Why finding a bouncing-ideas-buddy will pay off: the secrets of collaboration
In science and in many related fields, the lone genius assumption persists: that individuals act and think alone, pour themselves over data in solitude and emerge with a solution that is revolutionary and inspirational. Many do buy into this story. Yet, the stories we actually hear are often those of insights that have emerged through […]
Why inclusivity should be the new game in town: Women, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and leadership
We often hear about the glass ceiling that stops women in advancing their careers and how that ceiling, in the era of gender equality, is easier to break through. More and more women are becoming directors, earning degrees, and making significant contributions in science, politics, and everywhere else. Given last week was the International Women’s […]
6 essentials in developing an academic career
I’ve recently been approached by several early career researchers (ECRs) about how to network, how to focus their careers and how to start building their profile while they are still in an early phase in their career. In the university system, there is often not much advice on personal branding for academics or how to […]
What’s in a decision?
This week’s two key news items have stuck with me: Cape Town running out of water and UK Met Office announcing we might already see an annual global temperature increase of 1.5 in the next five years. Both are good reminders that even though we have models and science to project future changes, the global […]
Don’t think of a (damaged) reef
A rather fierce debate has been circulating in recent weeks in Australia about the state of the Great Barrier Reef, “the largest living thing on Earth and what should be done about it. Great Barrier Reef in the state of Queensland is one of the seven wonders of the world and pulls in large number of […]
Bats are boiling and green turtles are turning female: how close are we to adaptation limits?
This week’s Twitter feed has been particularly concerning, some would say crazy, regarding the changes and shifts in weather and climate trends that are occurring worldwide. In Australia, bats are boiling in the sky and the asphalt is literally melting as heatwaves have come through in various parts of the country. In the US, NOAA has […]
Entrepreneurial Editor: How to edit a book more or less gracefully
I have been reading Dorie Clark Entrepreneurial You, which is an amazing collection of hands on advice from podcasting to writing blogs to authoring books. Dorie’s main message is that there are multiple ways that we can contribute and develop our careers. What makes the book fascinating is that much of the advice is grounded […]
Highly successful people and mornings: How to make context matter for theory and advice
Many people yearn to learn the keys for success and there is no shortage of advice out there on how to make great things happen. There are the 33 Daily Habits Highly Successful People Have and advice on how The First 3 Hours of Your Day Can Dictate How Your Life Turns Out . Much of […]
Finding Your Mindset: Fleas in a jar
What do you get when you put together fleas jumping in a jar, epigenetics, and Michael Jordan? Surprisingly you don’t get scientific evidence for innate talent (you were born with wings) but a mix of mindset-environment interaction, which can either break or make you. In a recent article in Forbes about how people excel and […]
Debunking the myth of the Lonesome Leader and Genius
Recently I had a discussion with a friend who is a director at a non-governmental organisation about how it is being a leader. He noted that leadership is so hard and that he feels lonely in doing his tasks, and how he has to constantly make sure things are going well. While I listened to […]