Personality in Residence: Sarah Springman

On September 9th and 10th, 2024, Professor Dame Sarah Springman, Principal of St Hilda’s College at the University of Oxford, visited SQUARE as Personality in Residence. Throughout her stay, Prof. Springman focused on a theme that is often overlooked but crucial for the academic community: cultivating a healthy research culture.

Her visit featured a series of interactive events aimed at tackling common but pressing challenges in academia, ranging from hierarchical structures and intense competition to high workload expectations and inadequate financial support. Prof. Springman engaged in these discussions with both senior academics and PhD students, bringing her unique perspective as an academic mentor and former Rector. These themes resonate with many academic environments, and Prof. Springman, along with a distinguished panel of experts, offered insight into how universities can create more supportive environments for researchers.

Key Themes and Takeaways

1. Rethinking Leadership: During the panel discussion moderated by Prof. Claudia Franziska Brühwiler, Prof. Springman was joined by Prof. Virginia Richter, Rector of the University of Bern, and Prof. Ed Constable, former Vice-President of Research at the University of Basel. They highlighted that healthy research environments require more than policies—they depend on responsible, value-based leadership that prioritizes long-term well-being over short-term gains.
2. Supporting Early Career Researchers: The panelists emphasized the importance of providing strong support for young academics, particularly PhD students and postdocs, who often find themselves in precarious positions due to the short-term nature of academic contracts and intense pressure to publish. Concrete recommendations included creating more structured mentorship programs, clearer career pathways, and increased institutional support.
3. Addressing Academic Integrity and Ethics: The discussion acknowledged that the pressure to achieve high-impact results can sometimes lead to questionable practices. Strategies such as implementing robust integrity frameworks and embedding these principles into the early stages of academic training were seen as essential steps.
4. Bridging Value Gaps: Even with the right frameworks, different values and expectations between researchers, administrators, and university boards can create friction. Prof. Springman and her fellow panelists discussed fostering open communication channels and promoting a culture of mutual respect.

Supervising the Next Generation

In a separate event specifically for faculty members, Prof. Springman led a discussion on the delights and challenges of doctoral supervision. Supervisors were encouraged to share their experiences—the highs and lows of mentoring PhD students. With her vast experience of mentoring more than two dozen PhD students, this is a topic particularly close to her heart.

Hearing from Doctoral Students Themselves

The visit also featured an informal brunch where doctoral students had a chance to candidly share their experiences and challenges with Prof. Springman. She listened carefully and reflected on what’s working well and where support could be improved.

It was a pleasure to have Prof. Springman at SQUARE. The Vice-President’s Board Research & Faculty team, the organizers of this visit, look forward to keeping the conversation around healthy research culture going on campus.