Mistakes, Missteps, and Mindsets: Stories of Failure and Resilience in Academia
Mistakes, Missteps, and Mindsets aims to address the stigma surrounding failure in academia. Every week hosts Alex Whyte and Dr. Krystal Nunes will interview Toronto Metropolitan University community members where we will dive into stories of their professional failures and how they bounced back and navigated those setbacks.
Your new Teachers in Fighting Failure
She might be a teacher in chemistry and biology, but it's not far off to say that Dr. Krystal Nunes is also a teacher in failure. Specifically, she founded the Nunes Group, a pedagogy-focused research group after noticing a gap in how scientists (and scientists in training) were never taught how to bounce back from failure.
As someone with her fair share of experiences and experiments that went sideways, she brings a guiding experience, and scientific angle to the podcast.
Episodes
Feb 13, 2024
Feb 13, 2024
31 min
This week we talked to Dr. David Kinahan, the Senior Director of Development Communications here at Toronto Metropolitan University. David walks us through his journey of self discovery, from leaving dental school to pursuing a PhD in English Literature, Dr. Kinahan doesn't look at his pass failures as a negative thing but instead looks at them as strategic moves that culminated in his future success.
Feb 5, 2024
Feb 5, 2024
47 min
This week we talk to Dr. Eden Fussner-Dupas is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UBC and former TMU instructor about her unconventional journey to becoming a professor.
From failing her first chemistry exam, to ultimately obtaining a PhD in biochemistry, Dr. Fussner-Dupas frames her setbacks as stepping stones that have ultimately led her to becoming a professor who aims to revolutionize the way learning happens in the classroom.
To learn more about Dr. Fussner-Dupas' work visit: https://biochem.ubc.ca/faculty-2/eden-fussner-dupas/
#podcast #stem #womeninstem #failure #academia #toronto #torontometropolitianuniversity #TMU#sshrc
Jan 29, 2024
Jan 29, 2024
45 min
In this episode we interview Julia Pia, a Toronto Metropolitan alum, who completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2020. Following her undergraduate degree, Julia received a Master of Science in chemistry from the University of Toronto in 2022. Today, Julia is the CEO and founder of Ment Projects, a mentorship business that enhances career development through innovation and collaboration.
Jan 22, 2024
Jan 22, 2024
46 min
This week we interviewed Toronto Metropolitan University professor Dr. Lynda McCarthy about her journey from visiting the Canada Center for Inland Waters with her elementary school to becoming a great lakes ecotoxicologist and professor. Dr. McCarthy details the struggles she faced going from an institution with unlimited resources to a burgeoning start-up university, having her research shut down under questionable circumstances, and how crucial it is to "Let Your Voice Be Heard!".
To learn more about Dr. McCarthys research visit: https://www.torontomu.ca/mccarthy-research-lab/
Jan 16, 2024
Jan 16, 2024
26 min
Cohosts Dr. Krystal Nunes and Alex Whyte talk about the goal of the podcast and interview each other about their academic journeys and the roadblocks they've encountered along the way.
Have Your Own Story?
The Nunes Group is recruiting instructors and faculty members across all departments and faculties to be featured on the podcast. If you are interested in sharing your stories of failure, please contact Dr. Krystal Nunes (krystal.nunes@torontomu.ca) or Adelaide Humphreys (addie.humphreys@torontomu.ca)