Academic Duets

Download or read book Academic Duets written by Marta Vohlídalová and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The publication offers portraits of 15 couples where both partners work in science, research or teach at a university. Interviews focused on issues related to dual career partnerships in science, the process of combining two highly demanding professional careers in science, the distribution of roles between the partners and the combination of work and family lives. The portraits capture academics in various life phases—from young people and doctoral candidates at the beginning of their careers to well-established scientists at the peak of their creative powers, to people who are gradually winding their research careers down. The theoretical introduction to the publication analyzes some of these issues: problems related to geographical mobility, the bad design of Czech family policy which does not correspond well to the needs of parents working in demanding scientific professions, or problems with stereotypes that people have about dual career partnerships in science. The interviews were conducted with both partners together, which makes them very dynamic, engaging and interesting. The partners confront their opinions, experiences, attitudes and worldviews. The interviews are also open and often touch upon the most intimate and private aspects of life. Because the study brings stories of people from various generations in various life stages and working in different disciplines, we can also see how various generations have managed to combine two demanding careers, and how the lives of scientists have changed over time. Last but not least, the interviews also contain invaluable observations and reflections related to contemporary science and scientific work and the issue of combining work and parenthood.