In a recent interview with Dr Sara Zaeemdar, a lecturer in Organisation Studies at Newcastle University’s Business School, the discussion explored aspects of fostering a healthy research culture within academic institutions. The primary focus however, was on her belief that fostering a community for doctoral students is key for a healthy research culture.
One of the key themes apparent in Dr Zaeemdar’s work is the effort she puts into creating a sense of community for doctoral students at the Business School. Building a sense of community for the students, she believes will generate a culture of inclusivity which is crucial for a healthy research culture. She has assisted in running many interventions within the Business School that intend to help individuals explore their identities as academics. One intervention that took place was an interactive theatre, during which an external facilitator helped students explore the sources of their struggles “based on the work of Augusto Boal”. With modern life, many students find themselves with various facets of psychological and structural oppression. The theatre encourages them to question and explore such sources of struggle. Do I identify with being an academic? What does it feel like to belong to a research community? What do I feel is limiting me as an academic?
From these sessions, a discussion follows with the intention to have a lasting impact on the students. It challenges students to question what they believe it feels like to belong to a research community and through using different movements and speech throughout the sessions they create images of what they desire from a research community. It is clear there is value in creating spaces where research culture norms and how our environments are making us feel can be challenged. Dr Zaeemdar found the event brought up conversations that mattered both to the students and the faculty staff and was an engaging opportunity for students to let out their creative side.
Although an abstract approach to facilitating a healthy research culture at Newcastle University, Dr Zaeemdar explained she has seen an increase in student involvement with university activities. She explained that it is “really visible that doctoral students feel much more involved”. She made an example of the increased participation of doctoral students in research seminars, where peers present their recent work and receive constructive feedback in a format they describe as ‘critical friend’. Previously, they were mainly attended by the faculty and academic staff, but now there is a strong presence of doctoral students.
Dr Sara Zaeemdar has offered N8 a fresh perspective on how academic institutions can nurture a healthy research culture. The efforts to create a healthy research culture is not only due to her work, but due to the efforts of many academic staff and doctoral students themselves. Her work is part of a bigger effort to foster a healthy research culture at the Business School.
Through the interactive theatre workshops, inspiration can be taken on how institutions can consider more abstract approaches to fostering a healthy research culture that can be equally impactful. This approach emphasises the importance of building supportive communities where researchers can explore how their environment is impacting them. By implementing these principles and dedicating time to understand the nature of research cultures at institutions, it also becomes easier to identify and address existing issues. Consequently, targeted initiatives aimed at improving research culture are likely to be more effective. So, let’s take inspiration from Dr Zaeemdar and improve research culture by embracing and unleashing our creative side!