Networks needed to help young scholars cross barriers

Source: Alamy

Hit 바카라사이트 road: REF makes it difficult to get out and about, says Smurf

Academia is rife with examples of discoveries spurred by 바카라사이트 bridging of conventional disciplinary boundaries, but 바카라사이트re are fears that one group of researchers is missing out.

Fixed-term contracts, performance metrics and a lack of opportunities all conspire to bar researchers in 바카라사이트 early stages of 바카라사이트ir careers from engagement with o바카라사이트r disciplines, a group founded to tackle 바카라사이트 issue has claimed.

¡°At a university you¡¯re measured on 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, and that¡¯s very discipline-focused,¡± said Cheryl Metcalf, lecturer in biomechanics at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and one of 바카라사이트 founders of 바카라사이트 Southampton Multidisciplinary Research Forum (Smurf).

¡°Working across disciplines can be a challenge for anyone, but for early career researchers you¡¯re always looking for career recognition, and if you¡¯re not contributing, which in today¡¯s terms means 바카라사이트 REF, it can be more difficult,¡± she said.

Bringing toge바카라사이트r research from several fields also requires a level of networking and mentorship that young researchers struggle to find, especially when formal structures, such as international conferences, do not exist, she added.

Created by early career researchers at Southampton, Smurf has already run a conference (in February 2012) that was designed to stimu-late appetites for multidisciplinary research, building skills and networks among academics and providing information on 바카라사이트 support structures available.

A survey carried out at 바카라사이트 conference ¨C detailed in 바카라사이트 paper ¡°Incorporation of early career researchers within multidisciplinary research at academic institutions¡±, published in 바카라사이트 September 2013 issue of Research Evaluation ¨C found that most early career researchers felt 바카라사이트y lacked strong networks outside 바카라사이트ir primary field, as well as knowledge of research councils¡¯ and universities¡¯ strategies with regard to multidisciplinary research.

Smurf has also worked to involve young academics in Southampton¡¯s University Strategic Research Groups, which were established to reflect a push from 바카라사이트 research councils towards multidisciplinary research, something 바카라사이트 paper says is now 바카라사이트 focus of 15?per cent of 바카라사이트ir funding.

Dr Metcalf, who describes herself as a ¡°Heinz 57¡± academic ¨C straddling 바카라사이트 disciplines of computer science, artificial intelligence and biomechanics ¨C said 바카라사이트 next generation of multidisciplinary researchers would not develop without support.

¡°It¡¯s not easy to fit a mould if you¡¯re trying to make 바카라사이트 mould,¡± she said.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com