Mobility, pensions and you, yes you! (solo)

Changing Academic Life

#Geraldine Fitzpatrick #Careers #Business #Podcasting Education #Self-Improvement #Computer Science

51:57

On the Season 2 debut of Lost Cultures: Living Legacies , we travel to Bermuda, an Atlantic island whose history spans centuries and continents. Once uninhabited, Bermuda became a vital stop in transatlantic trade, a maritime stronghold, and a cultural crossroads shaped by African, European, Caribbean, and Native American influences. Guests Dr. Kristy Warren and Dr. Edward Harris trace its transformation from an uninhabited island to a strategic outpost shaped by shipwrecks, colonization, the transatlantic slave trade, and the rise and fall of empires. Plus, former Director of Tourism Gary Phillips shares the story of the Gombey tradition, a vibrant performance art rooted in resistance, migration, and cultural fusion. Together, they reveal how Bermuda’s layered past continues to shape its people, culture, and identity today. You can also find us online at ⁠travelandleisure.com/lostcultures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

2 years ago 19:24

MP3•Episode home

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

134 episodes

Mobility, pensions and you, yes you! (solo)

Changing Academic Life

published 2 years ago

MP3•Episode home

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

134 episodes

#Geraldine Fitzpatrick #Careers #Business #Podcasting Education #Self-Improvement #Computer Science

All episodes

Changing Academic Life

1
Johanna Stadlbauer on boundaries, agency, and community building (CAL125, S6 E19) 56:54

10 days ago56:54

56:54

Johanna Stadlbauer is an anthropologist working in researcher development at the University of Graz, recently made Head of Research Careers Campus Graz . Her mission is a more fun and kind academia. Johanna shares the experiences and challenges of her journey from a PhD to quitting a postdoc in anthropology, to doing NGO work part-time, and then coming back to academia for a researcher development role. Her work now is focused on creating a supportive and kind academic environment, with the aim to improve researcher well-being and foster a sense of community. She discusses establishing structures for postdoctoral researchers' support and community, and highlights initiatives like the writing retreat, Fiasco Fest, and peer mentoring, which aim to improve researcher well-being and foster a sense of community. Johanna is a role model for how to navigate a career path and your work role on your own terms. She is really clear on her own boundaries, and what she needs to feed herself and look after her work-life balance. She also reminds us the value of peer support, of telling people their contributions matter, and of taking the time to savour the good. She reminds us of the significance of agency, community support, and the need for transparency and understanding in academia. 00:00 CAL125 Johanna Stadlbauer 03:03 Introduction and Guest Background 03:56 Journey from Anthropology to Research Development 06:18 Postdoc Experience and Challenges 07:42 Deciding to Quit the PostDoc 12:05 Transition to NGO Work 15:57 Finding Balance and Setting Boundaries 19:47 Messaging in Academia 23:35 Permanent Contract and Current Role 29:27 Towards a Fun and Kind Academia and Experiences of Power Abuse 31:26 Finding Solutions and Positive Structures 33:31 Balancing Critique and Support in Academia 35:58 Empowering Postdocs and Addressing Structural Issues 40:12 The Importance of Community, Peer Support and Mentoring 49:39 Promoting Good Working Environments for Researcher Wellbeing 52:03 Personal Reflections and Final Thoughts 56:53 End Related Link s Johanna's web page ( English version ) Head of Research Careers Campus Graz Researcher Development in Graz Blog LinkedIn pages for Johanna , the PostDoc Office , and Research Careers Campus Graz The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment ( CoARA ) Max Planck PhD Net Balint Group Method…

