iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

At the end of July, I left a 20 year #academic career. While I may have left academia, academia isn't leaving me! As an independent research psychologist and coach, I will maintain my scholarly integrity. It's just that my audience is different.... Read more here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/findin...

linkedin.com

Finding Meaning in Psychological Research. Ever read something about psychology and thought, is that actually true?

Too neat. Too obvious.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Hi, Bluesky! It's been a while. It's nice to be back. What's been happening? - Hi! 👋 I'm Karen. For more than twenty years, I've been exploring how people continue to live meaningful, flourishing lives when life does not unfold as expected. Now, I help people explore that question for themselves.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

You get papers through your career that are personally meaningful and ones that you're really proud of. I really hope this helps us to start better understanding the #WellbeingArchaeology movement.

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Reposted by Dr Karen Burnell

Paul Everill @pauleverill.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Recently published with @karenburnell.bsky.social: a new study seeking to understand “Wellbeing Archaeology” Excavating the Past and (Re)Finding Myself: Exploring Veterans’ and Providers’ Experiences of Wellbeing Archaeology | Journal of Veterans Studies journal-veterans-studies.org/articles/10....

journal-veterans-studies.org

Excavating the Past and (Re)Finding Myself: Exploring Veterans’ and Providers’ Experiences of Wellbeing Archaeology | Journal of Veterans Studies

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Still very, very new to this. 🙈 I'm never happy when it dries. I think perhaps I need to work in stages a bit.

Imbolc celebration on a white, square watercolour tile. It reads 'Imbolc. May new life stir new dreams....and may the hearth fire ignite and inspire' in gold lettering. In watercolour are three purple crocuses.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

It was 17 years ago today that I was awarded my PhD. What a journey it’s been so far, personally and professionally. #AcademicSky

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

I cannot wait to start this. I drew on van der Kolk’s work in my PhD. But I finished that in 2007, some 7 years before this work was produced. I looking forward to catching up. #AcademicSky

A book written by Bessel van der Kolk called ‘The body keeps the score: Brain, mind and body in the healing of trauma’. It is published by Penguin and it has a cream background with a free flowing blue form on the front, which looks like a body in motion (to me anyway).

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Well. This was an absolute joy. Finally got to meet @drclairenolan.bsky.social for the first time! And it is also so good to hear from the veterans themselves. Presented our most recent paper. Check out the preprint on Open Science Framework. Search for our names. @tag45.bsky.social

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

*scurries off to find ‘I’m not an archaeologist’ badge* @tag45.bsky.social

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

I was given this gift by two students today as we’ve come to the end of a module. Aren’t they beautiful! I was really moved by the thoughtfulness of their gift, and it comes at a time when I’ve been rethinking my role and what I am prioritising. #AcademicSky #PerfectTiming

A pink thank you card in landscape with gold calligraphy saying ‘thank you’. The gift I’ve been given is three origami flowers in blues, pinks, and purples with button centres and on wires. They are wrapped in a white tissue to make a bouquet.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Hands up if academia now bears no resemblance to when you first started your career. I’m still really passionate about research, training, and education, but I’m all outta love for the culture of the sector as it currently is.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

I got my PhD in 2007. I was not prepared for the academic sector I have found myself in.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I took this picture of Southampton Solent University. My city is in the top 20 for green space in the UK at 18%. This is the view across one of the parks on my way to work.

A picture of trees without leaves silhouetted against a beautiful early morning orange sky. In the distance is a grey multi-storey building. In the foreground is an umbrella sheltering seating outside a local coffee company.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

So. I got the desk reject. No worries. But the sad thing is that the other journals that have been suggested are not hybrid open access, just fully open access, and I don’t have the necessary transformative agreements in place, or any funds to support Gold Open Access. Bit stuck now.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Blue Sky is giving me all the feels of back when I was a PhD student in the pub having random, interesting conversations, and I’m loving it. #AcademicSky

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

I’ve just submitted a paper. Not a rare occurrence but it’s been a very long time since I felt confidence in my writing. Somewhere along the way I lost my mojo and I’ve struggled for the last decade. I’m ready for the desk reject, but I know it’s a good paper. I’m proud of it. That feels good.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Any dispensing ophthalmologists on here or known to anyone on here specialising in life long congenital cataracts in England, ideally South Central but incl. London? #opthalmologists #opthalmology

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Lovely to see a university take so much pride in this work. Well done Winchester! Also, it highlights the AMPHORA project, which I’m still very proud to have co-led.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I’m after a starter pack for #gerontology. I think there is one, but can’t find it!

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

It’s not psychology or archaeology, but I think this is an important second post. I’ve realised the most nerve-racking experience a Brit can have is making a fellow Brit a cup of tea.

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Dr Karen Burnell @karenburnell.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Throughout my career I’ve had the privilege of exploring and representing the experiences of our #veterans. It’s a privilege because I’ve been trusted as a civilian. For those who didn’t make it home and for those who do, but experience life long challenges, we will and do #remember you.

picture is of the Cenotaph in Southampton, with handmade poppies made by our wonderful communities covering the railings

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