Scholars Unbound

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Scholars Unbound is a monthly podcast/video series that showcases the voices of scholars who know no boundaries when it comes to the pursuit of knowledge. You will hear insights from their experiences as international scholars and how these influenced the

Dahlia Simangan


    • Nov 30, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 15m AVG DURATION
    • 47 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Scholars Unbound

    Episode 44: Academic Reset

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 7:51


    In this concluding episode of the year, I explain what I mean by academic reset and some of the practices I started doing to rethink, refocus, and restart my academic activities. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Episode 43: Publishing & Flourishing in Graduate School

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 22:03


    After interviewing Prof. Yuji Uesugi in the previous episode, we continued our conversation with his students at Waseda University about publishing a book, writing practices, the difference between a dissertation and a book, and so much more. Relevant episodes: Episode 42: Publishing with your students Episode 31: Your thesis is not the book Episode 30: Turning my dissertation into a book Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Episode 42: Publishing a book with your students

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 12:13


    In this episode, I talked to Prof. Yuji Uesugi of Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan about his book project with his students. He explained the value of publishing a book during graduate school and ways to facilitate collaboration between students and researchers. Books mentioned by Prof. Uesugi: Hybrid Peacebuilding in Asia (Springer, 2020) and Operationalisation of Hybrid Peacebuilding in Asia (Palgrave, 2021) Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Episode 41: Ready to write your first book?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2022 9:12


    Writing a book is no easy feat. It takes time, effort, and a great deal of dedication. In this episode, I elaborate on some of the questions that I encourage you to think about before you embark on the often lengthy but rewarding journey of publishing an academic book. Relevant episodes: Episode 31: Your thesis is not the book Episode 19: Strategies for managing academic and family lives Episode 18: What's wrong with work-life balance? Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Episode 40: Publishing Your First Monograph

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 28:32


    I talked to Dr Dhanasree Jayaram, Assistant Professor at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), about her book and some of her tips for future book authors. We also discussed the unique challenges faced by scholars who earned their degrees in universities in the Global South and what we can do as an academic community when it comes to supporting each other's research work. Get a copy of Dr Jayaram's book or suggest it to your librarian: Climate Diplomacy and Emerging Economies: India as a Case Study You can also follow more of Dr Jayaram's research work on Twitter and LinkedIn. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Episode 39: Challenges of Global South Scholars

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 12:05


    There are hidden (non-financial) costs in academia, and most of these are borne by scholars from the Global South. In this episode, I share some of the challenges I face that I know are not unique to me, hoping that as a community we can collectively demand solutions and address them in our own simple but powerful ways. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Episode 38: Assessing and sustaining your academic career

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2022 16:09


    Why do we need to amplify our messages, and why is it important to look after our professional development? In this episode, five scholars from the Philippines share their reflections and key takeaways from a research and publication workshop that I participated in back in July 2022. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Intro and outro music by Lava Koirala. Transition music is a trimmed version of tracks from Darkness and Light by Ketsa licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Episode 37: What is your relationship with time?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2022 10:52


    Are you struggling with time? Do you often find yourself uttering, “I just don't have enough time!” In this episode, I share some questions for you to reflect on that may be helpful when you decide to assess your relationship with time. Mentioned in this episode: Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Intro and outro music by Lava Koirala. Transition music is a trimmed version of "12 Dream-Teachers by Ketsa" licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Episode 36: Building Up Your Academic Expertise

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 11:17


    Episode 36: I share in this episode the talking points for an invited talk I did about building up expertise. As an academic, I talked about four of the factors that helped me build up my knowledge and skills in academia and how I continue to develop them. Mentioned in this episode: Paul J. Silvia's How to Write A Lot Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Episode 35: Checking in with Yourself Mid-Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 11:18


    Episode 35: After two months of silence here a hectic personal and work schedule, this episode is the perfect time to do a mid-year check-in. In this episode, I share my process halfway through the year when I review my schedule, re-align my goals, and check in with myself. How about you? What are your practices for reviewing your schedule, goals, and academic mission? And when was the last time you checked in with yourself? Relevant episodes: 1. Scholars Unbound Ep 22: The Power of Saying No 2. Endless Possibilities with Aiza and Leticia Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Listen Again: The Power of Saying No

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2022 11:28


    Listen Again 1: Hi everyone! I'm on a break from creating content this month. I'm re-sharing this episode from June 2021 about why "saying no" is sometimes necessary for health and well-being. Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers Tom Mullaney on Quitting is Ok Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Editors Explain the Elements of an Effective Book Proposal

