Why academic friends matter…
Going to work can be a whole lot nicer if you are surrounded by lovely colleagues. Many a sleepless night I have spent working on an experiment with academic collaborators who cross the boundary into academic friendship. Recently I was invited to be the external examiner for a PhD student at a university – on the train home it struck me how important these academic friendships are. The visit was not only an opportunity to assess the PhD student but a rare moment in a busy academic calendar to catch up with the research of others. Over a delicious lunch, at a hidden restaurant gem, we could properly talk. Topics swung from research and teaching, to gardening and local football. Whilst these discussions can happen virtually, face-to-face laughter over a meal is somehow so much more meaningful. Key to academic success can be the strength of your academic network, not just within your university but also your international research community. The community may influence the direction of your research, become academic research grant collaborators, be the reason you get an invite to give a conference plenary, act as external examiners and ultimately drive your motivation to continue within a challenging career. So how to form and maintain these academic friendships?
#1 Strike up a conference conversation. Some of my best academic friends have formed by simply saying hello after a talk or next to a conference poster. Some of us are naturally inclined to chat to strangers, but if the idea fills you with dread, identify a common interest as your opener. I found your data interesting, which supplier did you use for that, I am new to the area could you please explain that method to be – all simple opening starts you could try.
#2 Invest the time to maintain the friendship. Like any relationship, a good academic friend network requires nurturing. This means seeking out academic acquaintances at events, maintaining an email dialogue, extending invitations to speak at your department, suggesting them as external examiners, asking if they wish to collaborate on shared project interests – the list of ways to connect are vast. If the academic friendship is worth having, value the connection with a bit of your time.
#3 Be a good academic friend yourself. Friendship is a two-way street, so whilst you may benefit from others think about your side of the relationship. Do you always decline invitations? As academics time pressures are huge, but if we are poor at replying to emails or always reject valid and relevant academic opportunities from others, we may start to stop receiving them. That’s not to say you must accept everything, rather think about the balance of your academic friendships and how the academic network perceives you.
The video this week on Dr CST is all about academic friendships, so I hope to see you in the YouTube comments. Until next time, have a good week.
Caroline, Dr CST