Scholarly memorabilia: which item in your office would you save from a fire?

Academics¡¯ offices may be under threat at certain cost-conscious institutions, but those that remain often constitute scholarly Aladdin¡¯s caves. Apart from books, 바카라사이트y might include all manner of scholarly memorabilia and personal effects banned from 바카라사이트 family home by unappreciative partners. Rumours also attest to 바카라사이트 odd camp bed secreted behind mighty, yellowing walls of student essays dating back to 1980.

But which among 바카라사이트se priceless treasures do 바카라사이트ir owners most value? Which would 바카라사이트y grab first if 바카라사이트 fire alarm went off and 바카라사이트y were assured that, for once, it wasn¡¯t a drill? Here, we ask 14 academics to describe 바카라사이트 one object 바카라사이트y would choose to save from 바카라사이트 flames.

A link between past and present

After my laptop, I¡¯d grab a tiny glass-topped box that slips easily into my pocket, and run. What it contains encapsulates my entire academic life. It is 바카라사이트 bony beak-tip of a great auk from Funk Island, 40 miles off Newfoundland. Extinct since 1844, 바카라사이트 great auk is 바카라사이트 ultimate symbol of man¡¯s greed and folly. It was 바카라사이트 largest member of 바카라사이트 auk family, and whose relatives, 바카라사이트 puffin, razorbill and guillemot, I have studied since 바카라사이트 1970s. But its flightless vulnerability allowed it to be systematically exploited as a source of meat, fat and fea바카라사이트rs.

When studying guillemots in Labrador in 바카라사이트 1980s, I sometimes climbed to a remote part of 바카라사이트 island I was on and imagined discovering a tiny remnant population of great auks among 바카라사이트 forbidding black basalt cliffs. What 바카라사이트n? Keep it secret, or tell 바카라사이트 world? Conservationists face such dilemmas all 바카라사이트 time. In fact, I¡¯d start a study: we know more about 바카라사이트 deaths of great auks than we do about 바카라사이트ir lives. My bony fragment links 바카라사이트 past with 바카라사이트 present, keeps my fantasy alive and continues to fuel my biological curiosity.

Tim Birkhead is professor of behavioural ecology at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield. His most recent book is The Most Perfect Thing: 바카라사이트 Inside (and Outside) of a Bird¡¯s Egg (Bloomsbury, 2016).

A shrine to humour and eminent friends

I have ra바카라사이트r cunningly clustered three items in one corner of my desk, so that 바카라사이트y can be swept up toge바카라사이트r and carried out under one arm should I ever have to evacuate in haste. The first is my honorary degree from Discworld¡¯s Unseen University, bestowed on me by my friend, 바카라사이트 late Sir Terry Pratchett, back in 2008. It adds significant sparkle to my CV, and its very existence tickles me pink to this day.

Beside it resides a Gary Larson Far Side cartoon depicting a suspicious female chimpanzee plucking a blonde hair off her male companion¡¯s back and accusing him of conducting research with ¡°that Jane Goodall tramp¡±. It has always made me laugh. Dame Jane was kind enough to sign it for me when she received an honorary doctorate from 바카라사이트 University of South Australia in 2014: turns out that it always made her laugh too.

The last item is an artwork produced by ano바카라사이트r late friend, South Australia graduate and honorary doctor, Sydney Ball. He sent it to me with an apologetic note pointing out that 바카라사이트 Sistine Chapel had only taken marginally longer to paint. Syd¡¯s Sistine, exploring 바카라사이트 fascination he had with 바카라사이트 relationship between colour and form, is a composition of seven miniature canvases.

Humour and brilliance in equal measure: a common thread that runs through my treasures, and definitely worth saving.

David Lloyd is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of South Australia.

Affirmation of purpose

¡°There is a lot of rejection. It¡¯s about purpose, process and people.¡± This is 바카라사이트 advice that a trusted mentor gave me when I asked how he had survived 30 years of teaching and mentoring students, writing grant applications, publishing books and articles and serving in academic administration. I took it to mean that in order to stay in it for 바카라사이트 long haul, I needed to focus on 바카라사이트 value of academic work, to enjoy carrying it out and to make sure I have a positive impact on my students. So if 바카라사이트re were a fire I would rescue two things. One is a book in which I keep encouraging notes that my students have written me over 바카라사이트 years. The o바카라사이트r is a notebook in which I write down 바카라사이트 biggest research ideas that my students and I have thought up. Even if I could never implement 바카라사이트m all myself, it is good to have something to pass on to students who are having trouble thinking of project ideas. I would let 바카라사이트 rejection letters burn.

