[Academic] institutions play a role in constructing knowledge about who we are in the world and how we might move forward and meet the challenges before us.
![[Academic] institutions play a role in constructing knowledge about who we are in the world and how we might move forward and meet the challenges before us.](https://images.zapnito.com/cdn-cgi/image/metadata=copyright,format=auto,quality=95,fit=scale-down/https://images.zapnito.com/users/584929/posters/0f35e9a2-eab3-48df-8cd7-958e4a34af79_large.jpeg)
Research, Leadership and Knowledge Creation: Carolyn Finney
November marks Academic Writing Month, an opportunity to reflect on the leadership lessons provided by Carolyn Finney, storyteller, author, educator and cultural geographer. She is a scholar-in-residence at the Franklin Environmental Center at Middlebury College. Her work delves into themes of identity, difference and imagination. Notably, she is the author of 'Black Faces, White Spaces'. In this week's quote, Finney's words accentuate the importance of academic institutions and leaders in research in the creation and shaping of knowledge:

Leading through Thinking Critically and Diversifying Perspectives
Finney prides herself on being both intellectual and an artist. She is fascinated by identity, difference, creativity, and resilience. In her work, she strives to achieve more cultural literacy in environmental establishments and confront media channels regarding their depictions of difference. She aims to improve consciousness around the fact that privilege impacts those who can speak on ecological matters and make decisions on policy and action.
In her seminal work 'Black Faces, White Spaces', Finney explores why African Americans are inadequately represented in the natural world and environmentalism. Through her study, Finney explores ways in which nature has been comprehended, commercialised and delineated by black and white Americans, drawing on histories of slavery and racial violence. She delves into how these pasts shape who has access to natural spaces.
Finney's words explore the importance of research and the power of academic institutions, reflecting her work where she picks apart previously asserted ideas through diversifying and analysing history. By thinking critically and examining history and the realities we live in, we can deconstruct 'knowledge' and see it from different perspectives.
Leadership Grounded in Challenging the Status Quo
Finney's writing highlights that research is so paramount due to its power to uncover and construct 'knowledge' in a way that has never been done before, thus challenging normative ways of thinking. As Laidlaw scholars, our research uncovers unexplored areas and changes the trajectory of knowledge, having the power to overturn previous ways of thinking.
This emphasises the Laidlaw values of being #Ambitious and #Good. Being ambitious means challenging the status quo and going beyond, challenging normative ways of thinking. Being good means to overturn assumptions to create a better world through the research we choose to conduct.
A Call to Reflect
As we celebrate Academic Writing Month and take a moment to reflect on the insights of Carolyn Finney, let us ask ourselves: what is the impact of the research we choose to do? How does our research shape knowledge about who we are in the world? Finney's words suggest that research is a key factor in leadership, helping us to shape our purpose as leaders.
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