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 16:52


    Episode 34: Dr. Nicolas Lemay-Hébert (former Routledge editor) and Mr. Dominic Byatt (publisher at Oxford University Press) share with us some insider tips on what makes a good book proposal. Books mentioned in this episode: (1) International Peacebuilding and Local Involvement by Dr Dahlia Simangan; (2) Ethnoreligious Otherings and Passionate Conflicts by Dr Michael Magcamit Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter, joining our Facebook Group, and joining the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Intro and outro music by Lava Koirala. Transition music is a trimmed version of "12 Dream-Teachers by Ketsa" licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    The Pros and Cons of Writing a Book Chapter

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 13:49


    Episode 33: Should you say yes to an invitation to write a book chapter? I have written some book chapters in the past and in this episode I talk about three advantages and three disadvantages of contributing a book chapter. I hope that these considerations will be helpful to you before committing to writing a book chapter. Book mentioned in this episode Human Rights at Risk. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter, joining our Facebook Group, and joining the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Intro and outro music by Lava Koirala. Transition music is a trimmed version of "12 Dream-Teachers by Ketsa" licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Authoring vs Editing a Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 36:53


    Episode 32: I had the privilege in this episode to talk to Dr Salvador Santino Regilme, Jr. of Leiden University about his experience in publishing a sole-authored and editing a volume. He also shared with us his academic journey and some of his writing habits that may also work for many of us. This is a valuable resource for those who are thinking or currently in the process of writing an academic book. ---This conversation was recorded in December 2021--- Dr Regilme's personal website Books mentioned in this episode Aid Imperium; Human Rights at Risk; American Hegemony and the Rise of Emerging Powers Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter, joining our Facebook Group, and joining the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Intro and outro music by Lava Koirala. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Your Thesis is Not the Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 12:02


    Episode 31: What are the necessary revisions you have to make when you are turning your thesis into a book? What are the elements of your thesis that you can keep in your book? In this episode, I share with you my experience in revising my thesis and transforming it into an updated work for a broader audience. My book with Routledge on International Peacebuilding and Local Involvement can be purchased here. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter, joining our Facebook Group, and joining the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Intro and outro music by Lava Koirala. Transition music is a trimmed version of "12 Dream-Teachers by Ketsa" licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Turning My Dissertation into a Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 12:30


    Episode 30: You're done with your dissertation! Now what? Why not turn your dissertation into a book? In this episode, I share how I published my first book within two years after my PhD. My book with Routledge on International Peacebuilding and Local Involvement can be purchased here. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter, joining our Facebook Group, and joining the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Intro and outro music by Lava Koirala. Transition music is a trimmed version of "12 Dream-Teachers by Ketsa" licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    More than Enough

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2022 12:30


    Episode 29: In this first episode of season 2, I looked back to 2021 and reminded myself that I've done more than enough. We've done more than enough! Enough to look ahead to 2022 with renewed but cautious optimism. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter, joining our Facebook Group, and joining the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Intro and outro music by Lava Koirala. Transition music is a trimmed version of "12 Dream-Teachers by Ketsa" licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Season 2 Trailer: It's All About Writing

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 0:46


    This second season for 2022 will be all about academic writing–from book proposals, sole-authored monographs, edited volumes, journal articles, and grant proposals. The first half of the year will focus on publishing a book from start to finish and the second half will cover writing practices and managing writing projects, plus commentaries on publishing challenges for Global South scholars. Join me as I talk to my special guests and reflect on the ways for us to be fearless, global, and unbound. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter, joining our Facebook Group, and joining the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Academic Snakes and Ladders

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 16:28


    What are your academic snakes and ladders or the challenges and opportunities you encounter in academia? In this bonus episode, I'm interrupting our podcast break to share the talk I've given during a webinar hosted by the International Islamic University Malaysia on "Snakes and Ladders: Navigating Academia as Early-Career Female Academics." Mentioned in this episode Dr Rabi'ah Aminudin on Episode 7: Diversifying Narratives of Knowledge. Scholars Unbound Program Queen Bee Syndrome Controlling Your Career vs Setting Intentions by Cathy Mazak Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter, joining our Facebook Group, and joining the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Season 1 Finale: 2022 Plans

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 5:58


    Episode 28: What a year it has been! In this episode, I share some of my plans for this podcast, including the first Scholars Unbound Program next year. Join the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Lessons from a Year of Podcasting