Changing Academic Life

1
Tina Persson on career pivots, recruitment and coaching for career security (CAL124, S6 E18) 1:07:42

24 days ago1:07:42

1:07:42

Tina Persson shares her journey from chemistry and nearly 20 years in academia, to recruiting and then career coaching. Tina discusses the challenges she faced in academia, including struggles with energy-draining tasks and political landscapes, and how she pivoted to a career in recruitment and coaching. She emphasizes the importance of understanding natural talents, emotional intelligence, and honest communication in career development. The conversation covers valuable tips for professors on recruiting and supporting early-career researchers, the impact of AI on career skills, and the cultural differences in career transitions. Tina also highlights the significance of lifelong learning and being open to unseen opportunities, offering practical advice for academics, those seeking an academic position, and those considering a career pivot. Overview: 00:29 Episode Introduction 03:02 Introducing Tina and her Academic Journey 10:18 Transition to Industry 12:24 Becoming a PhD Recruiter 15:25 Coaching and Career Development 25:24 Recruitment Tips for Professors 36:00 Startup Mentality in Academia 38:43 Evaluating Candidates Beyond Technical Skills 40:35 Innovative Interview Techniques 43:09 Filtering Candidates Efficiently 50:57 Cultural Differences in Recruitment 52:50 The Role of AI in Recruitment 54:25 Human-Centric Skills in Academia 01:00:13 Building a Supportive Academic Culture 01:03:23 The Importance of Career Pivoting 01:05:52 Conclusion and Contact Information Related links Related to Tina: About Tina and her LinkedIn profile and Passage2Pro PhD Career Stories Podcast and upcoming book People: Sarah Blackford , Fritz Eckstein Holland’s Theory of Career Choice…

Changing Academic Life

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Strengths as Superpowers - Replay (CAL123, S6 E17) 22:52

5 weeks ago22:52

22:52

This is a replay of an episode about our strengths as our superpowers and it is a useful precursor to the next podcast discussion where my guest will talk about them as natural talents. This replay episode was triggered by two interactions that made me think more about the importance of knowing our own unique superpowers (as Aaron Quigley discussed), ie our strengths, and also our kryptonite (thanks Lewis Chuang ), and how this can help us work out what is our good academic life. And to recognise that we can all have different superpowers. Before getting to the replay I also report on some lovely feedback from the episodes with Graham McAllister. 00:29 Introduction 01:39 Update from episodes with Graham McAllister 05:21 Replay - Strengths as Superpowers 06:49 Kyrptonite and Superpowers 08:19 What are your superpowers? 14:29 Other notes about strengths as superpowers 17:21 Summary and pointer to ways to explore strengths 19:25 Additional Pointers 22:05 Outro Related Links: The twitter thread started by Lewis Chuang Aaron Quigley podcast conversation Mike Twidale podcast conversation VIA Character Strengths Survey Strengthscope Strengths assessment tools Related Work: Michelle McQuaid, 2014, Ten Reasons to Focus on Your Strengths No matter what your job description says , Psychology Today. Jeremy Sutton, 2021, Cultivating Strengths at Work: 10+ Examples and Ideas , PositivePsychology.com. Ryan M. Niemiec, 2020, Coronavirus Coping: 6 Ways Your Strengths Will Help You Turn to your best qualities for prevention, safety, and health . Psychology Today.…

Changing Academic Life

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Graham McAllister (Part 3) on the art and craft of writing (CAL122, S6E16) 31:36

8 weeks ago31:36

31:36

” Writing is thinking, I love thinking, I love working on problems, I love thinking through the problems…. So the whole writing thing is a thinking thing .” says Graham McAllister in this final part of our conversation. His foray into writing a book on Games Usability after he sold his company was also a foray into exploring the process of writing, asking himself questions like " How do you write a book? What's my voice? How do I write? What fits in with my life? ” Graham unpacks his experiences about the art and craft of writing that worked for him in answer to these questions. He starts with reflections on publishing challenges in academia and his commitment to making knowledge freely accessible. He also talks about the process of discovering his writing voice, the iterative writing process, setting up a writing routine and setting achievable goals. Graham also reflects on the broader implications of his work within academia and industry, the pursuit of clear communication for your audience, and his future aspirations in writing and consulting. The conversation highlights themes of personal growth, the importance of thoughtful work-life integration, and the impact of past mentors and opportunities. Overview 00:00 Introduction 02:50 Introduction to the Book Writing Journey 03:28 The Philosophy of Free Knowledge 04:51 The Writing Process and Idea Generation 07:12 Structuring and Refining the Book 10:08 Finding Your Voice and Writing Routine 11:51 Future Writing Projects and Reflections 20:09 Balancing Work and Personal Fulfillment 26:04 Final Reflections and Gratitude Related Link s: Graham’s Home page and LinkedIn Profile and his books CAL120 Part 1 episode with Graham on his previous career pivots CAL121 Part 2 episode with Graham on team vision alignment…

