The myth of linear discovery: A call for cross-discipline exploration in our research and careers

Abstract

I attended the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting in New Orleans this past autumn, where I helped organize a speed networking event hosted by APHA’s Health Communication
Working Group (HCWG). I met a number of students and early career professionals at the event, and I found it rewarding to share my own experiences with individuals who were just beginning their careers in the field.

One student in particular was interested in learning more about health communication and my job at a non-profit research institute, and we made plans to connect after the conference. We spoke by phone a few weeks later, and she asked many of the typical questions. I told her about my professional background, described several of my current projects, laughed about what I found both rewarding and maddening in my daily activities, and mentioned skills that I particularly valued in colleagues and collaborators.