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This week was my last as a seconded academic working in the Foreign Office as an AHRC-ESRC-FCO KE fellow.
Some reflections on working as an academic in government...
(imagine a thread emoji here that I can’t find for love nor money)
@ahrcpress @ESRC
Some reflections on working as an academic in government...
(imagine a thread emoji here that I can’t find for love nor money)
@ahrcpress @ESRC
I’d worked with officials before but working in-house has been different. Externally, officials are lovely but can be cagey (especially in trade). Was nervous about this, but found officials friendly, curious, open to challenge, and driven. Like the best workshop basically.
It could be that I’ve been lucky - but the best thing about the fellowship has been the people I’ve worked with: intellectually brilliant, hard-working, dedicated, patient, and good humoured.
There are some things that took some adapting though...
1. Timescales. A couple of months was the longer timeframe for some of my work. Much quicker than my own academic research where outputs take (too?) many months or years. And at the sharp end it could be 15 mins to respond. So quicker than I was used to...
2. Teams. I love discussing research with people but I’m not much of a group research person. Civil service is v team based, the issues are just so big/interests so varied, you can’t go it alone. That took getting used to but is far more satisfying than I thought it could be.
3. Pacing. At uni there’s a rhythm to the year (terms/semesters). Govt work doesnt have that. I tried to do the usual, “keep going till Christmas” and nearly burnt out. Lucky I had brilliant teams and exceptionally brilliant line manager that flagged it early and saved my bacon.
4. Change. Partly the times, partly nature of govt work, but feels like there was more change in HMG than at uni. I was in Bxl for the last day of UKRep -> UKMis, no deal prep, remote for CV19, change of govt/FS/PUS, last day of FCO and 1st day of FCDO. Exciting but “a lot”
5. Expertise. Officials change roles a lot (ever 3yrs quite normal). Means that many have a really broad range of skills and flexibility but also that specialist expertise is welcome. Been really impressed by how good a combo generalists + specialists are.
And on specialists - a shoutout to the FCDO Research Analysts who are the gold standard in government, across Whitehall (I may be biased but it’s still true).
Knowing what you bring as a specialist - and what generalists do too is really key.
@FCDO_RA
Knowing what you bring as a specialist - and what generalists do too is really key.
@FCDO_RA
6. Parallel lives. As you balance similar but different roles (one in the office, one at uni) you can get muddled. I was lucky that my institution @LivUniSLSJ supported me in every way. Getting your mind from one to the other can take a bit of getting used to though.
The scheme is great - thanks to the @UKRI_News and @FCDOGovUK for making it happen.
You get to work with great people, do great work, you’re supported to pursue your research interests, and (not the nicest way of putting it, perhaps) get to see how the sausages are made...
You get to work with great people, do great work, you’re supported to pursue your research interests, and (not the nicest way of putting it, perhaps) get to see how the sausages are made...
I’ll make lots of noise when the next call comes out. Only thing...
Can we have a catchier title? AHRC-ESRC-FCO Knowledge Exchange Fellow doesn’t quite roll off the tongue...
Can we have a catchier title? AHRC-ESRC-FCO Knowledge Exchange Fellow doesn’t quite roll off the tongue...
And in case it wasn’t obvious... hopefully Catherine O’Hara wins the Emmy.
