnout.

51

00:03:39,405 --> 00:03:43,365

And the importance of self

compassion and self reflection

52

00:03:43,365 --> 00:03:45,615

and self care in that process.

53

00:03:47,595 --> 00:03:51,704

And he also talked about being driven

by a desire to make a difference

54

00:03:51,704 --> 00:03:55,035

and what having an impact means.

55

00:03:55,215 --> 00:03:58,725

In academia, sort of pointing to

some of the work that he's producing

56

00:03:58,725 --> 00:04:00,255

and putting out into the world.

57

00:04:01,755 --> 00:04:06,465

I often find myself since then

asking the question that he poses.

58

00:04:06,855 --> 00:04:09,225

Which is what would love do.

59

00:04:10,095 --> 00:04:12,585

And it's been an interesting

and valuable exercise.

60

00:04:12,585 --> 00:04:14,745

So thanks mark for sharing that one.

61

00:04:16,507 --> 00:04:21,367

And the laSt episode in terms of

conversation was with Katta Spiel and

62

00:04:21,647 --> 00:04:25,766

part two will be something to look

forward to in the new year and . In part

63

00:04:25,766 --> 00:04:29,243

one Katta talked about the precarities

that were discussed particularly by

64

00:04:29,243 --> 00:04:32,033

Sarah Davies in, in a previous episode.

65

00:04:32,993 --> 00:04:39,213

And what that means, the tensions

there and also Katta, engaging with

66

00:04:39,213 --> 00:04:43,383

issues around gender identity and

health all through this process.

67

00:04:44,073 --> 00:04:48,273

And the reward of the ERC

grant that's starting soon.

68

00:04:49,563 --> 00:04:53,390

And as I said, my in-betweeners were

often just reflecting on some issue

69

00:04:53,390 --> 00:04:55,457

that was raised in a previous interview.

70

00:04:56,957 --> 00:05:02,627

So in this new season, I had

tried moving to a weekly program.

71

00:05:03,047 --> 00:05:10,037

I also was in the process of moving to

a new platform, both in terms of the.

72

00:05:10,397 --> 00:05:14,567

Tools for recording the interviews

as well as for processing the audio

73

00:05:14,597 --> 00:05:16,337

and producing the transcripts.

74

00:05:16,637 --> 00:05:19,397

And also revamping the website.

75

00:05:19,397 --> 00:05:22,217

So there'll be a new website

launched in the new year.

76

00:05:24,257 --> 00:05:28,517

I think I'll be moving back to

fortnightly or giving myself permission

77

00:05:28,517 --> 00:05:32,747

to do release episodes, flexibly

between weekly or fortnightly,

78

00:05:32,747 --> 00:05:35,477

depending upon what else is going on.

79

00:05:35,747 --> 00:05:38,507

It was in hindsight or on reflection.

80

00:05:38,867 --> 00:05:43,447

A little too ambitious, given everything

else that's happening to aim for weekly,

81

00:05:43,447 --> 00:05:46,477

given that it's a team of me basically.

82

00:05:50,197 --> 00:05:53,947

And one of the reasons for it being

a little ambitious was it has been

83

00:05:53,947 --> 00:05:58,897

quite a turbulent or not turbulent,

but a year of transitions for me.

84

00:05:59,197 --> 00:05:59,557

And.

85

00:06:00,337 --> 00:06:03,877

Part of that was dealing with

a lot of uncertainties as well.

86

00:06:04,237 --> 00:06:11,077

So we talked previously about having

mandatory retirement at our university.

87

00:06:11,077 --> 00:06:13,537

So that happened for

me at end of September.

88

00:06:14,067 --> 00:06:16,407

And that was interesting.

89

00:06:16,407 --> 00:06:17,727

Just the whole.

90

00:06:18,447 --> 00:06:22,797

Emotional journey around that, as

well as the practical journey of just

91

00:06:22,797 --> 00:06:26,487

cleaning at your office and years

of things that you've kept there

92

00:06:26,827 --> 00:06:30,817

filtering through books to decide

what you keep and what you take away.

93

00:06:31,207 --> 00:06:35,677

In some ways there's shedding of

identities and then the opportunity

94

00:06:35,677 --> 00:06:38,167

to reform reshape identities.

95

00:06:38,647 --> 00:06:41,197

And I'm hoping to do that more.

96

00:06:41,467 --> 00:06:44,167

With some more consulting and

development and training work.

