A few months ago I made the decision to re-engage with an academic career after spending 2 years focusing on #SciComm. People have asked what made me go âbackâ to research. And THIS is the problem with academia
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Academia makes you think you are stuck. In or out? Choose now, and choose wisely, because once youâre out, youâre out forever...
I canât think of another industry that invests so much into developing people, skills and knowledge, only to completely devalue this investment through a lack of opportunity to maintain these people, skills, or knowledge in the system! Itâs bonkers!
Research is falling into a âsafetyâ trap. Safe science gets funded. Safe, linear career paths are rewarded (a âgapâ in âproductivityâ is a nail in the coffin). Donât rock the boat, donât question the system, donât explore your choices...
NO! Good research means we MUST be innovative, constantly challenge the status quo and approach problems with new perspectives. To do this we need DIVERSITY - in knowledge, experience, background, ways of thinking... and THIS is my point...
I re-enter the academic world with a new set of skills, experiences and point of view. My âbreakâ from academic research wasnât wasted time - I have more to offer now than I did before. Iâm not going âbackâ, Iâm moving forward, doing things on my terms, confident in my abilities
But best of all, I donât feel trapped anymore! I know what the world can offer me, and what I can offer in return. Will my future be in academia? Who knows? How exciting is that?!