The Value of Academic Awards · In addition to scien\൴ific achievement, it’s a little bit of marketing.\爀屲From there, you can Gain Ground – attempt Disciplinary Awards and
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The Value of Academic Awards Kelly Blair-Matuk Associate Director [email protected]Mona Rahman Coordinator, Research Activities and Communications [email protected]Office of the Vice-Principal (Research) www.queensu.ca/vpr
Office of the Vice-Principal (Research)www.queensu.ca/vpr
Prizes and Awards
Upcoming Topics
• Individual internet presence• Google scholar• First, most, only• Descriptors• Maclean’s• Join The Conversation• Tone of the package NA vs. international• Reference letters• How to convey EXCITEMENT!• The importance of sharing the file with OVPR for future reference and
assistance
Celebrating Research Excellence: Awards and Honours
Presenter
Presentation Notes
A large part of our focus is on garnering awards for our faculty. As we mentioned earlier in the presentation, Queen’s was #1 in faculty awards for 11 year and we currently are at #2. There is a very strategic interest in supporting this process, as winning awards is a tangible recognition of research excellence and the strength of the Queen’s research community. Let’s clarify that the awards we are talking about are separate from grants. What we are talking about are external, national and international prizes for achievements in research. They are highly-competitive, prestigious (e.g. Fellowship in the RSC, Order of Canada, Order of Ontario) and sometimes associated with large amounts of money (e.g. Killam Prize, Herzberg Prize, SSHRC Impact Awards, Trudeau Fellowships). Because of this we rarely advertise awards widely, but flag competitive candidates and often engage in broad consultative processes with senior university admin and department heads to find the most competitive candidate to represent Queen’s. Numerous awards available at the discipline-specific level, nation level and international level, all very competitive. Once a nominee is identified, we work with them, their nominators, and supporters to help develop a competitive nomination package. It is a private and confidential process. A lot of work goes into these packages, and they not always successful, in fact, most are not. Why do we still do them? Once developed, the nomination package can be adapted for other things, like other awards, promotion pieces, and the magazine. We never view these nominations as a waste of time. You build relationships with these people as you are going through this process. Important to talk to faculty about the competitive nature of these awards and encourage them not to be discouraged if they are not successful on the first try. However, if they do win, these prizes can significantly advance a person’s career. Awards also beget awards. In many cases, success is gauged by the number of awards someone already has. Important to start with smaller awards, discipline specific, early in career. Awards are also not an obvious or guaranteed research promotion piece. But if someone wins, there are numerous ways to promote success.
Rankings and Reputation
Building up Stellar Researchers
InternationalRecognition
National Presence
Gaining Ground
Strong foundation
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Let’s talk a little bit about our strategy. This pyramid represents the entire academy … everyone at Queen’s. There are lots of people at the bottom, because, everyone starts at the bottom. Our end goal is to get people to the top … to promote them as best we can, and improve their academic visibility and competitiveness to make them eligible for the big international prizes. The investments we make in getting people to the top are not just for the individual academic. The benefits ripple across the university in attracting undergraduate students, graduate students, improving the international profile for the entire institution, and probably helps in success with funding and grants. Overall, it improves the visibility and standing of the Queen’s brand. The important thing to realize in this process is that, in most cases, you can’t start with the big international prizes. You need to first build a solid foundation – attracting grants, media attention, collaboration, having an up-to-date website, investing in building a google scholar profile, garnering discipline specific awards, up-to-date CV. In addition to scientific achievement, it’s a little bit of marketing. From there, you can Gain Ground – attempt Disciplinary Awards and Honours; give keynote lectures at international conferences, participate in memberships on editorial boards, and so on. We work with faculty members to get to the top of the pyramid, or stay at the top of the pyramid. There are a variety of activities that we support the development of careers along this trajectory and that is what we are going to address for the remainder of this seminar.
What does your online profile say?
Everyone’s got a story to tell. What’s yours?
