Don't be afraid - EMAIL THAT ACADEMIC

It's a daunting thought, isn't it? Emailing that academic who has been working on this for 30 years and you've been doing it for what feels like 30 minutes? Don't fret - it's not as bad as it seems.

I felt that same fear the first time I emailed an academic. I had his books on my shelf, his papers downloaded and now... Now I was going to send an email! I sat there for hours; thinking, fretting, dreading the thought that I wouldn't get anywhere and I'd feel daft!

But then... Then I realised something:

How cool would it be to be sat in your office or at home and you get an email from a student asking for YOUR help? Imagine that? Being such an important academic that your getting emails from random students asking for your advice?!

So... I emailed him, and guess what? He emailed back! Coolest moment ever. 

Now, I'm still nervous emailing important academics, don't get me wrong, but I realise that at one point, they were me. They were the student looking for help and advice but they didn't have a mini-computer sat in their pocket that allowed them to shoot off an email (Christ, they didn't even have email!!) and get information in seconds.

The best advice that I can give us this:

Be kind, be courteous, be curious and above all, be excited!

You are NEVER too low down the academic rank to email people. 

When you email that important academic, drop in the name of one of their papers (that you've read! Definitely read before name dropping!) and have questions for them, ask for a PDF of their book or paper that you need. Definitely don't get disheartened if they don't reply; remember, they are people too and their jobs can be stressful. But also, don't give up! Email another academic in the meantime, ask your lecturers for emails of academics they think could help.

Emailing an academic can be life changing. You lose nothing by emailing them but could gain so much by doing so. 

Please, if you're thinking about emailing an academic, in the words of Shia LeBeouf, just do it!

Signing off for now, 

The Confused Archaeologist