Dear College of Science Faculty and Staff,
Here’s a Friday quiz.
What do you think when I say ‘alone’?
- Well, there’s the TV show that’s amazing. Talented people who can survive when dumped into the middle of nowhere, only with bow, arrows, and a sleeping bag.
- There’s alone and peaceful. Walking under your personal umbrella in the rain. Making a cup of tea and reading your book. Planting your spring garden. Writing your manuscript. Being alone can give you welcome space.
- And there’s lonely ‘sad because one has no friends or company’ or is misunderstood and feels no sense of belonging. Almost all of us are lonely sometimes, or a lot of the time, one quarter of the world apparently. The vast numbers of songs, poems and stories on the topic underscore this. In a way that seems comforting – so many people in it together.
The tough thing is that we are supposed to do something to fix loneliness. When loneliness is part of a mental health challenge, it can be a medical situation, and please seek help. Published advice about dealing with loneliness seems high pressure: ‘Get out there’ ‘Make new friends’ ‘Reach out to old friends’ ‘Regain hope’.
When I was a graduate student in New York, I spent many nights alone in the lab, running transcription reactions and cell cycle assays. I love lab work, but it was a bit lonely, to be honest. What was really helpful, were the extracurriculars, including dance classes at the Martha Graham Studio nearby. I was in beginner level and the style of dance was new to me, but it was fantastic. For two hours, several times a week, the teacher yelled at us, working to craft our movements into acceptable Graham technique. For those hours, I forgot about anything else, and that was refreshing for mind and body. But more, the same students were in every class. We did not become friends exactly, but we were comrades, and while at the studio, we were a supportive, pleasant group. I’ve found that approach useful throughout life, following interesting pursuits within a like-minded group.
In the College of Science, our first strategic plan thread is ‘A Diverse College where Everyone Belongs’. As you know, our College members report that overall, COS is a Community, Supportive, Collaborative, Welcoming and Inclusive. We are doing well, across our excellent staff units, departments and across all levels of student, but not for everyone. It’s my goal that no one in the College is lonely at work.
PhD training can be lonely, and a stressful time for candidates. In this arena, we’ve built the Connected Science Community PhD, where incoming cohorts of PhD trainees are part of a collaborative, supportive group. Associate Dean Carla Mattos leads this effort, with close partnership from each department. In a related effort, Congratulations! to Dr. Mattos who this week led the College to Faculty Senate approval on a new umbrella program: the Cross-Disciplinary Science PhD. This umbrella shelters Combined PhD programs between departments, supporting our outstanding cross-disciplinary faculty, and encouraging applications from students who belong in each program.
Research is often more fun and generally more productive when done with collaborators, or within a larger interest group. Associate Dean Erin Cram and Associate Director Vance Blankers have been working to promote collaboration in our research. One way is through ‘Research Consortia’. As Dr. Cram writes in the item following, ‘Research Consortia are groupings of Northeastern faculty with research interests that overlap to form collaborative bridges between investigators across departments and colleges. Consortia are informal and a useful way to bring people with shared interests together.’ The goal is that every COS researcher knows who else at Northeastern is working in a related area. Beyond Consortia, and with the aim of building even stronger research communities, COS faculty are invited to pitch a COS Center! Please see the description from Erin Cram following.
These are some ways we are putting our minds together in the College of Science to make our work not lonely, and to promote a feeling of belonging for everyone. There’s much room for your thoughts and ideas, and please send these along. We don’t need to be figurative Alone contestants, struggling through a wilderness by ourselves.
If you are observing Easter this weekend, my best wishes for a blessed and peaceful holiday.
Warm wishes to everyone.