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2021 5:54


    Episode 27: Do you want to start your own podcast or maybe you're just curious about the process that goes behind producing a podcast? I hope you will find this reflection on some of the lessons I have learned from one year of podcasting helpful. Join the Scholars Unbound Patreon community. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Revising an Academic Paper

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 12:41


    Episode 26: In this episode, I share my process when revising a research paper for an academic journal hoping to compare notes with you and learn from each other when it comes to tackling the sometimes arduous task of addressing a major revision decision. Ep 24: Rising Above Rejections Ep 22: The Power of Saying No Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega's Draft Review Matrix Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Decolonising Academia

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 21:20


    Episode 25: Dr Harvy Joy Liwanag, a medical doctor and health systems specialist from the Philippines, discusses the importance of decolonising global health and academia and encourages us to practice reflexivity in our research activities. Dr Liwanag's profile at the United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) UNU-IIGH's Decolonisation Conversations Series Episode 1: Reflexivity through Conversations Episode 2: Learning & Education Dr Liwanag's recent article on "Dialogical reflexivity towards collective action to transform global health." Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Rising Above Rejections

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 9:36


    Episode 24: Rejections are normal and common in academia. What do we do whenever we are confronted with rejections and criticisms? In this episode, I share some of my thoughts and practices when dealing with rejections. Physics Today article on Einstein The Professor Is In Episode 2:29 on Coping with Disappointment, part I Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Doing a PhD during the Pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2021 20:54


    Episode 23: It's no news that the Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly changed our lives, but how do international students cope with unfortunate news from home while continuing their studies abroad? Irine Hiraswari Gayatri, a student from Indonesia (the most recent pandemic hotspot in Asia) who is currently studying in Australia (a country known for its tough lockdown and border controls) answers this and other difficult but important questions in this episode. Irine is a PhD candidate at the Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) Centre, School of Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, supported by an Australia Award Scholarship. She is also a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Political Studies, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and writes regularly about security issues in Indonesia. Her latest article is for the Australian Outlook about terrorism in Indonesia during the pandemic. You can find her other articles here or follow her on Twitter (@gayatriveda) for updates. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    The Power of Saying No

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2021 11:28


    Episode 22: Do you find it difficult to decline an offer or an invitation? It is normal to feel that way, but in the long run, sometimes politely saying no to invitations that are not aligned with your values and do not fit within your schedule is empowering and beneficial not only to your career but, more importantly, to your well-being. Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers Tom Mullaney on Quitting is Ok Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    ACUNS Tokyo - Researching Peace in the Philippines

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2021 23:34


    Episode 21: Why is peace research in the Philippines important? In this episode for the ACUNS Tokyo Series, my special guests, Harmond P. Marte and John Lee P. Candelaria answered this question plus more. They also shared their reasons for pursing their graduate studies in Japan and provided some helpful tips to those who are thinking of doing the same. ACUNS Tokyo Liaison Office Follow Harmond on Twitter and read his publication on Private Sector Involvement in Bangsamoro Peace Agenda here. Follow Lee on Twitter, subscribe to his podcast about Philippine history and read his publications here. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Productivity vs Creativity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2021 12:12


    Episode 20: Toxic productivity ended up being counterproductive for me. In this episode, I talked about why the culture of "publish and perish" is detrimental to our growth as scholars. I also explained why I prefer the word creativity over productivity and how this word choice shifts my mindset and influences my relationship with my writing. Huffpost article about toxic productivity Cathy Mazak's podcast Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Strategies for Managing Academic and Family Lives

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2021 18:22


    Episode 19: This episode is about three inspiring stories of motherhood in academia from three inspiring scholars, Dr Aisha Younus, Teresa Jopson, and Rahmatika Dewi. Even with their busy schedules, they took the time to reflect on their journeys to let us know that we are not alone in navigating life within and outside academia. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    What's Wrong With Work-Life Balance?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2021 9:58


    Episode 18: In the past few months, I noticed that I have been working until late at night and even on weekends, feeling physically tired and mentally unfocused. I realized that I was spending more time with my work to meet deadlines than with the important people in my life. I thought I just need to "balance" my work time and personal time, but it did not improve my well-being. For this episode, I invite you to reflect with me the answer to the question I recently asked myself: Are you balancing your work and personal time or are you managing your life? Work-life integration Cathy Mazak's podcast Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Raising a Family During Your PhD