Changing Academic Life

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Graham McAllister (Part 2) on aligning team vision (CAL121, S6E15) 40:31

10 weeks ago40:31

40:31

In this second part of my conversation with Graham McAllister , we explore Graham's next pivot to studying organizational psychology at the London School of Economics. After selling his startup, Graham decided to do an MSc to help him answer what he now saw as the core problem in game development teams and that was lack of a unified vision. He shares his insights into shared mental models, vision alignment, shared values, diversity in hiring, and building resilient teams. He also discusses how these principles can be applied to other creative and research collaborations. Keep an eye out for the final episode in this series with Graham where he shares practical tips on the art and practice of writing. Overview: 00:00 Intro 00:29 Episode Introduction 02:30 The Turning Point: Leaving the Company and Writing a Book 04:54 Discovering Organizational Psychology 05:44 The Journey to London School of Economics 07:16 The All-Consuming Feeling of Vision 11:07 The Importance of Education and Luck 16:26 Reflections on Lifelong Learning 19:22 Applying Mental Models Beyond Games 20:42 Understanding Alignment and Values in Organizations 23:39 Rethinking Hiring Practices and Leadership 26:46 Setting a Vision and Mission 29:01 Building a Mental Model 32:19 Operationalizing Shared Values 36:26 Detecting and Addressing Cultural Beliefs 38:15 Preview of Part 3 on Writing 40:38 End Related Link s: Graham’s Home page and LinkedIn Profile CAL120 Part 1 episode with Graham on his previous career pivots Kotter’s Change Model https://www.kotterinc.com/methodology/8-steps/ Edgar Schein’s three layer of organizational culture - see various discussions: https://psychsafety.com/psychological-safety-edgar-scheins-three-layers-of-organisational-culture/ https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/5-enduring-management-ideas-mit-sloans-edgar-schein https://www.managementstudyguide.com/sigma/edgar-schein-model.htm Original 1983 paper…

Changing Academic Life

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Graham McAllister (Part 1) on career pivots: academia to industry to startup (CAL120, S6E14) 56:14

12 weeks ago56:14

56:14

Graham McAllister reflects on his various career pivots, starting with a PhD in computer graphics in Belfast, transitioning through roles in academia and industry and then forming and later selling his games usability start-up. In the process Graham provides a masterclass on how to navigate and negotiate career pivots, how to articulate clear problems and solutions. The conversation highlights the value of bridging practical and theoretical domains, the role of luck and other people, and the need for continuous learning, reflection and adaptation in your career journey while being very clear about the strengths and passions that underpin this. Overview : 00:00 Episode Introduction 03:01 Welcoming Graham 03:43 Early Career and PhD Journey 04:49 Transition to Industry 06:01 Straddling Academia and Industry 07:54 Return to Academia and Music Technology 13:34 Influence of Gary Marsden 17:41 Joining University of Sussex 21:18 Starting a Spin-Out Company 21:52 Balancing Academia and Startup 25:24 Challenges and Reflections 31:37 Academic vs. Industry Conferences 32:32 Critical Thinking in Video Game Development 33:28 Startup Challenges and Team Building 34:32 Marketing Through Education 40:56 Leadership Reflections and Authenticity 48:35 Selling the Company and Moving Forward 56:20 End Related Links: Graham’s Home page and LinkedIn page People he mentions: Ricardo Climent and Gary Marsden…

Changing Academic Life

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Oana and Matt (Part 2) on mental health, teaching path and reflective practice (CAL119 S6E13) 46:27

