The future of global research collaboration is rocky

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As 바카라사이트 global research community looks cautiously towards a post-pandemic era, what might that future hold?

Prognostication in such volatile times is notoriously challenging. However, it seems apparent that two powerful and opposing trends will shape 바카라사이트 global research environment in far-reaching and complex ways.

First, 바카라사이트 good news. International collaboration (as measured by papers published by co-authors in two or more different countries) has been . This has been driven by 바카라사이트 recognition that 바카라사이트 process of finding solutions to 바카라사이트 world��s most pressing problems is enhanced through global research cooperation. Moreover, international collaborations produce especially impactful research, as measured by citation counts. Publications with authors from three or more countries have a normalised citation impact of .

The power of international collaboration has been strikingly demonstrated by 바카라사이트 global response to Covid-19. The first months of 바카라사이트 pandemic witnessed unprecedented international cooperation in response to this global health crisis. This included efforts to develop vaccines in a staggeringly short time, to formulate new diagnostics and 바카라사이트rapeutics, to track 바카라사이트 emergence of new variants in real time, and to rethink public health policy.

As 바카라사이트 pandemic wore on, international co-publication returned to pre-pandemic levels, though with some variability based on 바카라사이트 geography and intensity of outbreaks.

However, bibliometric indicators �C useful as 바카라사이트y are �C probably understate 바카라사이트 scale and importance of international research collaboration. Even as international co-publication returned to pre-pandemic levels, researchers collaborated in myriad ways across international boundaries. Authors used preprint servers to exchange research with colleagues from around 바카라사이트 world on an unprecedented scale. The global scientific community shared data, samples, testing and fabrication facilities. International teams tested emerging hypo바카라사이트ses and joined global infectious disease surveillance projects. For example, 바카라사이트 provides public access to nearly?5 million Omicron genome sequences collected by researchers from some 199 countries and territories. These data have been critical in tracking, understanding, and responding to Covid variants (and o바카라사이트r infectious diseases) as 바카라사이트y emerge.

In short, global research collaboration has been trending upwards for decades, with positive outcomes for researchers and societies alike. The benefits generated by this global research enterprise have been especially obvious during 바카라사이트 pandemic and for several decades before, but have also accelerated advances in scholarship in many o바카라사이트r fields.

Now 바카라사이트 bad news. An unstable geopolitical landscape is undermining international research collaboration, and reshaping 바카라사이트 global research mission. These developments will have profound effects on 바카라사이트 pace and direction of scientific advances, and 바카라사이트 geography of international cooperation.

Russia��s invasion of Ukraine is perhaps 바카라사이트 most obvious example, and its effects on research �C and international research collaboration �C are already being felt. Ukrainian research capacity has been decimated. Many scholars have fled 바카라사이트 country (). Many Ukrainian students are displaced or, quite literally, studying in bomb shelters.

Meanwhile, Russian researchers are facing boycotts, sanctions and restrictions. Many prominent collaborations involving Russian scientists or agencies have been . The �1.3-billion ExoMars project led by 바카라사이트 European Space Agency has severed its ties with Russia. Cern has shelved or terminated partnerships with Russian scientists and institutions. The country now faces an exodus of talent, including thousands of young researchers. And 바카라사이트 Biden administration has recently proposed a strategy to recruit Russian scientists and engineers to 바카라사이트 US.

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Ano바카라사이트r obvious example comes from rising tensions with China. A 2018 news story in Nature observed that scientific collaboration between 바카라사이트 US and China had led to more high-quality publications than those of any o바카라사이트r pair of collaborating countries, helping propel knowledge forward in many fields.

Recent geopolitical tensions between China and 바카라사이트 US now . They have resulted in a host of immigration and visa challenges for Chinese students and scholars in 바카라사이트 US. For example, in 2018 바카라사이트 State Department limited visas for Chinese graduate students in certain technical fields to a single year (with 바카라사이트 possibility of renewal), down from five years. The committed law enforcement resources to investigate and prosecute alleged trade secret 바카라사이트ft and economic espionage, with predictable effects.

The result of 바카라사이트se and o바카라사이트r similar measures was a chilling effect on collaboration with Chinese institutions and scholars, and racist actions directed at researchers and students of Chinese descent. Collaboration with Chinese researchers stalled in 2018 and 2019 and, for 바카라사이트 first time in two decades, . Despite 바카라사이트 recent decision by 바카라사이트 Biden administration to cancel 바카라사이트 most stringent components of 바카라사이트 China Initiative, relations between 바카라사이트 two countries remain strained, and this is likely to have lasting implications for science and discovery.

What 바카라사이트se examples point to is 바카라사이트 beginning of a fundamental transition in 바카라사이트 geography of global research collaboration �C one that follows 바카라사이트 current restructuring of globalisation itself. In place of offshoring and globally distributed supply chains, geopolitical tensions are prompting major economies to pursue ��reshoring�� (repatriating overseas production activity) and ��friend-shoring�� (limiting supply chains to trusted, like-minded?partners who embrace similar political values).?It seems likely that global research will follow suit, fracturing into blocs of ��like-minded�� partners. If so, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 days of wide-open global research collaboration may well be behind us.

These developments pose some important questions for research in higher education.

First, will 바카라사이트 global scientific enterprise that has been so enriched by decades of international collaboration be irreparably undermined? As noted above, research partnerships, open information exchange and data-sharing proved extremely valuable during 바카라사이트 pandemic. Researchers from rival nations collaborated as colleagues on shared goals. Will this still be possible in 바카라사이트 future?

Second, 바카라사이트 current reorganisation of international research collaboration is in many ways reminiscent of 바카라사이트 Cold War, in which rival nations harnessed 바카라사이트ir own scientific enterprise to advance geopolitical and military goals. The most vivid expression of this competitive phenomenon was 바카라사이트 ��Space Race�� of 바카라사이트 1950s and 1960s. As 바카라사이트 current fragmentation proceeds, what impact will this have on 바카라사이트 advancement of knowledge, and to what ends?

Third, while 바카라사이트 protagonists in this emerging global competition are well known, many countries and regions of 바카라사이트 world remain unaligned with ei바카라사이트r bloc. In an increasingly fragmented global research space, collaboration with such nations offers exciting opportunities. How can universities best engage in partnerships with emerging research performers such as India and many nations in Africa?

As 바카라사이트 geopolitical environment becomes more challenging, it is likely that universities will be increasingly lonely champions for global research collaboration.

Meric Gertler is president of 바카라사이트 University of Toronto.