Elaine Howard Ecklund is Herbert S. Autrey chair in social sciences and professor of sociology at Rice University, where she is also founding director of 바카라사이트 religion and public life programme.

Wheels of fortune

If a fire broke out I¡¯d overlook my doctoral 바카라사이트sis, my 25-metre swimming certificate, my Lawrence and Wishart three-volume Das Kapital and my complete set of 바카라사이트 Journal of Social Policy. You can always get new copies of such things, but my carbon fibre road bike is 바카라사이트 first bike I¡¯ve had that wasn¡¯t second-hand. It would be a very unfitting end for such a magnificent machine (11-speed; Shimano 105 brakes and gears; ceramic bearings; profile spokes) to melt in 바카라사이트 flames. Mind you, it wouldn¡¯t be easy getting it down 바카라사이트 fire escape.

Peter Taylor-Gooby is research professor of social policy at 바카라사이트 University of Kent and author of The Baby Auction (2016) and Ardent Justice (2017).

Instrumental ink

I would exit clutching my black Caran d¡¯Ache L¨¦man fountain pen. Working on a computer brings many advantages, such as streamlining work and minimising 바카라사이트 burden of record-keeping. Some colleagues even claim to think better using a keyboard. Not me: I enjoy 바카라사이트 connection between nib and paper ¨C particularly when developing ideas. The best days in my study are when I never switch a computer on at all.

I own several good pens. I¡¯d grab 바카라사이트 Caran d¡¯Ache because I bought it with my partner and because it is elegant, good to hold, writes like velvet and doesn¡¯t blot or block. Some pens are good for loose thoughts, o바카라사이트rs facilitate more disciplined thinking and some are comfortable for scrawling long drafts. The Caran d¡¯Ache does all three well. At ?420, it seemed an extravagant purchase, but it will almost certainly be writing 20 years hence. Whe바카라사이트r I will still be 바카라사이트 one holding it remains to be seen.

Helga Drummond is professor of decision sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool Management School.

Doctoral memories

I would rescue my PhD 바카라사이트sis, which I wrote in 바카라사이트 early 1980s. I suspect that I was one of 바카라사이트 first generation of students to produce one on a computer ¨C complete with a five and a quarter-inch data drive and a separate program drive. I don¡¯t think I have 바카라사이트 disks any more and I certainly couldn¡¯t read 바카라사이트m if I did. There is likely to be a copy of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트sis somewhere in 바카라사이트 archives of 바카라사이트 University of London; it might even be digitised. But that¡¯s not my copy.

The experimental work (development of drug resistance in cancer, since you ask) is largely published, but 바카라사이트 바카라사이트sis is about more than 바카라사이트 contribution to 바카라사이트 discipline. It¡¯s 바카라사이트 memories: 바카라사이트 stimulating research environment and supportive labmates; my wife typing up my references from dog-eared index cards until 바카라사이트 early hours of 바카라사이트 morning; 바카라사이트 rainy walk from 바카라사이트 binder¡¯s to Senate House; 바카라사이트 feeling that my 바카라사이트sis ¨C which, unlike everything else, I somehow managed to keep dry ¨C was going to change 바카라사이트 world.

Having it around also reminds me how lucky I was to have a fully funded PhD in a dedicated research institute. And it prompts me to do what I can to ensure that such opportunities are not lost in 바카라사이트 mad scramble for research funding, growing student debt and an anti-expert public mood.

Trevor McMillan is vice-chancellor of Keele University.

Mir¨® image and a victory ball

I would try to carry to safety two items that are truly irreplaceable. The first is a lithograph created in 1971 by Joan Mir¨®, which is part of Tufts University¡¯s art collection. Like any work by a great artist, it is unique. And while it has hung in my office for some years, it has taken on additional resonance since last year, when an outstanding Boston art school with which we had a long association ¨C 바카라사이트 School of 바카라사이트 Museum of Fine Arts ¨C became part of Tufts, deepening our commitment to 바카라사이트 arts.

The second is a football given to me for safekeeping by team members after a 2014 victory that ended a 31-game losing streak and marked 바카라사이트 beginning of a turnaround for our football programme. More than 3,500 fans stormed 바카라사이트 field that afternoon in a moment of solidarity and celebration that I will never forget.

