This is a talk based on one of my most-read blogs posts so far: antidotes to cynicism creep (https://eiko-fried.com/antidotes-to-cynicism-creep/).
It's one of the talks that doesn’t bode well if you stop halfway. First, I provide evidence that academia can look pretty broken: there is low-quality work everywhere you look, the peer-review system has long outlived its utility, and academic publishing is a dumpster fire. Add considerable work pressure, the publish-or-perish culture, and precarious employment situations, and things can look gloomy and disheartening. Second, and this is where the talk becomes a bit personal, I stress how important it is for me not to become a science cynic, because of the responsibility towards my mental health and work, my team, my colleagues, and my students. Third, I then highlight antidotes to cynicism creep, and the many things that have greatly helped me with motivation and staying positive.
