Developing an academic identity: what’s the time Mrs Wolf?

My chapter offers a creative interpretation of my experiences and interests to explore how doctoral research has impacted on me and how my past has shaped my understanding of research and research impact. I invite the reader to join in a playful exploration, through my allegorical relationship with wolves, of what it means to become an academic. If we want to understand the impact of our research, we first need to understand ourselves. I draw on an amorphous body of literature, from diverse sources such as children's author Enid Blyton,; Jungian psychologist Pinkola Estes; and Children's Geographies, long recognised as a place that utilises creative methodologies, resulting in interdisciplinary work that is challenging, creative and exciting (Kraftl, Horton and Tucker 2014).