97

00:06:44,167 --> 00:06:49,537

Cause I think I can still contribute

and help towards making a difference in

98

00:06:49,867 --> 00:06:53,407

creating more collegial, collaborative

research cultures and enabling

99

00:06:53,677 --> 00:06:58,140

researchers to find their version

of what a good academic is as well.

100

00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:06,570

So if I look back on my 2023,

it's been a big year and I'm

101

00:07:06,630 --> 00:07:08,820

proud to be standing here today.

102

00:07:08,970 --> 00:07:10,560

Having gone through all that.

103

00:07:11,460 --> 00:07:12,030

And I.

104

00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,170

Would like to encourage us

all to think about what.

105

00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,340

When we look back on our

23, that we've enjoyed.

106

00:07:20,730 --> 00:07:22,440

Achieved survived.

107

00:07:22,470 --> 00:07:23,040

Learned.

108

00:07:23,850 --> 00:07:26,850

And to take a little bit of time

to pat ourselves on the back.

109

00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,000

And just sit with these achievements.

110

00:07:30,100 --> 00:07:31,690

Just for a little bit of time.

111

00:07:35,260 --> 00:07:39,070

I can give some particular prompts

that may be useful for you.

112

00:07:39,130 --> 00:07:44,980

If you want to gift yourself five or 10

minutes, just to sit maybe with a piece

113

00:07:44,980 --> 00:07:51,010

of paper and pencil, or maybe just to

sit and think, and you may want to take

114

00:07:51,010 --> 00:07:55,120

note of these questions, or you may

want to pause the recording and just

115

00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,490

reflect on each one as I go through them.

116

00:07:59,050 --> 00:08:02,470

So I just offer these questions

for whatever they're worth.

117

00:08:02,500 --> 00:08:07,630

They may or may not connect for you or

be relevant, but let's see how you go.

118

00:08:09,340 --> 00:08:11,170

And here are the questions.

119

00:08:12,751 --> 00:08:17,221

What three words would you use

to describe your last year?

120

00:08:23,071 --> 00:08:24,481

What are you proud of?

121

00:08:25,891 --> 00:08:27,121

What went well?

122

00:08:31,651 --> 00:08:34,831

And it could be the usual sort

of achievements that we often

123

00:08:34,831 --> 00:08:39,331

celebrate, like publications or

grants or collaborations or so on.

124

00:08:40,290 --> 00:08:42,931

It could also just be things

like we made it to the end of the

125

00:08:42,931 --> 00:08:44,881

year, met the challenges we faced.

126

00:08:45,151 --> 00:08:48,151

Or how we were able to look

after ourselves and others.

127

00:08:51,471 --> 00:08:55,971

And then when you reflect on,

when you've been at your best.

128

00:08:56,961 --> 00:09:02,421

This year, when you felt most alive, most

energized, most engaged when you've been

129

00:09:02,421 --> 00:09:04,431

most in love with what you've been doing.

130

00:09:05,961 --> 00:09:10,191

How do you reflect on that in

terms of what it says to you

131

00:09:10,191 --> 00:09:12,311

about what's important for you?

132

00:09:12,791 --> 00:09:13,811

Not for anyone else.

133

00:09:13,841 --> 00:09:17,206

What your strengths

are . What your values are

134

00:09:17,206 --> 00:09:21,578

.

When and where and how is it that you're able to have most impact.

135

00:09:24,968 --> 00:09:30,008

Because if we can reflect on these things

and identify those patterns, We could

136

00:09:30,008 --> 00:09:34,398

start being more deliberate, maybe about

making choices in the next year, that

137

00:09:34,428 --> 00:09:37,518

enable us to connect more to our values.

138

00:09:37,518 --> 00:09:40,608

Use more of our strengths, do

more of the things where we.

139

00:09:41,058 --> 00:09:43,728

We're at our best and have most impact.

140

00:09:47,368 --> 00:09:50,998

We can also reflect on what

maybe didn't go so well.

141

00:09:53,088 --> 00:09:56,208

Not in terms of blame , but

really through that.

142

00:09:56,688 --> 00:10:00,012

What do we learn from it ? What

do we learn about ourselves?

143

00:10:00,972 --> 00:10:04,772

Or what do we learn about the issues

that we were trying to address?

144

00:10:05,312 --> 00:10:08,372

And what might we take away

from these experiences?