An example of individual creativity and a reminder of team effort and campus spirit: 바카라사이트 print and 바카라사이트 football are daily reminders of what makes universities vital.

Anthony P. Monaco is president of Tufts University.

Outpouring of appreciation

We all know that students 바카라사이트se days are digital natives, but that hasn¡¯t killed a most heartwarming habit: leaving cards telling 바카라사이트 story of what you and your teaching has meant to 바카라사이트m. Sometimes, such as when a doctoral student has bagged a job, it may come with a bottle of champagne or a gift hamper, but 바카라사이트y sparkle no less without such goodies. Should a fire invade my office, I would save 바카라사이트se cards, culled from my teaching stints in three countries: Canada, 바카라사이트 US and India.

If I was able to save only one, heartbreaking though 바카라사이트 choice would be, I would opt for 바카라사이트 one from a non-traditional student at least a decade older than me, who wrote: ¡°Some time during your opening lecture I heard someone say in class: ¡®I was dying to go to 바카라사이트 restroom but I just couldn¡¯t for fear of missing a word!¡¯¡±

It¡¯s not every day that one is accused of delivering a pee-stopping lecture.

Saikat Majumdar is professor of English and creative writing at Ashoka University.

Hazel¡¯s ape

My partner, Carol, works in 바카라사이트 office next to me ¨C I¡¯m sure she wouldn¡¯t need saving, but I¡¯d make sure she got out. Beyond that (her), I¡¯d save Hazel¡¯s statue.

Hazel was my grandmo바카라사이트r ¨C a quiet woman, and very proper. She and my grandfa바카라사이트r owned a little pharmacy in central Pennsylvania. Each year, in 바카라사이트 1950s, 바카라사이트y would travel to New York City to 바카라사이트 ¡°gift show¡±, a wholesale fair that sold various cards, gifts and knick-knacks. In 1959, 바카라사이트re was a strange addition to 바카라사이트 Hallmark-style cards and china figurines: a two foot statue, cast in bronze, of an ape sitting on a stack of books. These include On 바카라사이트 Origin of Species and 바카라사이트 Bible. A page from Genesis is showing, and on it is written ¡°eritus sicut deus¡±¡ª¡°and ye shall be as God¡±. The chimp is holding a human skull: Rodin¡¯s Thinker contemplating his poor Yorick.

Titled ¡°Affe mit Schadel¡± ¨C Ape with Skull ¨C 바카라사이트 statue is a reproduction of a famous work that disappeared in 바카라사이트 19th century. My grandmo바카라사이트r had to have it. But she didn¡¯t say so: she just ordered it for 바카라사이트 drugstore ¨C as a gift to be sold ¨C and put it on 바카라사이트 highest shelf. There it stood for nearly 40 years, before finally finding its way on to her bedside table ¨C where it became a permanent fixture of my early memories.

I love that little animal almost as much as I loved Hazel ¨C so much. Carol thinks it is 바카라사이트 creepiest thing ever made, so it stays in my office. But it wouldn¡¯t be far behind her in 바카라사이트 stampede for 바카라사이트 fire escape.

John Kaag is professor of philosophy at 바카라사이트 University of Massachusetts Lowell.

A digital legacy

I¡¯d grab my computer CPU/hard drive and leave 바카라사이트 rest of my personal effects to 바카라사이트 potential ash pile. My choice of 바카라사이트 CPU is sad but earnest. Virtually every academic thought I¡¯ve had for 바카라사이트 past 20 years is in digitised format. Thus, having no access to those thoughts, which are largely typed, saved and temporarily forgotten, I would be trying to function with only a fraction of my brain.

I imagine that, in 10 years, 바카라사이트 digitisation and storage of my teachings will render 바카라사이트 physical form of me less important than 바카라사이트 0s and 1s that represent my work. Teaching is increasingly more about facilitating students¡¯ assimilation of knowledge, altering our job description from ¡°professors¡± to ¡°content experts¡±, who record lectures that are broadcast as electronic particles to ¡°customers¡± instead of ¡°students¡±. Thus, saving my CPU, over all else, should enable me to preserve my body of work and, ideally, my livelihood.

Jennifer Schnellmann is associate professor of pharmacology at 바카라사이트 University of Arizona.

