Failing forward: Exploring failure in academia

Dear fellow early career researchers,

The 2021 cohort of the Young Academy Groningen hereby cordially invites you to attend our event with the theme Failing Forward on February 3rd from 15:30-17:00 at Hotel Prinsenhof.
 
Our broader aim is to balance the record, provide some perspective, and encourage our fellow academics and aspiring scientists to persevere in the face of recurring rejections and disappointments. This could help to put the growing need to understand how early-career researchers cope with challenges related to their psychological well-being, job satisfaction, academic freedom, and how they see the value of their work as scientists and their influence in society, in a
different perspective.
 
With the help of an artist and the UG’s poet in residence, and many colleagues at all career levels, we have explored the positive and negative aspects of failure, and its role in academia. The result is a unique booklet/zine designed to stimulate discussion. We hope this zine will encourage meaningful
conversations and drive momentum for positive change within our universities.
 
At this event, we will present the results of our project. Our rector, Jacquelien Scherpen, has indicated that she feels very strongly about this topic, and will hold a brief speech at the event as well. There will be snacks and drinks, and the opportunity to engage with other attendees.

The program looks as follows:
- 15:30-15:45 Walk-in (15 min)
- 15:45-15:50 Welcome/opening speech – Muirne Paap
- 15:50-16:00 What inspired the Failing Forward project? – Karsten Schulz and David Cheruiyot
- 16:00-16:10 The failing forward workshop and how this inspired the zine. - Jobbe Holtes
- 16:10-16:25 Introduction of the zine, present first zine to the rector. Speech rector.
- 16:25-16:30 Recital of poem by Femke de Heer
- 16:30-16:50 Assignment for the audience, distribution of zine to audience - Jobbe Holtes
- 16:50-17:00 Plenary closing by Muirne & Jobbe

The event will be held in English. All UG staff (not just academic staff) are welcome. We would love to see you there! 

You can sign up by sending an email to failingforward rug.nl.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could share the attached flyer with your colleagues. If you have a LinkedIn account, it would be great if you could share the following post: https://tinyurl.com/44th9kw4

Kind regards,

the 2021 YAG cohort