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parked by the global reaction to the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May, universities, departments and faculty members rapidly issued statements and policies highlighting their commitment to diversity and equity in academia. Conversations on how to create a more equitable research environment erupted on social media, and data on the lack of diversity in academia were thrown into stark relief. In the United States, for instance, 13% of the population is Black, but Black researchers comprise just 6% of faculty positions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). According to the Pew Research Centre in Washington DC, 62% of Black STEM employees in the United States say they have experienced racial or ethnic discrimination at work, and 57% say their workplaces do not pay enough attention to racial and ethnic diversity. Although some scientists feel hopeful about Diversity in science: next steps for research group leaders Many institutions publicly pledged their commitment to inclusion in research after Black Lives Matter protests this year. And academics emphasize the need to maintain momentum. By Nikki Forrester Demonstrators march at Indiana University Bloomington to protest against police violence during the Black Lives Matter protests.

When Isabel Müller became an assistant professor in 2021, she started working 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Although nobody expected her to work this much, she says, she couldn't find a way to fit all her research, teaching and mentoring efforts into fewer hours. But as the first term progressed, Müller realized her pace was unsustainable. She needed to set boundaries if she wanted to continue working in academia: "It took another term, but now I try to stick to some rules."Müller, a mathematician at the American University in Cairo, is not alone in her efforts to redefine her relationship with work by setting limits to protect her mental health and stave off burnout. The desire for work-life balance is nothing new -but the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have brought academic workers a greater appreciation of its importance. Last August, the discussion on how best to achieve work-life balance went viral with a TikTok video about 'quiet quitting' -the idea that workers should no longer go above and beyond their job requirements and subscribe to 'hustle culture'. In academia, that translates into no longer performing unpaid, unrecognized or underappreciated tasks.To Müller, quiet quitting describes working hours that allow her to have a life outside her job and to take care of herself. "I really dislike FED UP AND BURNT OUT: 'QUIET QUITTING' HITS ACADEMIA Many researchers dislike the term, but the practice of dialling back unrewarded duties is gaining traction. By Nikki Forrester Three-quarters of researchers say that they have dialled back various aspects of their work since March 2020. "Individuals have been pushed so hard that apathy sets in, motivations wane and people are exhausted."GETTY

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