> I wonder if though part of the problem may be that researchers aren't always aware of the support that's available to them - something that's easier to address at least than absence of resources.
I think this is part of the problem (for example I was unaware of the various NCCPE activities/resources), but it is the breadth of activities/organisations outside of universities that first led me to posting this mail. It seems like an inordinate amount of effort for a researcher to keep on top of all these, with their relevant contacts, and to then send out lots and lots of speculative emails to parties that may, or may not, be interested in collaborating.
From Michael's earlier email it seems like there is plenty of room for improvement in projects' impact plans, even though most are produced with at least some input for research offices etc.
However, the idea I had wasn't to replace the expertise of staff employed in e.g. research offices or science communications, but to supplement them with a tool that put researchers (and their KE/PtI money) directly in touch with people/organisations from *anywhere* who had expertise in policy or sci comm, and wanted to be involved. I.e. not just limiting a scientist to an in-house programme (however excellent), and forging direct links between the scientist and these other relevant fields.
As effort:reward is always a concern to researchers, the best way to ensure the success of a tool is to make it stream-lined, simple and relevant. For example, if the JeS system (where one already selects the research areas your project largely comes under, and enter a list of likely beneficiaries) were part-mirrored to a place where sci comm/policy people from all over the country (?world?) could access and offer their services/expertise to projects that interested them, that would require no more initial effort from the researcher *and* open up potential funding opportunities to sci comm/policy people. This seems like a potentially cost-efficient way of doing things, too.
I think it would be quite neat, researchers I've spoken too also seem quite keen, so what I was trying to find out really (before I bothered to see if this was something for which it was worth pursuing funding) was whether there was any enthusiasm from the other side of the equation:
* would such a thing work?
* would you use such a tool?
* do you think it would improve impact of research?
Tori
---
Dr. Victoria Herridge
Department of Palaeontology
Natural History Museum
London
SW7 5BD
tel. +44 (0)20 7942 5477
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On 10 Oct 2011, at 17:43, Christine Knight wrote:
> I wonder if though part of the problem may be that researchers aren't always aware of the support that's available to them - something that's easier to address at least than absence of resources.
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