Covid-19 is driving me a bit crazy. So I’m reaching out to you – my friends and followers on the internet- saying “let’s meet”. You set the agenda. But it could be anything. Work. Soccer. Beer brewing. Drums. Gardening. Cooking. Religion. Politics. Money. Mental Health. Reply, DM, email, call or SMS. I’ll sort the rest. […]
Seven Tips for Working from Home
Working from home is a new challenge for many. Seven things that I reckon help are: (1) Set up ergonomically. (2) Communicate your needs with your housemates. (3) Keep good records so you can claim costs later. (4) Take breaks. (5) Dress the part. (6) Schedule your workday. (7) Keep your “work” space separate from […]
Four Things That Got Me Here
Four things that got me out of my academic career and onto the path of an entrepreneur. From mentors, to networks,, to work experience, to empathy with academics. Oh, not to mention a barking dog and car trying to start… Transcript Four things that got me where I am today. I guess the first thing […]
An Introduction to University Ranking Schemes
University ranking schemes are like stars – there are lots around, but we really only pay attention to the ones that are the brightest. And like stars, there are small number of ranking schemes that have a disproportionally large impact on our lives. For example – did you know some governments base funding decisions on […]
An Introduction to University Ranking Schemes
University ranking schemes are like stars – there are lots around, but we really only pay attention to the ones that are the brightest. And like stars, there are small number of ranking schemes that have a disproportionally large impact on our lives. For example – did you know some governments base funding decisions on […]
Setting up a Successful Partnership with Industry
It is one thing to find an industry partner – but how do you set up a successful partnership? How do you turn a good idea into something that works on paper and then works in real life? What parts are important to get right at the start, and what can be figured out as […]
How to Find Industry Partners
Industry partners are an essential part of academic research in the 21st century. If the moniker was “publish or perish” it is now “partner AND publish or perish”. But, where do you find these partners? Who are they? What if your research seems to not lend itself to industry partners?
Positioning Yourself as An Expert
Without doubt, academic researchers are experts in their field. But, in so many cases non-academics are selected as experts. Experts when it comes to talking to the media. Experts when it comes to acting on panels. Experts when it comes to consulting. So, if you’re interested in being positioned as an expert – how do […]
Finding a Mentor
A mentor should be someone who can show you the way through things. They may not have THE answer, but they probably have AN answer. A bit like a Sherpa helps people up mountains. They cannot climb the mountain for you, but they can give you the best advice and support about how to climb.
Three Things to Do to Develop Your Transferable Skills
There are lists all over the internet covering transferable skills. These are the skills that could be useful no matter what the industry or job you work in. Some lists are agnostic – e.g. skills of the future. Others are more specific to science or research.