Total Internal Reflection @TIR_scienceblog@qoto.org

@JACoates @steveroyle Hi both, thanks for commenting and sorry for the slow response (for some reason I don't get notifications from Mastodon). There was a very interesting comment on the blog site that I think cuts to the heart of this issue: that many people go into the public sector (which includes academia, of course) with a sense of service. They see themselves as performing a duty/service to society (I certainly did - I have always been acutely aware and proud of the societal role of academia), and to then be compelled to leave is obviously very traumatic because it implies that that service was not of value. That's a nonsense of course, but it's the kind of worry that comes at you in the night. Other reasons apply too of course, but the selflessness and its devaluation is, I suspect, an important psychological factor in the issues that I and many others (like Jonny!) continue to have.

New posting! "Deprogramming academia", a riff on why I'm still feeling guilt about walking away from #academia, and why that might be. 👇 Hope you like it! #Alt-Ac
https://totalinternalreflectionblog.com/2025/04/17/deprogramming-academia/

New posting! A riff on how #mentoring should impart a lifetime commitment, and one that flows in both directions. Doubly important right now, when science is under attack and we need to come together as a community.👇
https://totalinternalreflectionblog.com/2025/03/28/look-after-one-another/

Latest cross-posting to the @febsnews #FEBSnet: Jacks of all trades, a riff on how scientists are expected to master a whole suite of skills, when expertise in just one would often be enough in other professions (and perhaps, should also be here?).👇 https://network.febs.org/posts/jacks-of-all-trades

There’s a reason why the #chainsaw is such an apt symbol for the current assault on American #science: because you can cut a tree down in minutes, but growing it back takes decades.
Some thoughts on the USA's chainsaw massacre 👇
https://totalinternalreflectionblog.com/2025/03/05/chainsaw-massacre/

New posting! A 1st-hand account of the pros and cons of publishing with @eLife's bold publish/review/curate model, with some recommendations that would make the process even smoother.👇 (Thank you eLife!)
https://totalinternalreflectionblog.com/2025/02/16/take-back-control-an-encounter-with-elifes-publish-review-curate-model/