Academic life

Bullying and harassment is still widespread in our institutions, and this must change, say science leaders

Male security guards are the workers most at risk of dying from Covid, but George Bass is happy to be one of the ‘expendables’

Research reveals that focus on ‘individual excellence’ in academia isolates disabled staff   

Just because you can’t meet in person, it doesn’t mean you can’t network, say a number of academic experts

Physical events are not going away but they must open up and embrace the best of the digital world, says Jim Woodgett

Daily tweets, cake baking and discussion of James Bond film titles have all helped keep Anthony Smith sane

Still on mute? Then let’s begin, says Emma Rees

Aspirants are convinced they can succeed against the odds because they have always succeeded in the past, analysis of ‘quit lit’ suggests

Shakespeare, the Beatles and Tina Turner are often referenced in the titles of academic literature, study finds

Progress will be very difficult if there is a loud cohort of academics who remain fundamentally opposed to it, says James Blackwell

African researchers say meeting digitally overcomes cost, distance, social discomfort and environmental damage – but even online, inequalities remain

Florida State University’s move triggers concern about impact on female employees, as coronavirus continues to spread

Report shows heavier burden for UK students compared with other parts of Europe, with the country’s research funding boost ‘a chance to reform PhD education’

Leader of US’ most prominent historically black university says proper funding of such institutions will improve diversity in academia

‘Personal crisis’ may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for some insecurely employed staff

Study analysing impact of previous epidemics suggests that confidence in science will be maintained but coronavirus will damage perception of scientists

The secretary of higher education for the state of New Jersey talks about her path to a career in policy, family history and handling racist attitudes at college

Former biotech chief cooperating in expanded investigation

The problem is measuring all women, with or without children, against patriarchal standards, says Srila Roy

Improving remote learning may be smartest move universities can make, quality chief advises

Anticipating a renewed coronavirus outbreak, California State University plans for semester online

Weekly broadcast from University of Toronto vice-president has captured the attention of thousands

After sex crime conviction, elite university gave financier-donor his own office

The award-winning author and journalist on the essay that changed her life and why academic research revolves around men

University finances are supposedly staring into the abyss – but we shouldn’t get giddy, says Paul Jump

Pointless meetings, fraught commutes and whiffy shared fridges are mercifully off limits during the coronavirus lockdown. But what else are faculty glad to be rid of? And what are they pining to return to? Seven academics let us know

Global recession may make public and policymakers think more about those ‘at the bottom of society’, says social policy academic

University managers must accept that business as usual is not an option for many university staff, says Petra Boynton

The shuttering of university campuses leaves security guards watching their screens for tumbleweeds, says George Bass

Coronavirus crisis may make institutions more eager to please to students, but ‘tensions’ already in evidence

ARC balances acknowledgement of disruptions with need to keep future funds flowing

The influence of Denise Bradley, an ‘intellectually courageous’ policy powerhouse, was steeped in personal experience

Sexism, unthinking managerialism and toxic ‘them and us’ attitudes are still pervasive within UK universities, according to an anonymous academic who found the dissonances between her values, career expectations and lived reality too much to bear

Colleagues’ doubts about whether he deserved a prize make Aymen Idris wish people did not see his achievement as tokenism

But vice-chancellor says UK sector is at ‘tipping point’ of culture change 

Abuse of anonymity is damaging for both academics and students. It should lead to serious consequences, says Stefan Cantore

Proposed definition could provide get-out-of-jail-free card for ‘rogue academics’, some claim

With a new show in the pipeline, academics have many suggestions for plot lines and pitfalls to avoid

Australian senate order could put an end to deadline clashes plaguing research grant applicants

Parting shot the privilege of the established, as precariously employed academics choose less risky departures, says anthropologist

Moving overseas is often the best way to further an academic career, but the transition to a new system and culture can be painful. Six academics recount their experiences and offer their tips

Both Beijing and Hong Kong must adjust their approaches and sensibilities to restore confidence and trust in HK universities, argues John Burns

Mary Beard’s recent admission that she is a ‘mug’ who works 100 hours a week caused a Twitter storm. But how hard is it reasonable for academics to work? Who should decide? And should the mugs be obliged to keep quiet? Seven academics have their say

Paper confirms that academics with permanent posts are on average more satisfied with their job than those on temporary contracts

Long after they have finally landed a full-time job, many academics still find themselves feeling insecure and guilty, says Rachel Moss

Excessive criticism reflects a dearth of research funding and space in top journals. But peers needn’t play ball, says an anonymous academic

Australia’s teaching and research relationships with China are becoming increasingly overshadowed by rising geopolitical tensions. But the long, deep personal links between academics in the two countries will not be easily broken. John Ross reports from Suzhou

A feudal approach to intellectual property has turned the academy into a modern police state, says Steve Fuller

With careers riding on young scientists’ position in author lists, friction is all too common. A snowballing initiative to list authors’ contributions aims to make sure credit is always given where it is due. But will it be enough to ease the angst? Jack Grove is first author

As the UK finally leaves the European Union after years of turmoil, Simon Usherwood says it is time for remain-supporting academics to focus on the future. But Tanja Bueltmann says that for EU academics the scars are too deep

Impostor phenomenon is real, but its ubiquitous, misnamed cousin invites accusations that it is a fad or fantasy, says Theresa Simpkin

Academics and researchers grapple with the latest challenge of a catastrophic summer

As universities help to shoulder the disaster response, experts say the ultimate outcomes from a tragic summer are hard to predict

Disaster entrenches universities’ function as community safe spaces

Anne-Kathrin Kreft tells Matthew Reisz how interviews with Colombian women’s activists left her mentally and physically exhausted – and ideologically transformed

From tackling racism to giving up chicken, academics are not short of ideas about how to improve their professional and personal lives at the dawn of the new decade 

Did they know it was Christmas? Research probes academic propensity for submitting work out of hours

Academics’ battles with impostor syndrome reflect the difficulty of becoming truly accepted into the cult of academia, says Michael Marinetto 

EPSRC and NERC executive chairs among those recognised

The season of goodwill is upon us once more. But in an era of hyper-competition, does academic kindness extend beyond passing round the nuts at the departmental Christmas party? Six scholars recount their own tales of collegiate benevolence