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2021 27:12


    Episode 17: Most of us would agree that having children during your PhD is often considered a career setback. But that should not be the case. Raising a family should be normalized and supported within academia. In this episode, Dr Ana Alonso shared how she successfully completed her PhD while navigating the different phases of her academic and personal lives. She also talked about how she situates her research on children born out of conflict and violence within her own experience of parenthood. Follow Dr Ana Alonso on Twitter Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Working with Your PhD Supervisor

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 13:14


    Episode 16: Your relationship with your supervisor is not always smooth sailing, but there are simple ways for maintaining a positive and healthy working relationship with your supervisor. In this episode, I shared some of the ways that worked for me when I was a PhD student and helped me sustain this relationship even after my PhD. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    What Makes a Good PhD Research Proposal?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2021 15:53


    Episode 15: What makes a good PhD research proposal? To answer this question, I asked my former PhD advisors at the Australian National University to share with us what they are looking for in a good proposal from prospective PhD students. My special guests for this episode are Professors Luke Glanville, Joanne Wallis, and Benjamin Zala. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Personal Relevance of Research

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 14:15


    Episode 14: In academic research, we need to explain the scientific or academic relevance of our research. How does it contribute to knowledge? How does it advance our current understanding and the state of our discipline? But what's in it for us, personally, to spend years and fully commit to a research topic? Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    ACUNS Tokyo - Choosing a PhD Research Topic

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 26:59


    Episode 13: For this second installment of the Scholars Unbound-ACUNS Tokyo Series, I had a conversation with Elizabeth Katherine Gamarra and Vanessa Abou-Khalil, both PhD students in the field of politics and international relations. Elizabeth's PhD research is on the narratives of securitizing refugees in American press media in the context of Spanish and English languages. Vanessa, meanwhile, is researching conflict resolution in Japan's foreign policy in countries with a hostile relationship with the United States. We talked about their research motivations and the importance of drawing on personal experiences when choosing research topics. ACUNS Tokyo Liaison Office Elizabeth is a former Fulbright and World Rotary Peace Fellow. She is currently a MEXT Fellow at International Christian University (ICU) pursuing her PhD studies in International Relations under the mentorship of Dr. Giorgio Shani. She has a double Masters in the field of Mental Health (US) and Peace and Conflict Studies (Japan) which has permitted her to work as a therapist and mediator with refugees and indigenous communities from the US, as well as engage in nonprofit work in Latin America. At the age of 14, she founded "generations of legacies," which is an initiative focused on educational empowerment. After completing her graduate-level studies at the age of 19, she continued to grow this initiative from abroad. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan (GPAJ). Tedx Talk on Human Mobility: https://youtu.be/OW2UzHfcYlw GPAJ profile: http://www.gpaj.org/activities/members/elizabeth-gamarra Featured in El Objetivo article: https://bit.ly/3sFWht0 Research article: https://bit.ly/3ky3AAk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-katherine-gamarra-50a315b5/ Instagram: elicitq Vanessa completed her bachelor in French and Lebanese Law at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon. She then received a MEXT scholarship, funded by the Japanese government, and pursued her higher education in Japan. She obtained a master's degree in Political Science from Kobe University and is now in her third year of PhD. She is also a contributing writer at The Japan Times. She worked as a teaching assistant and gave undergraduate-level lectures on Japan Diplomatic History at Kobe University. She is currently a member of the Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs (RIIPA). LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-abou-khalil-666186117 Twitter: https://twitter.com/vanessa_ak - Subscribe to our newsletter - Join our Facebook Group - Also available on iTunes and Spotify - Music by Lava Koirala [Editing note: My microphone malfunctioned during the recording so I had to re-record myself but I kept my original questions and points of discussion from the actual call.] --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Is a PhD for me?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 9:47


    Episode 12: So, you want to do a PhD? In this episode, I revisited the reasons why I decided to do a PhD. I hope that my reflection here about why I started a PhD and why I stayed will be useful when you start identifying your own reasons. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Preparing for a PhD Program

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2021 20:32


    Episode 11: What are the things you need to consider before embarking on a PhD program? In this episode, I reunited with my very good friend and fellow IUJ graduate, Dr Prabhat Barnwal, now an Assistant Professor of Economics at Michigan State University. Prabhat had applied to PhD programs at several universities in the US and elsewhere while he was working towards his master's degree at IUJ. With this experience, he has many practical tips for those who are planning to do a PhD. This is a must-listen for those who are still undecided about their PhD plans. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Cultivating Academic Networks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2021 12:38


