Decisions and Detours in Academia with Prof. Baessler

Episode Notes How do you make hard decisions? How long should you take to decide whether to move to another country or get married? Is there a checklist,or even a “right” way, to decide big life questions? These are some of the questions Prof. Baessler and I explore in this episode of Academic Diaries. Prof. Baessler begins by sharing what university was like in Germany, including the famously intense oral exam that summarized your entire education in one day. Pass it and you earn your degree. Stressful? Absolutely. Later, he talks about the experience of moving to America and starting a completely new life in another country, from opening a bank account to renting an apartment for the first time. He also opens up about stepping away from academia for a time to focus on his family, and how, through a turn of faith, he was eventually able to return and continue his academic career. Something that’s incredibly difficult to achieve in most cases. Throughout the conversation, Prof. Baessler reflects on the decisions that brought him to where he is today, and we talk about how overthinking can be just as detrimental as underthinking. Whether you’re navigating career crossroads, life transitions, or big personal choices, this episode offers honest insights on finding your way without losing yourself in the process. If you would like to know more abut Prof. Baessler click on the link below: https://www.phys.virginia.edu/People/personal.asp?UID=sfb5d To check out the book I was raving about, here is Sync by Steven Strogatz: https://www.cornellstore.com/Strogatz-Sync Art: Gene ChenEditor: Cristoforo Farnese De La RuaProduction: Sounds on GroundsMusic: Snakes and Fire (Instrumental Version) by Pär HagströmEs_Clear Blue Sky by Sara the Instrumentalist