How to choose a topic for academic writing | Dr Poulomi Das in conversation with Dr Rohini Sen

This is the recording of the live hour-long conversation that happened on 29th August, 7- 8:30 pm, where Dr Rohini discussed how she guides writers toward choosing the right topic for academic writing — followed by an interactive Q&A session. Session Summary: The session explored academic writing processes and topic selection through organic exploration and critical inquiry while discouraging reliance on Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Rohini suggested that topics should emerge organically through personal curiosity rather than external constraints. The conversation stressed ethical research integrity and the principles around it. Maintaining intellectual depth requires a slow and sustained internal wrestling that artificial intelligence tools cannot replicate. Researchers must prioritise ethical considerations over procedural compliance to avoid extractive practices in their work. The session also stressed the importance of holistic writing habits and productivity. Viewing research as a rhythmic cycle instead of linear output promotes a deeper connection with one's research work and also positively affects one's mental health, something that is often ignored in conversations around academic productivity. Interestingly, incorporating self-care rituals, maintaining a nourishing diet for the body and mind, and physical movement enhances scholarly rigour while resisting burnout from the publish-or-perish culture. Detailed Points of the Discussion with Time Stamp (00:00:04) Introducing Dr Rohini Sen (00:03:05) Takeaways for the audience (00:04:55) Topic Selection as an Organic Process (00:07:11) Navigating Restricted Research Areas (00:11:17) Refining the Research Focus (00:14:36) Methodological Tools for Structuring Thoughts (00:18:18) Methodology as Method (00:19:30) Scope of Research Across Genres (00:21:52) Talking about your Research (00:25:24) Navigating Popular Trends vs. Personal Interest (00:28:50) Bad writing in Academia and Forced Productivity (00:32:20) Researcher Persona and Positionality in Research (00:36:30) Integrating Affect and Emotion--the Feminist's Way (00:37:55) The four frameworks to write about emotions--Content, Context, Concept and Affect (00:45:51) Bureaucratization of Ethics and the Democratisation of Research (00:50:25) Risks of Topic selection using Generative AI (00:57:36) Conclusion--Any past advice about research writing that you would now revisit and/or change? Any advice for your younger scholar self? (00:58:20) "What are the voices in your head when you are writing?"-- Personifying Your Audience (01:00:00) Holistic Approaches to Writing--Getting a Rhythm, Nourishing the Body and Mind, Movement and Health (01:03:20) Q&A (01:05:25) Where can AI help us in research, and Where should it not? (01:11:00) Creativity and Discipline (01:11:30) Grieving and Releasing Research Topics (01:13:45) Overcoming Writing Inertia, Importance of Writing Rituals, and Accountability in Writing Groups (01:19:40) Concerns Regarding Grammarly and Stylisation (01:24:05) Writing as Preparatory Work for Research (01:27:30) Keeping a Research Journal (01:28:40) To be discussed in later sessions...Importance of Good Mental Health in Effective Research Writing