A university researcher said this about the problem of having industry funding to do research:
“The problem is it also adds all kinds of diplomatic and organisational constraints in my work, which mean that it takes longer to do any research, because you have to have the ‘OK’ from the industry to publish results, or information, to start a project, to go talk to people“. (Otago Daily Times)
Really!
You’ve got to talk
Over the last twenty years or so the concept of co-development has become increasingly important in the funding of research. What is co-development? It’s where interested parties come together to co-develop a common vision and purpose and then working together to achieve it. An amazing example of this on a national scale was The Great New Zealand Science Project
“We are keen for the public and the science community to tell us what they think are New Zealand’s most important science challenges are over the next 5-10 years, so we can focus our investment on solving these challenges for the benefit of New Zealand” Minister for Science and Innovation Steven Joyce.
This going out and talking to people has resulted in the development of the National Science Challenges. A key component of the Challenges is the requirement of more going and talking to people to ensure their success. So it’s hugely important that researchers do go out and talk to the rest of New Zealand to find out what research they think needs to be done and to tell New Zealanders how their research will help to solve the problem.
For Farmer, By Farmers
However there will never be enough money to do everything and so decisions on what to fund and what not to fund will need to be made. Unfortunately some will take this personally and invoke a ‘conspiracy’.
A key priority for Beef + Lamb New Zealand is to invest in research and development that meets the needs of farmers and the sector. Only by talking to farmers can researchers begin to understand their problems and what research needs to be done. It is also important that researchers talk to farmers about their results, why they important and in farmer language.
To give guidance to researchers Beef + Lamb New Zealand is developing a strategic R&D agenda. At the moment a ‘prototype’ document is being kicked around by farmers and we should be able to get a final document out in a month or so.
Links
Carla Green. Research freedom an open question. Otago Daily Times 20 February 2016.
Siouxsie Wiles. The Great NZ Science Project begins! SciBlog. 11 November 2012
Pushing the Boundaries 