Post on 04-Jan-2016
the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers
Young researchers and risk:Young researchers and risk:a diverging reality? a diverging reality?
Renzo RubeleRenzo RubeleADI, Past President of EURODOCADI, Past President of EURODOC
NEST-PROMISE Regional WorkshopRisky and Visionary Research: Challenges and Opportunities
Pisa, September 18th 2006
eurodoceurodoc is the federation of the national associations is the federation of the national associations of Ph.D. candidates and junior researchers in Europeof Ph.D. candidates and junior researchers in Europe
Representing young researchersRepresenting young researchers
««RCUK says scientists are deterred from RCUK says scientists are deterred from running with more adventurous ideas running with more adventurous ideas because to get on in their careers they because to get on in their careers they need a portfolio of successful projects. And need a portfolio of successful projects. And those deciding which projects are awarded those deciding which projects are awarded funding may err on the side of caution funding may err on the side of caution because of pressures to ensure a return on because of pressures to ensure a return on public funds.public funds.»»
Natasha Gilbert Natasha Gilbert
in in High-risk research,High-risk research, The Guardi The Guardian,an, June 20, 2006 June 20, 2006
Young researchers Young researchers and risky research and risky research
Science as Science as endless frontierendless frontier
Frontiers of research are more and more far Frontiers of research are more and more far away from common perception and knowledge away from common perception and knowledge
(many)(many) ExperimentalExperimental efforts are in need of efforts are in need of larger facilities, or to access larger resourceslarger facilities, or to access larger resources
Theoretical and conceptual research implies Theoretical and conceptual research implies mastering all the previous work done on the mastering all the previous work done on the issues at stake issues at stake
Research environment and constraintsResearch environment and constraints
ManagementManagement of research activities: facing research activities: facing increasing pressure, standardizationincreasing pressure, standardization
attractiveness of a researcher’s careerattractiveness of a researcher’s career
Doing research is a hard job Doing research is a hard job
AA renewed attentionrenewed attention
WiderWider debate in Europe after 2000 due to debate in Europe after 2000 due to the Lisbon targets and the Bologna Processthe Lisbon targets and the Bologna Process
Increasing number of youngsters enrolled in Increasing number of youngsters enrolled in research degree programmesresearch degree programmes
But there is But there is tensiontension between between- Generic skills, wide employabilityGeneric skills, wide employability- Specialist training, advanced and in-depth Specialist training, advanced and in-depth studies, and conduction of specific researchstudies, and conduction of specific research
Individual (economic) conditions Individual (economic) conditions
Everlasting discussions on the nature of Everlasting discussions on the nature of research (in particular: doctoral) trainingresearch (in particular: doctoral) training
Research TrainingResearch Training
GermanyGermany 23.04323.043
UKUK 14.93514.935
FranceFrance 8.4208.420
SpainSpain 7.4797.479
ItalyItaly 6.3516.351
PolandPoland 5.4505.450
PortugalPortugal 3.7233.723
SwedenSweden 3.5583.558
NetherlandsNetherlands 2.5842.584
AustriaAustria 1.7901.790
FinlandFinland 1.7591.759
Czech Rep.Czech Rep. 1.5461.546
BelgiumBelgium 1.4321.432
HungaryHungary 1.0671.067
DenmarkDenmark 993993
NorwayNorway 714714
IrelandIreland 668668
YearYear 20032003 20002000
EU 25EU 25 88.11588.115 79.24779.247
USAUSA 45.99445.994 44.90444.904
JapanJapan 14.51214.512 12.19212.192
IsraelIsrael n.a.n.a. 859859
SwitzerlanSwitzerlandd
2.6852.685 2.7452.745
Ph.D. graduatesPh.D. graduates
(figures of 2003)(figures of 2003)
Source: reported from Source: reported from She Figures 2006, ECShe Figures 2006, EC
Some key features of the early stagesSome key features of the early stages
Employment on short-term contracts Employment on short-term contracts
External funding of projects External funding of projects
Question of the independence of the Question of the independence of the researcher (in a group/institution/society)researcher (in a group/institution/society)
AssessmentAssessment criteria, recruitment conditionscriteria, recruitment conditions
Research environment, Research environment, ""systemic variablessystemic variables""
But there is But there is tensiontension between between- project-based activitiesproject-based activities- curiosity-driven researchcuriosity-driven research
[despite efforts to format the second into the [despite efforts to format the second into the first] first]
Career development after the Ph.D.Career development after the Ph.D.
Elements affecting choicesElements affecting choices
A researcher’s career – always a pathway A researcher’s career – always a pathway within the unknown: but how much within the unknown: but how much uncertainty is sustainable?uncertainty is sustainable?
