Webinar
April 17, 2020
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Note: Participation in this program satisfied the Fundamentals of Diversity and Inclusion requirement for the Career Development Certificate.
Power dynamics take place in interactions where people have the ability to influence one another — and they exist in every workplace. It is important at all career stages to recognize factors that shape the uses and abuses of power in order to effectively navigate them for career success.
This webinar, convened by the Society for Neuroscience, featured science professionals in academic, private, and public sectors who highlighted the various aspects of power dynamics in research environments and provided thoughtful strategies that foster a positive work culture by promoting respect and professionalism.
Points of discussion included:
- Recognizing power dynamics and the impact of intersectionality.
- Internal and external resources for accountability and compliance of appropriate workplace behavior.
- Tools and resources to prevent or mitigate negative power dynamic occurrences.
- Approaches to evaluate power dynamics and work culture for career advancement.
Recognizing Power Dynamics in the Workplace
Speakers: Ana Núñez and Keith Trujillo
Many elements impact how power dynamics manifest, which varies based on your environment, position or status, and other demographic factors, such as gender, race, or ethnicity. This session provided a framework through which to understand and decode them, as well as help you develop strategies that help promote healthy working environment.
Addressing Power Dynamics in the Workplace
Speakers: Bryan Hanson and Rhonda Davis
An abuse of power will have a negative influence on workplace relationships and addressing this imbalance can be difficult for a variety of factors. This session looked at some attributes of learning or training environments that make addressing power dynamics challenging and also explored the internal and external resources available for constructively rebalancing power.
The webinar featured a recording of the original program followed by a moderated discussion with Dr. Alycia Mosley Austin, Associate Director of the URI Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program (INP).
This program was co-hosted by the University of Rhode Island’s INP and Metcalf Institute as part of the RI C-AIM Career Development Program.