    Episode 10: Networking is important in many careers, including in academia. But how can introverts, like me, overcome anxiety, fear, and imposter syndrome in order to network with other people in our disciplines? In this episode, I shared some tips for not just expanding but, more importantly, also for cultivating our academic networks. Remember, our experiences and circumstances are different; what worked for me won't necessarily work for you. But I hope that through this reflection, my experience will resonate with you and remind you that you are not alone in feeling anxious about networking. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    ACUNS Tokyo - Networking while in Graduate School

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2021 29:00


    Episode 9: For this inaugural episode of the Scholars Unbound: ACUNS Tokyo Series, Arbenita Sopaj (Kobe University) and Raymond Andaya (University of Tokyo) shared their research motivations, research plans, and networking activities as graduate students in Japan. Arbenita and Raymond are both interested in post-conflict peacebuilding processes. Arbenita's research is on the role of the United States in constitutional drafting of Japan, Timor-Leste, and Kosovo. Raymond, on the other hand, is looking at the network of actors involved in the transitional justice and reconciliation of the Bangsamoro in Mindanao in the Philippines. ACUNS Tokyo Liaison Office: http://www.acuns.tokyo/ Arbenita Sopaj https://twitter.com/Arbenitasopajj http://www.gpaj.org/activities/members/sopaj-arbenita Raymond Andaya https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondandaya/ http://www.gpaj.org/activities/members/andaya-raymond Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Louder and Stronger

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 6:18


    Episode 8: What can we do, individually and collectively, to fight a system that was not built for us, scholars or students from and of the Global South, of color and of minority, and women and LGBTQ scholars? We need to be louder and stronger than the monster. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Diversifying Narratives of Knowledge

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 21:34


    Episode 7: For this episode, I re-connected with Dr. Rabi'ah Aminudin, my senior at the International University of Japan, who finished her PhD at the University of Manchester. She shared the highs and lows of being a minority scholar and how to get going despite the systemic challenges in academia. I'm so thankful to Rabi'ah for her courage in sharing her story and for reminding us of the importance of kindness and diversity. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    A Crisis of Opportunities

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 10:52


    Episode 6: This episode is a reading of an article I've written for the International Affairs blog, entitled "I hope this finds you well living in the Anthropocene," drawing on my research published in the International Affairs journal. You can find the much more complete version of the blog post here and the journal article here. I wanted to talk about academic opportunities, following my conversation with Dr Leticia dos Muchangos in Episode 6, but the typhoons that recently devasted the Philipines made it difficult for me to talk about these. Instead, I encourage you to consider donating to the typhoon victims in my home country. Here is the list of aid agencies accepting donations. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Discovering and Creating Opportunities

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2020 24:50


    Episode 5: In this episode, I had a fun conversation with Dr. Leticia dos Muchangos about her academic journey from Mozambique to China and then to Japan and how she has discovered opportunities and created some for herself. Subscribe to her podcast https://anchor.fm/endless-possibilities-pod Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Learning in Perpetuity

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2020 8:02


    Episode 4: When do we stop learning? I contemplated this question for this episode in the context of higher education. On average age of a graduate student: https://bit.ly/3k55reL https://bit.ly/3dDwOug Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    A Career Outside Academia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2020 29:49


    Episode 3: Dr. Dahlia Simangan speaks to Dr. Lemuel Toledano about learning and service in a career outside the academia, challenges in an academic journey, and the importance of balancing work and fun, among many other topics. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    Comfort and Outrage at Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 9:58


    Episode 2: In this episode, Dahlia Simangan reflects on the concept of home as an overseas scholar and shares the idea behind the Scholars Unbound project. To subscribe to our newsletter, visit www.dahliasimangan.com/scholarsunbound. This episode is also available on iTunes and YouTube. Join the Scholars Unbound network Facebook group. Kyra Maquiso on Tahanan for Oscen magazine. Music by Lava Koirala. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

    From the Philippines to New Zealand and Beyond

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2020 18:51


    Episode 1: In this episode of Scholars Unbound, I talked to Dr Michael Magcamit about his research on security and insecurity issues in Southeast Asia, his fieldwork experiences, and how he, as an overseas scholar, makes sense of home and belongingness. Support this project by subscribing to our newsletter and joining our Facebook Group. Also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. Music by Lava Koirala --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scholars-unbound/message

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