15 weeks ago46:27

46:27

This is Part 2 of my discussion with Matthew Barr and Oana Andrei who work together in the Education and Practice Section in the School of Computing Science at the University of Glasgow. Oana and Matt each share their personal experiences with mental health challenges. Oana shares her journey from postdoctoral research to becoming a lecturer, highlighting how she dealt with burnout by taking up Taekwondo. Matthew discusses his long-term management of depression and the importance of normalizing such conversations in academic settings. We also talk about their learning, teaching and scholarship career paths, the significance of reflective practice and how it has been integrated into their teaching methods. They also discuss their commitment to inclusion and diversity in education, alongside their passion for teaching and the innovative graduate apprenticeship degree program they have implemented that widens access by enabling work-based learning and student support. The episode offers valuable insights into the importance of personal wellbeing, the role of supportive workplace environments, and what a teaching-focussed path can involve. Overview 00:29 Episode Introduction 02:00 Picking up on the question about mental health 02:46 Oana Shares Her Experiences With Burnout 08:05 Matt Shares His Experiences With Depression 12:45 Choosing Teaching Focussed Career Paths 16:36 Oana Moving From Research To Teaching Track 19:06 Promotion Criteria in a Learning, Teaching and Scholarship Track 24:14 Apprenticeship Degree Program 31:50 Doing a Master in Education 34:39 A Framework for Reflection 38:52 Wrapping Up 39:18 Revisiting Belonging 44:09 Thanks For The Podcast 46:27 End Related Links Oana Andrei, Lecturer (Ass Prof) Uni of Glasgow webpage and LinkedIn profile Matthew Barr (Senior Lecturer) Uni of Glasgow webpage and LinkedIn profile The reflective writing resources Matt mentioned: Manchester’s Academic Phrasebank: http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/ The guidance here on Portsmouth’s website: https://myport.port.ac.uk/study-skills/written-assignments/reflective-writing-introduction Their paper on how the apprenticeship degree program might widen access to HE: M. Barr, O. Andrei and M. Kallia, "Widening Access to Higher Education through Degree-level Apprenticeships in Software Engineering," 2023 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) , College Station, TX, USA, 2023, pp. 1-8, doi: 10.1109/FIE58773.2023.10343199 .…

Changing Academic Life

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Oana and Matt (Part 1) on leadership, belonging, and micro-actions making a difference (CAL118 S6E12) 43:14

17 weeks ago43:14

43:14

This is part 1 of my discussion with Matthew Barr and Oana Andrei who work together in the Education and Practice Section in the School of computing science at the University of Glasgow. It was the experiences of Matt as head of Section that led Oana to suggest he would be good to talk to. Together they share their experiences of what makes for good academic leadership and change, including the psychological safety and sense of belonging of members, the impact of everyday micro-interactions, and fostering a supportive environment. Matt discusses his approach in leadership, such as seeking feedback for self-improvement and actively supporting staff promotions. Oana also shares her perspective on the importance of belonging and mentorship in academic settings and the experience of good leadership. Their insights provide a meaningful look at how we can transform academic work culture for the better. Overview : 00:29 Episode Introduction 01:52 Welcome 02:28 Oana's Journey and Career 03:46 Matt's Journey and Career 06:13 Leadership and Management Insights 10:00 Creating a Supportive Work Environment 13:29 Supporting Promotion for a Learning, Teaching and Scholarship Track 21:23 Micro Actions That Can Make All The Difference 25:16 Being a Role Model in How We Handle Bad Days 28:45 Learning From Experience What Not To Do 36:44 Taking Care For Belonging 41:20 Linking to Part 2 43:14 End Related Links Oana Andrei, Lecturer (Ass Prof) Uni of Glasgow webpage and LinkedIn profile Matthew Barr (Senior Lecturer) Uni of Glasgow webpage and LinkedIn profile Role modelling paper mentioned by Matt: Virginia Grande , Päivi Kinnunen , Anne-Kathrin Peters, Matthew Barr, Åsa Cajander, Mats Daniels, Amari N. Lewis, Mihaela Sabin, Matilde Sánchez-Peña, and Neena Thota. 2022. Role Modeling as a Computing Educator in Higher Education: A Focus on Care, Emotions and Professional Competencies . In Proceedings of the 2022 Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE-WGR '22). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 37–63. https://doi.org/10.1145/3571785.3574122…