Personal attractiveness for a discipline, a Personal attractiveness for a discipline, a field, a theme, an inquiryfield, a theme, an inquiry
Matching aspirations and actual possibilities Matching aspirations and actual possibilities
Researchers’ labour market Researchers’ labour market
Risky research: a risk on the top of a risk?Risky research: a risk on the top of a risk? How to strike a balance between certainties How to strike a balance between certainties and uncertainties?and uncertainties? «Multi-dimensional space of risks»«Multi-dimensional space of risks»
Career development and risk Career development and risk
Geographical mobilityGeographical mobility
Obstacles/risks related to mobility:Obstacles/risks related to mobility: Family-related issuesFamily-related issues
Financial issuesFinancial issues
Loss of reintegration prospects in the country of Loss of reintegration prospects in the country of originorigin
Bureaucratic/Administrative obstaclesBureaucratic/Administrative obstacles
Language problemsLanguage problems
Social and Cultural problemsSocial and Cultural problems
Lack of informationLack of information
Difficult transfer of social benefitsDifficult transfer of social benefits
Lack of international networkingLack of international networking
Opposition by the supervisorOpposition by the supervisor
Mobility and risk (1) Mobility and risk (1)
Inter-disciplinary mobilityInter-disciplinary mobility
Changing your field or subject may be a riskChanging your field or subject may be a risk
Inter-sectorial mobilityInter-sectorial mobility
Academia-industry relationshipsAcademia-industry relationships Problematic in some countriesProblematic in some countries and fields and fields
Different appraisal systemsDifferent appraisal systems
Difficult mixed career pathsDifficult mixed career paths
Business not interested in risky research Business not interested in risky research
Public AdministrationPublic Administration Uneasy valorization of competenciesUneasy valorization of competencies
Mobility and risk (2) Mobility and risk (2)
Institutional traditions and practicesInstitutional traditions and practices
Depend on countries and available Depend on countries and available resources resources
Intertwined with wider social customsIntertwined with wider social customs
Affect choices of career and of researchAffect choices of career and of research
Academic localismAcademic localism
culture and practice of inbreedingculture and practice of inbreeding
Reseach organisationReseach organisation
disciplinary/inter(trans)-disciplinary disciplinary/inter(trans)-disciplinary structures (from degree courses to doctoral structures (from degree courses to doctoral programmes to research activities)programmes to research activities)
research strategies, decisionsresearch strategies, decisions
Research environment and risk Research environment and risk
Assesment of risky researchAssesment of risky research
Question of potential vs. record of results Question of potential vs. record of results
««For science and engineering, if what you want is roughly For science and engineering, if what you want is roughly the same distribution as you get with the RAE then you may the same distribution as you get with the RAE then you may as well use a metric-based systemas well use a metric-based system […] […]. "But if you want is a . "But if you want is a system that supports the kind of risky research that the system that supports the kind of risky research that the funding council grant is supposed to be for then you need funding council grant is supposed to be for then you need something different.something different.»»
P. Cotgreave reported P. Cotgreave reported byby S. Pincock S. Pincock i in n UK plans research funding overhaulUK plans research funding overhaul, The , The SScientistcientist,, 20/06/06 20/06/06
Risky research badly formatted inside Risky research badly formatted inside existing project management?existing project management?
Funding schemes and risk Funding schemes and risk
Unequal chances around EuropeUnequal chances around Europe
Different opportunities and policies as what Different opportunities and policies as what regards young researchersregards young researchers Career structure, appraisal systemCareer structure, appraisal system
Question of solutions by way of long-term Question of solutions by way of long-term Fellowships, tenure-trackFellowships, tenure-track
European Research CouncilEuropean Research Council
«Starting Independent Researcher» Grant «Starting Independent Researcher» Grant Scheme: a strong signal of changeScheme: a strong signal of change
Hopeful dissemination of ideas and practice Hopeful dissemination of ideas and practice at the national and local levelat the national and local level
Research track and risk Research track and risk
Need to cope with multi-facet types of Need to cope with multi-facet types of riskrisk
Young researchers are more subject than Young researchers are more subject than others to risks, not (necessarily) overcome by others to risks, not (necessarily) overcome by enthusiasms enthusiasms
Build a better framework for a researcher’s Build a better framework for a researcher’s careercareer
«Risky researchers» are to be protected «Risky researchers» are to be protected unless we risk a diverging realityunless we risk a diverging reality
The «Renaissance Man» left to the past, and The «Renaissance Man» left to the past, and future competition on knowledge and future competition on knowledge and economic growth based on other factorseconomic growth based on other factors
Conclusions: Conclusions: risky research and risk risky research and risk
««Although welcome, more money Although welcome, more money won't in itself encourage won't in itself encourage researchers to take more risks. researchers to take more risks. Career structures and the Career structures and the framework in which science is framework in which science is funded act as a deterrent. If a funded act as a deterrent. If a culture change within the culture change within the system leads the way, system leads the way, researchers will follow.researchers will follow.»»
Natasha Gilbert Natasha Gilbert
in in High-risk researchHigh-risk research, The Guardian, June 20, 2006, The Guardian, June 20, 2006
««Although welcome, more money Although welcome, more money won't in itself encourage won't in itself encourage researchers to take more risks. researchers to take more risks. Career structures and the Career structures and the framework in which science is framework in which science is funded act as a deterrent. If a funded act as a deterrent. If a culture change within the culture change within the system leads the way, system leads the way, researchers will follow.researchers will follow.»»
Natasha Gilbert Natasha Gilbert
in in High-risk researchHigh-risk research, The Guardian, June 20, 2006, The Guardian, June 20, 2006