Being researchers: Part 1

27 November 2009

By Sarah Davies

The research staff community is made up of many different people from many different backgrounds, doing different jobs and seeing themselves at different stages in their careers. To snapshot this diversity – and give a sense of what research careers can look like – I’ll be posting an occasional series of interviews with researchers. This is the first…

Hi Matt. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m Matthew Kearnes. Professionally I am an RCUK fellow at the Department of Geography, Durham University. I am also a husband, a father and life-long supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

What’s an RCUK Fellow?

It’s a Research Councils UK research fellow, a five year fellowship created by the RCUK with a guaranteed post at the end. I am pretty chuffed to have one.

And what on earth is a Rabbitoh?

The perennial losers in Australian rugby league, now owned by none other than Russell Crowe. Growing up in south-west Sydney I was destined to support them. I can sing the team song too!

Tell us a bit more about what you do from day to day.

I am a sociologist of science and technology – with a particular interest in emerging technologies. I spend the majority of my time involved in various research projects, and of course publishing on the basis of this research. I also do some teaching.

So you have a five year fellowship which leads to a permanent lectureship. How do you see your career panning out within that?

Sometimes I ask ‘if’ rather than ‘how’ my career will indeed pan out! I don’t have a grand plan at this stage, but if it is not too romantic, I would say that I am inspired by new ideas and the vitality of social science scholarship in general. So whatever career I end up having I hope to play some part in that.

I also have a covert interest in floristry – and could see some alternative career opening a florist’s shop in the inner-west of Sydney.  

The flexibility and the capacity to follow your ideas into fruition. I am constantly reminded just how unique this is compared to other professions.

And how about the worst?

I think sometimes we tell ourselves that being an academic is the only career option available. In other contexts it is common for people to change career over the course of a working life, but in academia this sense of vitality seems missing. So I often fear that in academia being an academic has the potential to become unhealthily central to one’s life.

What’s been the most useful piece of advice you’ve been given as an academic?

I very rarely get ‘advice’ but there are a number of people whom I admire and look to. In an academic culture that prioritises publishing and quick-turn-arounds one consistent piece of advice I have received from these figures is that ideas need time to develop.

And finally, do you have a favourite academic author, book or paper?

That’s like a ‘desert island discs’ question! So I would probably say choosing one is just too difficult but Deleuze’s Difference and Repetition was a revelation during my PhD and is a work I return to.