Webinar 3: Resilience in Research

Moving on, at speed (is crucial). ... If there's a rejection, or a query on something… I just go, "Right, okay, take it in, process it, and then move on…" ARC Laureate Fellow Joy Damousi

In this comment, Joy expresses the importance for success of being resilient. But how do you move on when a paper you have worked for three years on is rejected, and the reviewers have identified fatal flaws? How do you get over it when your grant proposal is rejected? How do you bounce back and persist when you are overlooked once again for a promotion, or if you are still on a temporary contract after multiple years?

Being an academic is a really tough job. We all know this! One way to deal with the situation is to avoid going for things, and to stay in your comfort zone (sometimes referred to as “the competency trap”). But, as ARC Laureate Sharon Parker will discuss, while this strategy might help you avoid anxiety and perform well in the short term, it is unlikely to generate success in the long term. It is far better to build up your resilience, and set stretch goals. 

In the third instalment of our Small Wins webinar series, Professor Parker discusses research on resilience, as well as some of her personal experiences. She will be joined by ARC Laureate Fellow Alexandra Aikhenvald (James Cook University) and ARC Centre Director Janeen Baxter (University of Queensland), who will each share challenges they have experienced, how they handled these challenges, as well as how they help others to be resilient.

Participants will have the opportunity to virtually share tips with each other, and ask the guests questions.

Eligibility: Open to all women academics who engage in research as part of their role, Level A to Level E, across all disciplines and Universities/Research institutions.

Cost: Free but registration is essential to access the webinar.

Platform: Microsoft Teams (please note that attendees will need to have Microsoft Teams downloaded to access the event)