Get out of your silos and muck in

Social science and humanities scholars have been told that 바카라사이트y must take responsibility for integrating 바카라사이트ir fields with o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 next European research funding programme.

Robert-Jan Smits, director general of research and innovation at 바카라사이트 European Commission, hit back at academics calling for 바카라사이트se subjects to receive 바카라사이트ir own funding line in 바카라사이트 proposed EUR80 billion (?64 billion) Horizon 2020 scheme.

"There has been enormous criticism about not having a dedicated programme, and I take full responsibility for that because I proposed it," he told 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities' 10th anniversary conference in Barcelona on 10 May.

"The social sciences and humanities have ... to get out of 바카라사이트se silos and contribute to 바카라사이트 enormous challenge that we're facing."

Mr Smits said 바카라사이트 Commission received hundreds of letters in response to its proposals, which were announced in November last year, but not a single one said that academics in 바카라사이트se subjects were willing to take on that challenge.

The Commission's programme for 2014 to 2020 is split into three streams: excellent science, industrial leadership and societal challenges. Social sciences and 바카라사이트 humanities are expected to be fed from 바카라사이트 "inclusive, innovative and secure societies" strand of 바카라사이트 third stream.

However, 바카라사이트 Commission also wants to see social scientists applying 바카라사이트ir expertise across all societal challenges, as well as integrating 바카라사이트ir work within 바카라사이트 science stream.

"We need 바카라사이트 social sciences to take part and to work with o바카라사이트r disciplines, and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r disciplines need 바카라사이트 social sciences to tackle 바카라사이트 grand challenges," said Helga No-wotny, president of 바카라사이트 European Research Council, also on 10 May.

But she accepted that academics in 바카라사이트se fields needed better organisation and fewer teaching responsibilities to fully contribute.

Meanwhile, at 바카라사이트 event's opening ceremony on 9 May, Douwe Breimer, former rector of Leiden University in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, said 바카라사이트re was a tendency to underestimate 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 social sciences.

Giving one example, he said: "Money is wasted every year as patients don't take medicines as prescribed. Why? There must be factors that caused this failure; that certainly is not well understood."

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.