The Authentic Voice of the Academic: Claiming Your Narrative
Me —> World
In this session, we discuss the “authentic voice” of the academic that will form the basis for a public profile, enabling visibility that typifies the “whole person”.
Increasingly, research is indicating that “University design” (see the Fifth Wave by Michael Crow and William Dabars, 2020) requires not only interdisciplinarity within the University context but transdisciplinarity (between academia and industry and government).
As a basis for our discussion we will examine two helix diagrams: the original triple helix by Etzkowitz, Henry & Leydesdorff, Loet (2000) and also the quintuple helix by Carayannis et al (2012) based on the former.
In this context we will consider three Modes: Mode 1, Mode 2, Mode 3.
Mode 1. was theorized by Michael Gibbons and is an elderly linear model of fundamental university research where success is defined as "a quality or excellence that is approved by hierarchically established peers” and does not necessarily contribute to industry or the knowledge economy.
Mode 2. was also theorized by Michael Gibbons and is context-driven, problem-focused and interdisciplinary research characterized by the following five principles: (1) knowledge produced in the context of application; (2) transdisciplinarity; (3) heterogeneity and organizational diversity; (4) social accountability and reflexivity; (5) and quality control.
The Triple Helix model of innovation. The triple helix was first suggested by Henry Etzkowitz and Loet Leydesdorff in 1995 and emphasizes trilateral networks and hybrid organizations of university-industry-government relations to provide the infrastructure necessary for innovation and economic development; it provides a structural explanation for the historical evolution of mode 2 in relation to mode 1.
Mode 3. was developed by Elias G. Carayannis and David F.J. Campbell in 2006. Mode 3 emphasizes the coexistence and co-development of diverse knowledge and innovation modes, together with mutual cross-learning between knowledge modes and interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge.
Individual Exercise
We will ask the following questions from the perspective of the “individual”.
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who am I?
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what type of academic am I (and do I want to be, and why)?
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what is my academic mission?
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how do I understand knowledge as co-production?
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how might I consider my relationships with entities in the context of the quintuple helix?
Participants of this seminar will be asked to consider what their narrative and authentic voice is as an academic. Usually this can be lead by at least two narratives and one voice:
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External narrative: In my academic life I will seek to… I have spent years qualifying for X, and I have done so because… I am preoccupied by…
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Internal narrative: If someone was to catch me at home speaking openly to my mother, sibling, or best friend, they would find out that in my “heart of hearts” I became an academic to…
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Voice: My authentic voice is…
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When I feel I can be me around others…
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Comes out when…
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My authentic voice is a co-mixture of #1/#2 above (external/internal narratives)
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Like… [make up a simile]
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The one that I use with my students in class
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The one that I use with my closest collaborator who is also my closest friend
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Typified by the following keywords: [keyword1], [keyword2], [keyword n]
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There are many concerns over using an authentic voice, especially how you will be judged by others. Life is too short. One of the people I look to when I consider “coming out” with that voice is Susanne Tedrick.
I often think of the authentic voice as that being the transdisciplinary voice. The voice that is not fractured, in unity, at peace with oneself and one’s context in all facets of life. We do after all inhabit one body, and have one mind, despite our multitude of online and offline relationships.
When we find that voice? Amazing things can happen. See Australian case here: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/30/clever-pickle-the-youtubing-sydney-teacher-in-the-running-for-13m-global-prize
Visibility
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What does it mean to be “invisible”?
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Is it ok to be invisible?
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When might circumstances permit for invisibility? Why?
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Underrepresented minorities (acknowledgement)
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First-generation Student (first in family to go to University)
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Other criteria?
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The change
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Knowledge is/as power
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Knowledge sets people apart / how do we bring people back together?
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How do we grant the public access to knowledge to empower them but also to learn from one another?
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“Everyone is a designer”
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You educate the public (education is the great equalizer); and the public will educate you.
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Validation in real-time toward global challenges in research.
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Toward visibility
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We need public-facing academics desperately to be with the community and actually in the community.
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Academics are not ‘the informed’ alone (professional expertise); the public has the “lived experience”
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Me —> Organizational & Institutional Entities
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Forming relationships and sustaining them in networks
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E.g. with examiners, with conference attendees, with online communities, with editors
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Receive feedback with an open heart, even if it is critical of your research
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Developing networks of external/international collaborators.