(e)AFFECT – Effecting Change, Affecting Lives. Research at Queen’s
Presenter
Presentation Notes
In looking at how to craft a good nomination, the first thing you should do is to figure out your story and how to present it. It is difficult to know what order to present our activities in, because they are all interrelated, all build on each other, and the order depends on each circumstance. We’ll start with our research magazine. In 2012, we launched our inaugural issue corresponding with the renewal of the Queen’s Strategic Research Plan. It’s called (e)AFFECT, … a word play on the words effect and affect, because Queen’s researchers are effecting change, and affecting lives. The name originally got people talking, which was unexpected, but we were thrilled that people noticed it. The goal with the magazine is to more fully communicate the work going on at Queen’s both within the university and outside to our stakeholders. We distribute to our own faculty, government, funding agencies, and alumni. Copies are available around campus to students. We also send issues to all other universities nation wide. The publication is biannual and features research across disciplines, Social sciences, humanities, engineering, etc. The articles feature faculty, but also student research. Each issue is about 32 pages long. Replaced by website
What makes your story stand out?
• First, most, only• How has your work impacted the field? Changed perspectives?
Changed practice? Metrics?• Knowledge translation/mobilization• How does your story stand out from the crowd?• Descriptors – convey
Case StudyWe want to nominate Professor X for a competitive national research prize.• 6 months ahead – encourage researcher to update
their CV, website, and Google Scholar profile (if applicable)
• Pitch researcher to central communications, marketing, and advancement for profile and media pieces
• If possible, involve researcher in outreach events, international visits
• Start developing a nomination at least 2 months before deadline. Give nominator and referees ample time to prepare their letters
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Let ‘s do a bit of a case study. We want to nominate Professor X for a competitive national research prize. 6 months ahead – encourage researcher to update their CV, website, and Google Scholar profile (if applicable) Plan to have a profile of the researcher in the next magazine Pitch researcher to central communications, marketing, and advancement for profile and media pieces If possible, involve researcher in outreach events, international visits Start developing a nomination at least 2 months before deadline. Give nominator and referees ample time to prepare their letters
Activity:
• What’s your First, Most and Only• Write a 3 sentence description of your story (Time: 2 min)
• Find a partner and present your description (Time: 2 min)
• Did your story impress?
Referees: Whom should I ask?
• World-class, renowned expert in the field• Familiar with your work• Arm’s length preferred
• Avoid direct mentors (PhD supervisor, PDF supervisor); demonstrate independence
• Unless your direct mentor is the big-wig (Nobel Laureate etc.)
• Do they add to your story?• Balance between national and international referees (i.e. for RSC)
National vs International
• Know your audience when writing• European vs North American tone• Generic vs Discipline-specific• Leadership vs Research-focussed
• Global Excellence Initiative• An initiative of Governor General David Johnston with the objective of raising
Canada's research profile on the global stage• Outlines strategies behind Paths to Success including:
• Early Researchers• External Review Process• Celebrating Success
Presenter
Presentation Notes
While the North American office may be looking for the superlatives and hyperbole, the European office may look down on this and prefer a more subtle tone
An external review process is available through Program Director, Monique Racine (Universities Canada), which follows the following timeline:
• At least 6 weeks prior to the submission deadline, the institution must provide the Program Director with the name of the nominee as well as a short biography, the subject matter for the nomination and the name of the prize or award in order to secure two excellent reviewers.
• The institution must submit a full draft nomination dossier no later than 3 weeks prior to the submission deadline to the Program Director
• Responses from reviewers will be returned to the Program Director within 10 daysto be transmitted back to the institution.
• The institution has 10 days to incorporate any comments and suggestions into the final nomination dossier for the international award/prize to the sponsoring organization.
The Takeaways
• Build a community• Everyone has a story• Build up award portfolio• There is more than one way to promote yourself• Promotion is ongoing• The importance of sharing the file with OVPR for future reference and
assistance
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Build a community Everyone has a story Build up researchers There’s more than one way to promote someone Promotion is ongoing