Changing Academic Life

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Sharing my story with Nutan Limaye (CAL117, S6E11) 1:15:01

19 weeks ago1:15:01

1:15:01

In this episode the tables are turned and I'm being interviewed by Nutan Limaye who hosts the ‘ Life of a Researcher ’ podcast. Nutan is an Assoc. Professor at the IT University Copenhagen. We met when she was a participant in one of our residential academic leadership development courses in 2024. We talk about my unconventional career path starting in social work, moving into nursing and midwifery, then finding myself in computer science and human-computer interaction, and now doing more leadership and academic development work. As with many career stories, serendipity figures a lot, along with a strong people-centred red thread that weaves through all the various turns. Nutan also asks about how the academic leadership development courses came about, and how we facilitate learning experiences on hard topics like challenging conversations. And we talk about themes that have arisen in the podcast. Along the way we also touch on interdisciplinarity, and academic mobility and what is home. This is a slightly edited conversation from the version she released end of June 2024, shared with her permission. I'm releasing this now as a complement to my careers article in the Feb 25 edition of Communications of the ACM Overview 00:29 Introduction 02:41 Nutan's Introduction to the Podcast 05:09 An Unconventional Career Path 07:34 Transition to Computer Science 11:08 Shaping Interests around People-Centred Perspectives 14:21 How Research Evolved as Technology Evolved 17:14 Reflections on Changing Paths 23:12 The Challenges of Interdisciplinary Research 28:03 Supervision Serendipity 34:21 Leadership and People-Centred Academia 42:21 Designing Learning Experiences about Challenging People and Conversations 48:23 Insights from the Session 50:06 Motivation and Themes of the Changing Academic Life Podcast 55:41 Academic Mobility and the Concept of Home 01:05:13 Non-Rapid Fire Questions and Reflections 01:14:11 Outro 01:15:00 End Related Links: Nutan Limaye Life of a Researcher podcast and episode A conversation with Geraldine Fitzpatrick Nutan’s LinkedIn profile My CACM article: Geraldine Fitzpatrick, Fit for People, Fit for Purpose: Designing Tech that Matters , CACM, Feb 2025 Issue, Vol. 68No. 2, Page 7. Other CAL Episodes mentioned: Sarah Davies - two parts: On mobility, precarity and notions of excellence On luck, disrupting excellence, and cultures of care Neha Kumar: On choices, authenticity and the power of the collective Karen Stroobants: On changing research culture and reforming research assessment…

Changing Academic Life

1
Vikki Wright on career transitions, ADHD, and learning to manage yourself (CAL116, S6E10) 1:12:24

21 weeks ago1:12:24

1:12:24

Vikki Wright is the director of PhD Life Coach and offers professional coaching and training for PhD students and academics. She also hosts the PhD Life Coach podcast. Up until 2022 though Vikki was a full professor of Higher Education at the University of Birmingham in the UK, with a research background Sport and Exercise Sciences, then shifting to more of a teaching focus. Vikki shares her interesting journey from full professor to becoming a life coach. The conversation covers her career transitions, dealing with ADHD, the importance of self-awareness, along with self-compassion, curiosity and having realistic ambitions. She also shares role-based time blocking as an approach for effective self-management. These practical tools and mindset changes can be useful for us all to help us take more control of our lives and careers. Vikki also offers insights into her programs and coaching approaches for PhD students and academics. Overview 00:00 Intro 00:29 Episode Introduction 03:10 Guest Introduction 03:27 Academic Journey and Career Transitions 03:56 Challenges in Research and Shift to Teaching 07:29 The Teaching Path to Full Professor...and Pandemic Reflections 11:27 Discovering Coaching and Personal Growth 17:37 Understanding ADHD and Coaching Transformation 26:35 Balancing Ambitions and Realistic Goals 30:58 Self Understanding and Being Her Own Best Boss 37:25 Recognising and Addressing Student Challenges 41:24 The Role of Self-Understanding in Supervision 45:31 Self-Compassion 49:37 Curiosity 51:35 Balancing Ambition and Realism 01:00:04 Role-Based Time Blocking 01:09:52 Final Thoughts and Resources 01:11:36 Outro 01:12.24 End Related Links More about Vikki’s offerings: ‘ The PhD Life Coach ’ podcast ‘ Be your own best boss ’ course Vikki’s podcast episode on ‘ How to use role based time blocking ’ The PhD Lifecoach ‘ The Membership’ - sign up Jan 2025 Vikki's LinkedIn page People : Dr Alex Conner Other podcasts: ‘ I have ADHD ’ podcast, Kristen Carder The Life Coach School , Brooke Castillo…

