🧵 I live-skeeted the second day of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action 2025 Presidency Conference.
Lots of important discussions on matter concerning #EarlyCareerResearchers!
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK #PostDoc #ECR
Now closing remarks.
What a galvanising conference this has been! Lots of inspiring talks and thought-provoking discussions. I’m glad I was able to attend!
I’ll be awaiting the post-conference report—and so should you!
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Historian Dr. Maarja Merivoo-Parro—the only humanities scholar to take part—wins second place in the Falling Walls Pitch Competition!!!
Congratulations Dr. Merivoo-Parro!
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
• “Mobile” researchers are often excluded from local networks because of language barriers & this negatively impacts their careers (YES).
• We also need to ensure that lack of English-language skills doesn’t hold ppl back either
• A seat at the table for all #ECRs!
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Gian Maria Greco:
Positivity of mobility should not be used to minimise precarity. Precarity is damaging to people. Stability is necessary for excellence.
INDEED
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
(Personal reflection: directionality will be especially damaging for the social sciences and humanities, as those fields will have to fight even harder to demonstrate their “relevance” to mandated priorities. SSH people need to know and speak out on this!)
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Gian Maria Greco:
With the #MSCA bottom-up approach the power is in the hands of the researchers. This has always been under threat! But researchers are embedded in society.
#ECRs are not machines to produce papers; we need to reform assessment, but this will take time.
#MSCA2025DK
Tanya Bondarouk:
• We need to redefine what career success is—it’s not just becoming a prof (YES)
• ECR definition should not be age-bound (STRONG AGREE)
• #MSCA must remain bottom-up. Directionality will build walls instead of breaking them (WANTED TO CHEER)
#MSCA2025DK
In what areas should #MSCA improve its action and impact under the future Framework Programme (anonymous survey)
5. DEI policy mandatory
(Yes! And I would add: accountability on DEI policy.)
Points 1, 3, 4, & 5 are now all equal size on word cloud.
#MSCA2025DK
bsky.app/profile/mceg...
Point that #MSCA eligibility rules are incredibly complex and need to be simplified. Also more flexibility around non-academic placements and longer fellowships. And, of course, more budget!
These are all ideas, but would be such positive changes!
#MSCA2025DK
In what areas should #MSCA improve it’s action and impact under the future Framework Programme (anonymous survey)
1. Supervisor training
2. More budget
3. Remain bottom up / no directionality
4. Visibility
#MSCA2025DK
Highlight of the conference right here.
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Prof. Linková: academic freedom. We need to preserve what we have built. Anti-DEI and anti-gender voices are being magnified.
Plea to STEM: take academic freedoms as one & take them seriously. Right now the attacks are on SSH-specific fields. But they affect you too!
(Applause)
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Darragh McCashin: A small amount of people are causing a huge amount of harm. What if we designed policies that penalised them; for example, funding proposals where you need to address psychological safety on your research group.
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Prof. Linková: mobility can be unsafe for certain folks. Sending them can be irresponsible! We need policies in place from sending and receiving institutions to ensure mobile researchers’ safety.
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Prof. Linková returns to a point from yesterday: if an institution doesn’t align with your values, then leave. But how many institutions have good DEI policies? We need to stay and work.
Change agents for GEP / DEI work are negatively impacted & punished for the work.
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Darragh McCashin: Complex interplay between institutional, policy, and individual levels when talking about mental health and well-being of DEI. (Basically there is buck-passing and it’s often put back on the individual.)
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Point is made:
#EarlyCareerResearchers #ECER are mobile so support is/should be shared by the entire ecosystem.
Inclusion is not just institutional but collective (eg disciplines; funding system)
(Didn’t catch the speaker!)
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Another question: In everyday university life, what do you think is most needed to improve the conditions and well-being of #EarlyCareerResearchers #ECR?
It’s astounding how many people are anonymously answering
• Stability
• Secure employment
• Stable funding
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
We’ve been asked what we think the most important task of the university is.
I think the main task of the university is to teach people to think critically. Do that, and everything will follow.
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
There is extra funding you can apply for if you need support to participate in the MSCA.
1. This is a great development since I was a fellow.
2. Sadly this is rare among funding programmes.
3. More funders need to follow suit!
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Comment from Pil Maria Saugmann: We need to support disabled researchers as well.
YES! So glad that accessibility and disability justice was mentioned!!
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
MCAA representative Dr. Castellano:
ECR survey data on mental health. The numbers are SHOCKINGLY BAD. Large proportion feeling anxious and depressed nearly every day. (Academic pressure; career uncertainty; work life balance; taboo discussing mental health)
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Marie Curie Alumni Association representative Dr. Castellano:
ECR are a vulnerable population; their needs are not being met; there is not a safe environment for them to report their concerns.
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
(I’m sure of this because my MSCA project looked at how ideas about gender were reflected in religious music during the Reformation and Counter Reformation.)
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
(Personal reflection: much of this conference is STEM-focused. Women role models held up are those who received a Nobel Prize and Innovation Awards. Concrete examples of projects on DEI are social sciences + STEM. Humanities fellows exist & I’m sure some projects focus on gender.)
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Now plenaries on MSCA policies on DEI (Senem Sanal Erginel) and MCAA work on ECR well-being and DEI (Irene Castellano)
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Prof. Linková: list of people-centric policies and actions. She emphasises that we need to share power and include minoritized groups and ECRs.
Safety & Well-being are the bedrock of Excellence and Innovation.
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Prof. Linková:
Penance most effective at restoring trust.
Repair is a choice.
A choice made by management.
Institutional courage: commitment to protect and care; seek truth and engage in moral action. (Freyd 2025)
We need leaders who prioritise people.
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
Prof. Linková takes us through the numbers on gender based violence and the (non)response by unis.
Institutional betrayal (Smith and Freyd 2014; Freyd 2025).
Harms in academia extend out: reference letters, funding proposals, networks.
#MSCA #MSCA2025DK
