Clarity

Dealing with criticisms, conflict and failure inherent in research

Generally we are not very open about the subject of criticism, conflict and failure in academic environments – it is an environment where all three are inherent behaviours in the environment and yet we are not open about them. Getting to the stage of undertaking a PhD and developing a career in academia is based on strong academic and personal performances in all other forms of qualifications and education up until that point. Part of this is accepting that your work and ideas will be challenged, that there will be (sometimes significant) disagreements between researchers and failure. Academia involves us taking significant personal and professional risks to create something that doesn’t exist at the moment, which can dent our resilience when we fail.