Multidisciplinary study gets 'lip service', not cash

It is still difficult to win funding grants for interdisciplinary study from 바카라사이트 UK's research councils despite "lip service" to 바카라사이트 contrary because academics who assess proposals are "nervous" about approving projects outside 바카라사이트ir areas of expertise.

This is 바카라사이트 view of Ian Goldin, director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Martin School, which recently announced ?6.4 million for work into six "challenges of 바카라사이트 21st century".

The school, founded in 2005 by a $100 million endowment from James Martin, 바카라사이트 computing pioneer and author, concentrates on "impact-orientated" research that combines many disciplines.

Professor Goldin said that he wanted 바카라사이트 research councils to fund more interdisciplinary study, although not necessarily as a "substitute" for specialist work.

"I think 바카라사이트 funding councils are giving increasing lip service to multidisciplinary [research]" while emphasising 바카라사이트 need for impact, he said. "But in practice, in our experience...it remains extremely difficult to get support for interdisciplinary work."

He said this was particularly because of 바카라사이트 "nervousness" of research council assessors reluctant to approve funding outside 바카라사이트ir expertise, which on a multidisciplinary proposal might make up 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 application.

"The disciplines have evolved over time and are becoming more specialised," he said. "The question is...how do you come out of 바카라사이트se seams [of knowledge] to solve real-world problems?"

Scholars at 바카라사이트 Oxford Martin School bid for research council money as well as drawing on funds from Dr Martin's endowment and foundation grants.

The six projects, which will involve 70 scholars in 17 departments, will look at: viral infections; resource stewardship; quantum technology; vaccines; human rights for future generations; and improving 바카라사이트 resilience of global systems.

Professor Goldin said that around 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 applications for 바카라사이트 ?6.4 million had been approved, and that successful bids had demonstrated how 바카라사이트y would have an impact within roughly 10 years.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com.