Courageous Ambition

Being ambitious and driven in academic research demands an unending well of courage from students and scholars. Whether it be pitching the quality of your project or presenting the extent of your credentials, resolve is an inherent prerequisite when asking for the resources necessary to have meaningful impact through research. Courageous Ambition comprehensively outlines the complete process of achieving research success and is intended for scholars at any point in their careers. Whether you are a student initiating your dissertation, an early-career researcher hoping for a tenure-track position, a mid-career scholar eager to reconnect with your research, or even a retired faculty member desiring to find the resources you need for research – this book is for you.
This book begins by defining what research excellence looks like in the humanities and social sciences through the prism of diversity and inclusion. Followed by chapter-length studies that examine the building blocks for creating a thriving research program, Courageous Ambition covers essential facets such as developing research questions, building research collaborations, acquiring funding and support, writing grants and scholarships, increasing both research productivity and the impact of outputs, and balancing research with life. Lauren Beck is an award-winning researcher with deep experience in these areas which are so critical to a researcher’s success. She shares the failures and victories she and others have met along the way and offers concrete advice for forging sustainable impact.

Lauren Beck holds the Canada Research Chair in Intercultural Encounter and is professor of visual and material culture studies at Mount Allison University.