In 2020 as the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated across most of the globe, I took up post as Lecturer in Global Health at the Institute for Global Health (IGH). As a global health security theorist with an interest in the politics of pandemics, I had spent the first six months of 2020 in a blur of publishing articles and book chapters, writing countless research grants and policy briefs, and appearing on radio, television, and podcasts, all in which I argued the need for an understanding of politics and political processes as integral determining factors and drivers of this 21st century pandemic. Amid a worsening global public health emergency, the enacting of social distancing, online teaching delivery, the suspension of ‘normal’ life, and the imposing, lifting, and re-imposing of regional and national lockdowns across the world, I would take up the lectureship, deliver teaching, serve as co-director of the MSc in Global Health in Development, and advance global health research in the first full academic year of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first year of my time at IGH, as the now known adage goes, has been unprecedented. Amid cascading Zoom calls, a labyrinth of breakout-rooms, and never-ending pleads to ‘unmute’, the year has been challenging, yet incredibly rewarding. Despite the unfolding of a most unusual academic year in uncertain times, I remain, as most of my students now know, an optimist. Below, as you all begin to take the reins of your dissertation research and prepare for life ‘after IGH’, I offer some of my impressions and experiences of my first year teaching and researching at IGH during this pandemic, with the hope that you can apply these insights in your own future path.
Say yes
I say ‘say yes’ of course, within reasonable limits, but you are all very clever and already knew this. New roles and positions, the best ones anyways, are always and should be associated with steep, yet manageable learning curves, and the taking up of a new academic role is packed with a scope of new tasks, responsibilities, commitments, and expectations. With full appreciation of managing your time and practicing self-care, saying yes still was an incredibly important choice while starting at IGH. Saying yes for example, to an offer to mark a number of assessments for a colleague, or saying yes to attend a meeting of a research centre, saying yes to help chair a seminar, or to offer a guest lecture on your research. All of these moments in which I said yes as a new joiner, quickly introduced and integrated me into the IGH family, and allowed for connections, familiarity, and exchange to take shape in a period of online and distanced academic life. Through these varied and dynamic interactions, I rapidly gained understanding and insight into the research culture of IGH, its diverse centres, wonderful staff, and in turn, quickly became well known and appreciated by colleagues and friends. When you can, say yes.
Offer your view
The taking up of new roles can often be accompanied with feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt especially in novel settings. In a global city of endlessly clever and innovative people, it is easy to succumb to the self-critic or to allow imposter syndrome to creep in. However, it pays to persevere over these feelings we all have and to demonstrate your own important contributions, impressions, and views. From the onset of the lectureship, I was supported and listened to whenever I wanted to share my own understandings, offer input, or make queries within discussions of teaching, administration and management, and research discussions with my colleagues. In speaking up and participating in meetings and gatherings, even to clarify or gain further understanding of a topic, I was able again to quickly integrate and make myself known to my new colleagues and communities, who in turn have always valued the expertise, insights, and input which I have brought forward. Though it often seems preferable or comfortable to remain quiet, offer your view.
Reach out
Reach out when you need it. Too many of us take up a new role with the feeling that we need to deliver perfection across all aspects, even during exceptionally challenging global episodes including the one we are continuing to experience. Rather than delivering on perfection, I was trusted and valued for my demonstrated strengths and talents in teaching and research and encouraged to reach out to mentors, managers, and friends when and if ever needed. I reached out. Whenever technology failed, a teaching strategy did not take, or the strains of lockdown, social distancing, and the ever shifting and often disappointing British weather began to take too much of a hold on my mood, I reached out. To supportive and invested colleagues, friends, or management. Whether over a Zoom coffee, e-mail, WhatsApp call, or now, thankfully with warmer weather, an outdoor lunch, reaching out during stressful periods fostered stronger connections and new friendships with colleagues, allowed me to take on new ideas and perspectives about teaching and research and reaffirmed my place as a valued member of an outstanding, multicultural, and inclusive institute. Always reach out.
In many ways, this past year has not been the one many of us had envisioned. Too much screen time, time away from loved ones, the sudden shifts of this pandemic, and the upset to ‘normal’ routines have produced scales of hardship for all of us. Yet, the experiences of the past year have also shown you all how well you have done here at IGH during this ‘unprecedented’ time in global health and beyond. In sharing my own experiences, what I have gained, reflected, and learned in the one year since joining IGH, I hope this piece inspires you all to reflect on your own impressive advancements, and that a bit of what I learned along the way can be of use to you all as you start to plan your next exciting steps. I am sending you all the very best in planning these adventures.
By: Stephen Roberts
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What a whirlwind time to start at IGH!! Thank you for this great advice, I think I speak for us all when I say your optimism has been very appreciated too!