Gratitude for 2025, what's to come in 2026, and Merry Christmas!
Well it's a week to go until the big day if you're a celebrator of Christmas! This blog will be taking a couple of weeks off, so this post comes with our very best wishes to you and yours for the festive season and a description of one thing I like to do over the holidays. That is to take stock of the year that is closing, and start pondering what next (maybe I'll even get chance to get the seed catalogues out this year - which had been a habit until our weekends again became full of target archery in 2023, after a ~20 year hiatus!). This isn't a process that is best done rushed. I find a reflective few minutes here and there, the odd mind map and leaving ideas to marinade can be much more productive in the long run when it comes to doing the right things, rather than just getting stuff done. These days, when our days could be absolutely full and us still not achieve what we really want to it's this slowing down that helps refocus on what's really important, not being busy for busyness sake.
Part of taking stock is thinking about what went well, why did it go well, what was good about it, how did it help people, and therefore what do I want to do more of, and what would I change. To use a gardening analogy what will I harvest i.e. do again, as if on repeat, and what will I compost i.e. what do I need to do differently based on what I've learnt.
Another important point of taking stock is reflecting on what I'm grateful for. As always, I remain grateful for the people I've been able to support. I never take for granted how lucky I am to be able to work with so many interesting people working on an enormous variety of important topics. It isn't always easy of course, lots of folks lack confidence in their potential, or their own ideas (which is partially what drove creation of the Artemis Project) and need emotional support; occasionally, but not often some struggle with the idea that peer review might not see the importance of the work in the way in which they do and therefore those aspects need work, but mostly people are brave and willing to listen and try my suggestions out. The most painful thing is of course when a client isn't successful with their grant, or fellowship application. It's the fellowships that hurt the most! I have a far better than average success rate, but sadly I can't guarantee success. Once upon a time, in an ancient job role I was told it was a weakness that I cared too much. These days, I'm told it's a strength, particularly when I'm leading a long-term grants Masterclass programme for ECRs. Participants feel not only informed by the content, but also cared for, motivated and supported. As I recognise their growing brilliance and self-confidence so it becomes a virtuous circle with them dreaming bigger, upskilling themselves and bravely stepping into the grant applicants journey.
On a personal note, I've been doing a lot of learning myself this year. I've always had a fascination with life long learning, and it's encouraging to be back in a fairly formal educational environment again, with modules to work through, tasks to undertake and practice assignments to pass. Over the past few years I've become increasingly familiar with the work of the Institute for Women-Centred Coaching (IWCC). A few years ago I took their foundations certificate and this year I've been working towards their full coaching and facilitation certification. In 2026 I'll turn 50 and perhaps that is why I was drawn into the work of the IWCC as a reflection of the differences I commonly see between typical male and female clients and how culture & societal bias is holding female researchers back. This is blatantly obvious in data demonstrating our leaky pipeline i.e. that as one becomes more and more senior, one is less likely to be female. Much progress has been achieved since I was considered engineering as an 18 year old, but we're still missing out on so much talent, and fulfilment for female researchers. That's what drove creation of the Artemis Project, and all the free resources and individual support I'm developing under that umbrella.
2026 looks to be a monumental year in terms especially of what I hope to achieve with the Artemis Project, all the other grant and fellowships support will of course remain available. So let me close by saying very best wishes from me, and everyone else behind the scenes at Research in Focus. Enjoy the festive season and look out for tips, tools, and ideas from us to help your 2026 be your best year yet!
