Not Alone: Leaders in Focus
Unfiltered perspectives on global issues by research and academic leaders.
Who we are
Not Alone is designed to disseminate the ideas of established, extraordinary academic leaders to inspire, provoke and spark conversation. Contributors are chosen for their prominence and influence in research, higher education and related fields. They select the topics — with conviction and passion being the only requirements.
Our format includes short essays, video interviews and a new podcast series.
Rafael L Bras, ScD | Editor, Not Alone; Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology
Prof Rafael L Bras, ScD
Latest
New podcast series
In Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation opens in new tab/window host Rafael Bras interviews leaders in academia and industry.
John Hennessy opens in new tab/window The inaugural episode features Dr John Hennessy, esteemed academic leader and Chairman of Google’s parent company, Alphabet. Dr Hennessy shares his insights on shaping higher education, his journey from Stanford professor and president to influential entrepreneur, and the pivotal experiences that shaped his career.
Robert Langer opens in new tab/window The latest episode features Dr Robert Langer, Professor at MIT, co-founder of Moderna (and ~40 other companies) — and the most cited engineer/scientist ever. Prof Langer shares his early influences, experiences with ADHD, the challenges he faced in academia, and his thoughts on leadership.
Social impact in higher education
Identifying the role of universities in catalyzing social and economic change, health equity and sustainable development — and measuring their impact
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Turning the supertanker: How do we steer research universities even more toward impact?
Amid global crises and mounting competition for funding, it’s time to raise our game and show the wider benefits universities can bring.
Accountability and measurement in higher ed
See how universities and their leaders are supporting accountability, transparency and the evolution of metrics and rankings
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Evidence-based assessment, equity and opportunity
When it comes to assessing academic career progress, metrics can be deceptive, especially when evaluating individuals from diverse backgrounds.
The future of research and higher education
New approaches, perspectives and policies in higher education and beyond
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Think LEGO towers, not ivory: How we can rebuild trust in higher ed
The founder of edX highlights 4 major issues with higher ed and how to “create a new reality … that puts the learner squarely in the center”
Technology
Delve into how technology and AI are transforming research and higher education.
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AI for Science: a paradigm shift for scientific discovery and translation
To harness the power of AI for science and society, we need to change the fundamental way scientific research is conducted
Diversity & Inclusion in higher ed
Explore how universities are advancing diversity, equity and inclusion — and why it’s so important
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Leadership diversity: Living your values at the highest levels
The Chancellor of UC Santa Cruz writes about the steps her university is taking to attract diverse applicant pools for leadership positions.
Collaboration and partnerships in higher education
Perspectives on collaboration in academia, including town-gown relationships, collaboration with industry and international partnerships
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No university is an island: How to foster town-gown partnerships for impactful outcomes
Universities must collaborate with businesses, communities and government to tackle society’s grand challenges locally and beyond
Leadership
Explore leadership strategies and best practices in higher education and beyond
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Fifty years of campus expression: revisiting the role of university leaders
Amid calls for “institutional neutrality,” will remaining silent truly restore the public’s trust in higher education or contribute to positive perceptions of our relevancy?
This content is from Not Alone, a monthly publication that showcases new perspectives on global issues directly from research and academic leaders.