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E.g. “be present”, contribute actively to online/offline exchanges
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E.g. “international collaborators”, especially if your work builds on their previous work. If you get a paper published, share it directly with the international collaborator(s). You might ask a friend or family member to review your original message, and check what you’ve written to ensure you are using the right tone. Guaranteed they will be interested, especially if their work is authentically cited. You never know if you are corresponding with a future collaborator? Opportunity to peer review work (if they cannot do it); or take up an invitation they cannot commit to.
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Be ready for no “obvious” reply. That is not a negative thing. People are busy. But the seed has been sown. You’ve taken the initiative to make contact, that is a positive action.
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How to best disseminate the research findings to a wider community (industry, professional bodies, regulators, general public) after publication.
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E.g. do you know your “publication outlets”?
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Do they align with your school’s/department’s vision?
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What are the recognized professional bodies you can become a member of? E.g. IEEE? Which societies? Other?
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Might you consider service at a non-government organization or a not for profit? How relevant is this to your work?
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Managing relationships in academia.
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E.g. your PhD supervisor/committee, auxiliary “trusted” advisors, mentors
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E.g. your first academic institution, previous workplaces (people that can speak on your contribution directly)
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E.g. your peers/former peers
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Perception of Being a “Networker”
You will determine for yourself how you wish to build relationships with others. The most important thing is don’t force these to happen. They will happen organically if you are open to these opportunities and do not shut them out. It often takes a single person to be that conduit for you to others, and then it is up to you whether or not to continue cultivating those relationships. It takes a great deal of effort to commit to opportunities.
Please don’t let others fool you that you are getting to where you are because of ‘contacts’. — Keep reminding yourself that you are deserved of those connections you draw to yourself. And more importantly, that the hard work is in cultivating those relationship through direct engagement. E.g. you can only ever be offered a keynote IF and only IF you are visible and active and willing to put in the work.
Importantly, having the ability to network is a positive thing. Don’t let jealous peers convince you otherwise. Academia attracts a lot of high performing people. Learn to praise others when good things happen to them. This is a confidence thing. The success of others in the same institution, should in fact, raise everyone up. If you see a social media post where someone has listed an outcome, don’t let the instant reaction be “oh that so and so” but rather “how fantastic is that, good on them”. I can’t underscore how important this is.
Networking doesn’t mean you will get ahead faster in your career. I go back to the Fifth Wave principles- you will likely have a more fulfilling career. When new people come and go from your academic life you know they were meant to serve a transient role in an event or period of your life. But when those lifetime academic collaborators stay, they are priceless!
Additionally, the gift of collaboration is bidirectional. It is never one way. This is not about ‘counting favours’ that others do for you- no way. This is about celebrating the fact that you are needed, and you need others around you. “No [hu]man is an island.”
General Advice
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Focus
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Block out the noise, especially during times of academic unrest (e.g. politics)
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Don't engage in moral bankruptcy
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While hard to resist, especially if colleagues are opening their heart to you, reserve commentary unless your discussion is evidence based and does not turn into a gossip-fest and time waster.
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Look within; cherish your friends and families and our wider community
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Realize the treasure is often sitting right under your nose, even if the grass looks greener on the other side!
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Recognizing
Often what is lost in the triple and quintuple helix? Is that the greatest relationships you can form and the most productive are those relationships you can foster “right next door” or “even under your roof”. Two or three or four people in a team can be incredibly productive if they are together seeking transdisciplinary connections between organizations and institutions. Often it is just one person that can make all the difference, and make you want to get out of bed and go to work, and feel vibrant and alive in your research and teaching.
Inner Peace
Begin to look at your apartment or house “like a castle”... “the grass patch” (even if the Council’s lawn) like a scene out of a royal cartoon show... “the sea” like you are the explorer sailing... and the "free things" like you’d pay a million dollars for them because truly they are the things that count in life!
Citation: Katina Michael, 4 November 2021, “The Authentic Voice of the Academic: Claiming Your Narrative”, PODS: Early Career Researcher Mentoring Program, University of Wollongong [online].
*This is a voluntary guest lecture. Giving back to the institution who employed me for 20 years.
Postscript:
Intrinsic motivation: To be purposeful an activity needs to motivate a person’s intrinsic desire – they have to want to engage in the activity for themselves and derive some pleasure in doing so (Compassionate Design Toolkit, p. 56/57) Extrinsic: a connection back to love.