Antithesis

For anyone familiar and experienced with academia, its institutions, and practices and principles—past or present—as undergraduate through graduate students, as postdoctoral fellow up to professor, these journeys are often described and could be interpreted by the inexperienced as straightforward paths, but with immense hurdles throughout and between each transition. Accompanied by the rigors of creative endeavors and advancement of discoveries and innovation in science and technology—and then paired with the pitfalls of human interpretation and subjectivity—the definitions of "failure" and "success" are often relegated in the worst way: merely as polar opposites. This culminates into an overarching culture and atmosphere where the rarest moments of joy can be too quickly obliterated into marathons of suffering: a theme that is all well too familiar, and one that is nothing but an impediment to the progression of and advancement in higher education and science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). From where does this suffering in these immense and exciting endeavors arise, and must it come part and parcel with every step? Continuing 30 years of experience with stories in and beyond the academic realm, this podcast will take these perspectives and philosophies—and pull them, along with you, the student, the researcher, the innovator, the educator—into the sunlight. Join us for some first-hand experiences, insights from inside and outside academia, and perspectives that are aimed at redefining the conventions of academia and your training. Topics will often hover within and around the science and technology realm but will be applicable to all academics—whether those days are complete or ongoing for you—with the aim of helping to provide you a redirected compass and to help orient you and stabilize you on your journey forward, or to grow and recover from those times past.