Changing Academic Life

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Your LP Reflections - Looking back, Looking forward (CAL115 S6E9) 41:51

23 weeks ago41:51

41:51

As we leave 2024 and embark on the new year, I want to share the reflective template I used for myself, playing with the LP (long play) record concept. I introduce the table structure of the personal, people, play, and projects (Ps) categories, paired with reflective components like land, love, labor, and learn (Ls) for the past year review, and look forward, let go, let grow, and let be (Ls) for the next year. I share some illustrative examples from my own reflections of 2024, including milestones, achievements, and lessons learned. And I share some of the feedback from you that helps make the work of this podcast worthwhile – thank you! I hope this encourage you too to reflect on your LP last year, celebrate your accomplishments, and be more intentional on how you approach the coming year. You can download the LP template here . 00:29 Episode Introduction 02:29 Introducing the LP Table Template 06:27 Reflecting on my 2024 Landings 16:10 What I Loved and What Feels Like Labour 19:13 What I Learned 23:21 Taking Time to Savour and Celebrate 25:06 Celebrating Feedback on the Podcast 31:42 Looking forward to the 2025 LP 36:44 Wrapping Up and Summary 39:48 Final Pointers 41:01 Outro 41:50 End Related Links Past Episodes: Remembering Volkmar Pipek - on being curious, being you Liam Bannon (Part 1) on a career outside the box – April 2024 Liam Bannon (Part 2) on values & what matters – Sept 2024 On research identity, meaningful work and funding (solo) - Jan 2024 RW9 Progress and praise – July 2021 Other links: Linked In Post by Rachel Ratz-Lubashevsky on the research identity episode HCI Group , TU Wien Online Academic Leadership Development course – Spring 2025 , early bird deadline 2 March 2025 To explore more of my offerings: geraldinefitzpatrick.com…

Changing Academic Life

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Evan Peck on considered choices and career moves: from liberals arts to a research uni (CAL114, S6E8) 1:03:05

26 weeks ago1:03:05

1:03:05

Evan Peck returns to discuss his career evolution since our last conversation in 2017. The focus is on his initial choice to join a liberal arts college post-PhD, emphasizing the balance between teaching and research, how his research evolved, and on his career goals then. Evan then talks through his move to the University of Colorado Boulder, detailing his motivations and the strategic thinking behind the transition. He reflects on the impact of his work in responsible computing and data visualization and the importance he places on aligning career choices with personal values and goals. Evan also discussed the nuances of working in different academic environments and how he continues to prioritize student mentorship and educational impact. Overview 00:00 Intro 03:21 Welcome Back, Evan! 04:33 The Appeal of Liberal Arts Colleges 06:26 Making Academic Paths Visible 09:31 Balancing Teaching and Research 13:21 Shifting Research Interests 22:40 The Move to Colorado 24:40 Integrating Ethics in Computing and Wanting More External Impact 33:50 Reflecting on Post-Tenure Decisions 37:16 Exploring New Opportunities 40:46 The Unexpected Offer 43:34 Transitioning to a Research Institution 47:26 Adapting to a Larger Institution 53:18 Balancing Work and Family 54:30 Reflecting on Career Choices 01:00:16 Final Thoughts and Advice 01:03:05 End Related Links: Evan's CU Boulder web page and his personal web page and LinkedIn profile 2017 podcast episode with Evan and his blog post…

Changing Academic Life

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Özge Subașı on values, choices and care (CAL113, S6E7) 1:04:37

