Panel: Navigating Time and Space: Diverse Perspectives on Building Scientific Careers

Moderators

Takoua Abdellatif, University of Sousse, Tunisia
Chirine Ghedira Guégan, IAE, University Jean Moulin, Lyon 3, France
Genoveva Vargas-Solar, CNRS, France

Hybrid mode 24th October 2024 12:30 CET
- In situ, conference venue: Barceló Concorde Green Park Palace
- Online:
 https://cnrs.zoom.us/j/91537848923?pwd=fpiR0Sr4mmrtglNn2nCFD4magOo1iv.1
Passcode: 2QLzx4

Context and motivation

Building a scientific career involves shaping both an explicit and implicit strategy that influences how personal and professional activities and goals will occupy one’s time and space. The allocation of time and resources to different aspects of a scientific career is shaped by social expectations, socioeconomic status, and gender roles, all of which are defined by the cultural context. Factors such as economic stability, quality of life, happiness, leisure, health, acceptance or rejection of heteronormativity, caregiving responsibilities, fame, community recognition, impact of contributions, scientific influence, and career progression all play a role in this complex balancing act.

The strategy for building a scientific career is dynamic and constantly evolving. Priorities shift as individuals move through different stages of their personal and professional lives, and the way time and space are allocated reflects these changing priorities. Ultimately, the balance struck between these factors shapes the course of one’s career and personal fulfillment.

Objective of the Panel

The goal of this panel is to explore how individuals navigate the complex and evolving dynamics of building a scientific career, focusing on the interplay between personal and professional priorities. The discussion will examine how social expectations, socioeconomic status, gender roles, and cultural norms influence the allocation of time and resources in the pursuit of a successful career. The panel will also address how factors such as economic stability, caregiving responsibilities, professional recognition, and personal fulfillment shape career trajectories, and how these priorities shift over time. By highlighting diverse experiences and perspectives, the panel aims to promote a deeper understanding of the strategies that can lead to more balanced and fulfilling scientific careers, while also encouraging institutional practices that support these varied pathways.

Teasing questions

• How do societal expectations and cultural norms shape the way we balance professional and personal priorities in building a scientific career?
• In your experience, what are the most significant challenges in allocating time and resources between career advancement and personal well-being?
• How do gender roles and socioeconomic status influence the strategy and trajectory of scientific careers?
• Have you experienced or witnessed different expectations based on these factors?
• What trade-offs have you encountered in your career that impacted your personal life, and how did you navigate them?
• Can success in a scientific career be redefined to value aspects beyond traditional metrics like publications and grants?
• What role does community recognition, caregiving, or work-life balance play in this broader definition?
• How do priorities shift as individuals move through different stages of their careers?
• How can institutions better support these transitions, particularly for early-career scientists and those balancing caregiving?
• What strategies have you found effective in addressing the tension between personal aspirations, such as family and health, and professional expectations, such as visibility and influence in the scientific community?
• How can we ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion principles are incorporated into career-building strategies, especially when considering the evolving personal and professional needs of scientists?
• What role do mentors and institutions play in shaping the way personal and professional spaces are balanced in scientific careers? How can they do better?
• How can we foster a cultural shift in the scientific community that values the diverse ways in which people build and define their careers?

Format

The panel will be organised into 3 rounds as follows:

• Panellists will provide a 5 minutes statement addressing some of the teasing questions and/or complementay ones
• Moderators will ask questions according to the initial statements and will open the floor to the audience
• Panellists will conclude with a final statement about the take aways they consider important about the topic

Panellists

• Sondes Baccouri (she/her), Tunisian School of Health, Tunisia
• Farah BARIKA KTATA (she/her), ISSAT – Université de Sousse, Tunisia
• Nicola Bena (he/his/him), University of Milan, Italy
• Richard Chbeir (he/his/him), University de Bayonne, France
• Daniela Grigory (she/her), University Paris Dauphine, France
• Ilaria Matteucci (she/her), Istituto di Informatica e Telematica – CNR, Italy
• Sami Yangui (he/his/him), LAAS-CNRS, Toulouse, France