145

00:10:08,942 --> 00:10:14,102

That we might take forward into 2024

to try to do differently next time.

146

00:10:17,842 --> 00:10:19,522

And then we can ask.

147

00:10:20,782 --> 00:10:22,732

What are we grateful for?

148

00:10:24,382 --> 00:10:26,632

And who are we grateful for?

149

00:10:26,632 --> 00:10:26,662

I

150

00:10:28,972 --> 00:10:33,382

guess there's so much in our day-to-day

life that we can take for granted.

151

00:10:33,562 --> 00:10:39,352

And whether that just be the everyday

social connections at work or family,

152

00:10:39,742 --> 00:10:42,772

whether it's our health the relative.

153

00:10:43,582 --> 00:10:46,462

Peace and safety of where we live.

154

00:10:47,822 --> 00:10:49,412

Having enough to eat.

155

00:10:52,222 --> 00:10:53,812

What are we grateful for?

156

00:10:54,442 --> 00:10:56,542

And who are we grateful for?

157

00:10:58,192 --> 00:11:00,592

The people who've been important to us.

158

00:11:03,972 --> 00:11:07,602

So just encouraging you to take

some time to stop and reflect.

159

00:11:08,322 --> 00:11:10,782

And to celebrate and savor.

160

00:11:11,742 --> 00:11:14,352

What you've achieved and think about.

161

00:11:14,952 --> 00:11:18,762

What you want to take

forward into next year?

162

00:11:19,392 --> 00:11:21,342

What you might want to leave behind.

163

00:11:21,882 --> 00:11:24,432

And what you might want

to be doing differently.

164

00:11:28,122 --> 00:11:31,692

So thank you for listening

with me for this year.

165

00:11:32,532 --> 00:11:36,552

And for the feedback that you send

in, it really makes a difference and

166

00:11:36,552 --> 00:11:41,022

makes the work that goes into this

worthwhile, knowing that it does

167

00:11:41,022 --> 00:11:43,362

connect for people in different ways.

168

00:11:45,342 --> 00:11:49,872

Because I am really committed to how we

can change academic life for the better.

169

00:11:50,352 --> 00:11:54,012

And that's a collective endeavor

and I also often talk about it.

170

00:11:54,012 --> 00:11:56,652

And so do other people indeed about it?

171

00:11:57,192 --> 00:12:02,262

Being both a top down and a bottom

up process and we can all contribute

172

00:12:02,412 --> 00:12:04,260

right where we are right now

173

00:12:08,028 --> 00:12:11,328

.

Wishing you all the very best for your holiday season.

174

00:12:11,328 --> 00:12:12,908

However you celebrate it.

175

00:12:13,638 --> 00:12:19,138

May you have time to, with to

spend with people you care about.

176

00:12:19,388 --> 00:12:23,468

To take time for yourself

to rest and relax May it be

177

00:12:23,498 --> 00:12:25,598

filled with laughter and joy.

178

00:12:26,378 --> 00:12:31,748

And see you back in 2024 and

we'll have part two of the

179

00:12:31,748 --> 00:12:33,728

conversation with Katta Spiel.

180

00:12:37,128 --> 00:12:40,598

You can find the summary

notes, a transcript and related

181

00:12:40,598 --> 00:12:43,738

links for this podcast on www.

182

00:12:43,808 --> 00:12:43,978

changingacademiclife.

183

00:12:45,648 --> 00:12:46,068

com.

184

00:12:46,738 --> 00:12:50,738

You can also subscribe to

Changing Academic Life on iTunes,

185

00:12:51,058 --> 00:12:52,868

Spotify and Google Podcasts.

186

00:12:52,868 --> 00:12:56,698

And you can follow

ChangeAcadLife on Twitter.

187

00:12:57,338 --> 00:13:00,398

And I'm really hoping that we can

widen the conversation about how

188

00:13:00,398 --> 00:13:02,388

we can do academia differently.

189

00:13:02,823 --> 00:13:06,853

And you can contribute to this by rating

the podcast and also giving feedback.

190

00:13:07,393 --> 00:13:10,933

And if something connected with

you, please consider sharing this

191

00:13:10,963 --> 00:13:12,453

podcast with your colleagues.

192

00:13:13,043 --> 00:13:15,173

Together, we can make change happen.

Share Episode

Shownotes

Transcripts

Follow

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube