When asked how to navigate a conference, I always tell early-career scholars to find a group that they like, attend social events, and make friends.
If they follow that simple direction, early career scholars can find a social space at a conference - that is fun, energizing, and enriches their academic life.
However, as a mid-career scholar, I've learned that there is danger in becoming too comfortable in your social space.
It can result in being blind to changes in your field regarding topics, methods, and the social landscape.
I recognized this as part of my year of mid-career assessment. I listened to the early career faculty at my home institution & realized that I really didn't know the group behind me or the group behind them.
And it wasn't just that I didn't know them personally.
I didn't know their methods (except at a high level), their challenges (I had become disconnected), and the people they viewed as thought leaders.
Having just ended a decade+ in Association leadership, I realized that leading had resulted in my growing out of touch with my current scholarship & in danger of becoming that "old, used to be good, professor down the hall."
So what to do?
First, I started to attend face to face conferences. I posted on this here: https://lnkd.in/e9t45sa2
I actively sought to meet new people & learn what they studied. This required overcoming my healthy imposter syndrome and venturing into the world of quants.
To my surprise, they are a-ok.
This has enriched my life.
Second, I started listening to early career faculty.
I'm not a great listener - so this is hard. I listened to their career concerns, value systems, and research topics. Often, I simply listen.
I listened not to borrow ideas - but to see where I fit - and how I could stay connected to their world.
This has made me a better mentor.
Third, I sought out familiar names but who were unfamiliar people.
I've listened to well-known people, whom I've never talked to, but I've read, to learn their world view.
While sometimes, it's a mutual admiration session that goes deep into the night, I have learned a lot about how different constituencies view my work, & their work, & what is next.
This has made me a better scholar.
By changing the conferences I attend, actively listening to early career faculty, and seeking insight from established scholars, I've started to see how to craft my next ten years in the field.
By expanding my social space, I hope to avoid the label of "used to be great" and earn the title of "forever young."
If I can do that, I"ll be able to help build better academe for the next generation.
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