Assoc. Prof. Alison Specht ACEAS Grand 2014 "Synthesis Centres internationally"
31
Synthesis Centres Alison Specht May 2014, ACEAS Grand Workshop
-
Upload
aceas13tern -
Category
Environment
-
view
176 -
download
0
description
Plenary presentation at ACEAS Grand Workshop 2014
Transcript of Assoc. Prof. Alison Specht ACEAS Grand 2014 "Synthesis Centres internationally"
Synthesis Centres
Alison SpechtMay 2014, ACEAS Grand Workshop
The information deluge
Mackinnon, P.J., Rifkin, W., Hine, D. & Barnard, R. (2010). Complexity and mastery in shaping interdisciplinarity. In: Interdisciplinary higher education: perspectives and practicalities Martin Davies, Marcia Devlin and Malcolm Tight (Eds). Emerald Press.
Increasing integration of disciplines
Increasing complexity
Mackinnon, P.J., Rifkin, W., Hine, D. & Barnard, R. (2010). Complexity and mastery in shaping interdisciplinarity. In: Interdisciplinary higher education: perspectives and practicalities Martin Davies, Marcia Devlin and Malcolm Tight (Eds). Emerald Press.
intra-disciplinarity
Increasing integration of disciplines
Increasing complexity
Mackinnon, P.J., Rifkin, W., Hine, D. & Barnard, R. (2010). Complexity and mastery in shaping interdisciplinarity. In: Interdisciplinary higher education: perspectives and practicalities Martin Davies, Marcia Devlin and Malcolm Tight (Eds). Emerald Press.
intra-disciplinarity
Increasing integration of disciplines
0% 100%
Increasing complexity
Mackinnon, P.J., Rifkin, W., Hine, D. & Barnard, R. (2010). Complexity and mastery in shaping interdisciplinarity. In: Interdisciplinary higher education: perspectives and practicalities Martin Davies, Marcia Devlin and Malcolm Tight (Eds). Emerald Press.
intra-disciplinarity
multi-disciplinarity
Increasing integration of disciplines
0% 100%
Increasing complexity
Mackinnon, P.J., Rifkin, W., Hine, D. & Barnard, R. (2010). Complexity and mastery in shaping interdisciplinarity. In: Interdisciplinary higher education: perspectives and practicalities Martin Davies, Marcia Devlin and Malcolm Tight (Eds). Emerald Press.
intra-disciplinarity
multi-disciplinarity
cross-disciplinarity
Increasing integration of disciplines
0% 100%
Increasing complexity
Mackinnon, P.J., Rifkin, W., Hine, D. & Barnard, R. (2010). Complexity and mastery in shaping interdisciplinarity. In: Interdisciplinary higher education: perspectives and practicalities Martin Davies, Marcia Devlin and Malcolm Tight (Eds). Emerald Press.
inter-disciplinarity
intra-disciplinarity
multi-disciplinarity
cross-disciplinarity
Increasing integration of disciplines
0% 100%
Increasing complexity
Mackinnon, P.J., Rifkin, W., Hine, D. & Barnard, R. (2010). Complexity and mastery in shaping interdisciplinarity. In: Interdisciplinary higher education: perspectives and practicalities Martin Davies, Marcia Devlin and Malcolm Tight (Eds). Emerald Press.
trans-disciplinarity
inter-disciplinarity
intra-disciplinarity
multi-disciplinarity
cross-disciplinarity
Increasing integration of disciplines
0% 100%
Increasing complexity
Logo
We are drowning in information while starvingfor wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely.
—Edward O. Wilson (1998) Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge
Paradoxically, the research infrastructure that may be the most effective in helping society tackle the most complex questions may be the simplest of all: physical and virtual meeting spaces with tailored specialised and logistical support for experts to come together for uncluttered, distraction-free, highly productive thinking time.
the synthesis centre…
Paradoxically, the research infrastructure that may be the most effective in helping society tackle the most complex questions may be the simplest of all: physical and virtual meeting spaces with tailored specialised and logistical support for experts to come together for uncluttered, distraction-free, highly productive thinking time.
ACEAS characteristics• Ecosystem science
ACEAS characteristics• Ecosystem science
• Linked to an infrastructure facility (TERN)
ACEAS characteristics• Ecosystem science
• Linked to an infrastructure facility (TERN)
• Applied focus
ACEAS characteristics• Ecosystem science
• Linked to an infrastructure facility (TERN)
• Applied focus
• No postdocs, short term funding (< 3 meetings)
ACEAS characteristics• Ecosystem science
• Linked to an infrastructure facility (TERN)
• Applied focus
• No postdocs, short term funding (< 3 meetings)
• Strong development of virtual interface
ACEAS characteristics• Ecosystem science
• Linked to an infrastructure facility (TERN)
• Applied focus
• No postdocs, short term funding (< 3 meetings)
• Strong development of virtual interface
• Delivery products supported:
• Report cards (summary of outcome)
• Data delivery visualisation
Some questions• What is the added value of the science conducted
in syntheses centres?
Some questions• What is the added value of the science conducted
in syntheses centres?• What are the challenges?
Some questions• What is the added value of the science conducted
in syntheses centres?• What are the challenges?• Where should synthesis sit in the research
landscape?
Some questions• What is the added value of the science conducted
in syntheses centres?• What are the challenges?• Where should synthesis sit in the research
landscape?• What is the role of technical (informatics and
other) support in the synthesis process?
Some questions• What is the added value of the science conducted
in syntheses centres?• What are the challenges?• Where should synthesis sit in the research
landscape?• What is the role of technical (informatics and
other) support in the synthesis process? • Is one of the important benefits the provision of
crystallised data to resource managers and policy makers?