28 weeks ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Özge Subaşı is the Director of Futurewell: CoCreation and Wellbeing Group in the Media and Visual Arts Department at Koç University in Turkey. In this episode, Özge shares a journey from industrial design to interaction design, with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and justice. The work with visually impaired children and older people significantly influenced Özge's transition into human-centered design. Özge's story reflects a life of multiple relocations—whether moving schools as a child, transitioning disciplines, or navigating new countries and cultures. Özge describes “always coming from somewhere and not being in the system.” The episode emphasizes the importance of holding true to core values, such as listening without prejudgment, fostering open communication, and caring for both the individual and the community. Özge's practical examples illustrate how these values influence research and teaching choices, as well as navigating trade-offs, particularly while completing an evaluation document. The discussion also addresses challenges with Özge's depression during the academic journey and strategies for maintaining personal wellbeing. Additionally, the episode highlights some difficulties faced by academics in Türkiye, including engaging with the international community and managing issues related to travel and visas. Özge's commitment to personal values, to trying different ways of being an academic researcher, and to fostering an empathetic and inclusive work culture is really inspiring. Overview 00:00 Intro 00:29 Episode Introduction 03:37 Introduction and Background 04:39 Early Career and Education 08:10 Transition to Interaction Design 11:50 Values and Philosophy 14:15 Challenges in Academia 18:07 Building a Collaborative Culture 26:37 Balancing Academic Expectations 34:42 Navigating Academic Trade-offs 36:04 Embracing Personal Values 38:36 Prioritizing Mental Health 42:26 Building Supportive Environments 47:00 Challenges in Academia 53:45 International Collaboration and Travel 01:02:22 Concluding Thoughts 01:04:36 End Related Links: Futurewell: CoCreation and Wellbeing Group, Media and Visual Arts Department, Koç University Özge’s LinkedIn page Özge on Instagram @allthefooldays (personal page on food & family) and @sozges on X…

Changing Academic Life

1
Creating Positive Cultures: Stories from the archive 35:58

30 weeks ago35:58

35:58

Continuing our culture theme, I revisit past podcast conversations that explore how to foster positive research environments and cultures. We hear from people such as Elizabeth Adams, Tanita Casci, Jolanta Burke, Janet Reed, Alex Taylor, Kia Hook, and Lindsay Oades, who share their experiences and insights on creating a sense of belonging and collegiality within academic settings. Their stories emphasize recognizing individual strengths, promoting transparency, celebrating achievements, and the importance of supportive management practices for bringing out the best in people. Hopefully you will take away practical ideas and inspiration, and recognise the importance of both micro-actions and collective efforts in creating supportive, transparent, and inclusive cultures. 00:00 Intro 00:29 Episode introduction - fostering good cultures 03:48 Glasgow Uni's Research Culture Awards 07:51 Jolanta Burke on positive organisations 09:53 Janet Read on flexibility and supporting people with young families 11:47 Janet Read on know your team 12:32 Janet Read on bringing out the best in people 16:14 Alex Taylor on the power of the collective 22:25 Kia Höök on Fika 25:50 Lindsay Oades on autonomy, rationales and leeting people they are valued 29:58 Wrapping up 33:18 Outro 34:05 Repeating what Lindsay said Related Links Past episodes used in this curated episode: Tanita Casci and Elizabeth Adams on supporting, rewarding and celebrating a positive collegial research culture (from May 2021) Jolanta Burke on burnout, harmonious passion, positive workplaces & helping others (from Nov 2017) Janet Read on charm bracelets, finish tape & the work to be a complete academic (from May 2018) Alex Taylor on research at the boundaries, moving from industry to academia, the labour of academia & the power of the collective (from July 2019) Kia Höök on challenges of success & value of slowing down and re-connecting (from Feb 2017) Lindsay Oades on academic wellbeing, connecting to strengths, meaning and purpose, and not taking the system too seriously (from Sept 2018) And others you can search for on Changing Academic Life who also talk about culture (among many others): Sarah Davies (part 2), Mark Reed, Karen Stroobants, Elizabeth Churchill.…

Changing Academic Life

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Fostering psychological safety in research environments [solo] 33:48

32 weeks ago33:48