Early-career academics often get some version of this advice: “Network already! Don’t be worried if it feels distasteful. Just call it “professional friendships.” It’s vital for your career.”Thanks for reading Wondering Freely! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
The insular nature of academia exists in the sciences as much as in humanities I suppose. The prestige games and shunning of young grad students and early career researchers in conferences is so familiar. I loved the idea about virtual conferences. And why don't people write letters (read: email) more often? Time constraints perhaps. I so appreciate you pointing the carbon footprint of jetpacking for conferences around the world. Baffling to me in 2023. Thank you for writing this.
I am an early career researcher in philosophy in Australia. Unfortunately, my uni only has a small philosophy program, so networking and just having casual conversations about my research and philosophy in general is rare. I previously relied on twitter for being part of academic life conversations in the philosophy community, but I feel like that space not as good anymore. But just reading your posts here is certainly helping at the moment! Thank you for your work!
The insular nature of academia exists in the sciences as much as in humanities I suppose. The prestige games and shunning of young grad students and early career researchers in conferences is so familiar. I loved the idea about virtual conferences. And why don't people write letters (read: email) more often? Time constraints perhaps. I so appreciate you pointing the carbon footprint of jetpacking for conferences around the world. Baffling to me in 2023. Thank you for writing this.
I am an early career researcher in philosophy in Australia. Unfortunately, my uni only has a small philosophy program, so networking and just having casual conversations about my research and philosophy in general is rare. I previously relied on twitter for being part of academic life conversations in the philosophy community, but I feel like that space not as good anymore. But just reading your posts here is certainly helping at the moment! Thank you for your work!