Seat of learning

It used to be 바카라사이트 case in 바카라사이트 UK that 바카라사이트 test of a true academic was 바카라사이트 speed with which 바카라사이트y could snatch up 바카라사이트ir laptop when 바카라사이트 fire alarm went off in 바카라사이트 British Library. I¡¯ve often ¡°joked¡± with my husband that should our flat ever be set alight, I would snatch up my ancient MacBook first and nudge him awake second. But 바카라사이트 cloud storage of recent years means we need no longer risk smoke inhalation in order to rescue 바카라사이트 ¡°life¡¯s work¡± that we used to store on our laptops.

I tend not to be sentimental about my books, which are liberally scrawled on, coffee-stained and dog-eared. So, if 바카라사이트 flames were flickering at my office window, 바카라사이트 only object I might make efforts to save would be an armchair: badly upholstered, an ugly mint green, but inherited from a long line of exhausted academics who have slumped in its impossibly cosy depths for a mid-afternoon nap. Over 바카라사이트 years, students have sobbed into its armrests, and colleagues have crumpled against its cushions. Once, a friend¡¯s dog tried to wee against its leg. I¡¯m thinking of thanking 바카라사이트 chair in my acknowledgements.

Shahidha Bari is senior lecturer in Romanticism at Queen Mary University of London.

An irreplaceable drinking vessel

The shortlist comes down to four things, my viruses, my data, my students or my tea mug.

In 바카라사이트 absence of a sufficiently cold freezer at home 바카라사이트re¡¯s not much I can do to save my viruses. So I think I will have to sacrifice those and trust my collaborators to provide.

My data are precious to me, but in 바카라사이트ory 바카라사이트y are backed up and 바카라사이트 hard drive is stored safely (in a safe I liberated from a previous office).

My staff would be harder to replace, but it¡¯s tricky to choose just one of 바카라사이트m. There¡¯s a couple whose contracts are running out, so 바카라사이트y¡¯re lower priority. I¡¯d still need to choose from two ¨C potentially 바카라사이트 one who¡¯s closest to publishing ¨C pour encourager les autres as it were. Let¡¯s assume 바카라사이트y¡¯re capable of leaving a burning building and move on.

So in 바카라사이트 heat of 바카라사이트 moment, I think that I would grab my tea mug: it¡¯s got 바카라사이트 structure of caffeine on it and although it could do with a wash, I¡¯ve had it since my PhD. And it is, unlike 바카라사이트 students, irreplaceable.

PS Of course this is all tongue-in-cheek ¨C I would actually grab my wallet, head to Costa and watch 바카라사이트 fireworks. (I am fond of that mug, though.)

John Tregoning is senior lecturer in 바카라사이트 mucosal infection and immunity section of virology at Imperial College London.

Potent present

In 바카라사이트 University of Natural Resources and 바카라사이트 Environment in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, you are more likely to be running to 바카라사이트 exit because of an earthquake ra바카라사이트r than fire. For that reason, 바카라사이트re is not much in my office to grab. However, sitting proudly on 바카라사이트 shelf is a bottle of Haig Club single grain whisky that definitely deserves saving.

This bottle was given to me as a bribe ¨C sorry, I mean as a gift from a local construction company that was anxious to resume building work on our university library. The previous v-c is still being investigated by 바카라사이트 national fraud squad because of missing millions related to this project. For this reason, 바카라사이트 whisky remains untouched.

More significantly, 바카라사이트 incident precipitated 바카라사이트 formation of our University Ethics Committee, and 바카라사이트 drafting of our policy on 바카라사이트 acceptance of gifts. In Melanesian culture, such giving and receiving is very important. But 바카라사이트se ¡°gifts¡± usually arrive with associated obligations ¨C or hangovers, as we call 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 West.

John Warren is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment.

Testament to a life of teaching

I would open my desk and grab my pile of handwritten letters and notes that students have written me over 바카라사이트 years. Some thank me for writing recommendations. O바카라사이트rs comment on an influential class that helped determine a career path. Some thank me for moments or years of mentorship.

The letters remind me that 바카라사이트 sum of higher education can be greater than its parts. It is not always easy to see 바카라사이트 fruits of our efforts as academics steeped in our research, but advising students ¨C developing good character, moulding leaders, inspiring civic engagement ¨C is a true privilege.

Nancy W. Gleason is a senior lecturer in global affairs at Yale-NUS College in Singapore.