A research culture

robyn.owens — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 03:06:00 GMT

Since my last post I've been thinking about what would represent a good research culture, at least from my point of view. Here's my list of "Ten Things" - can you think of any to add?

People in the group talk about ideas in their discipline
Group members link ideas from their discipline to ideas in other disciplines
All group members write and publish papers
Group members read each others' papers
Group members disseminate their work regularly through presentations, news media, blogs etc
Group members write grant applications and regularly test their competitiveness externally
Group members read each others' grant applications
All research students and junior staff feel they have a mentor, and all senior staff care about developing the early career researchers
There are regular visitors to the group from all over the world
Everyone's successes are celebrated.

US looking to reform doctoral education

robyn.owens — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:14:00 GMT

A new post on the Inside Higher Ed site reviews a book just released by the Carnegie Endowment for the Advancement of Teaching on Reforming the 'Formation of Scholars'. It talks about the appalling attrition rate in doctoral education (cited at about 50% in the States), the lack of focus with qualifying exams, the difficulty in risk management with single advisors, and the lack of preparation for the sorts of jobs doctoral graduates actually end up doing. Its recommendations are basically about re-building intellectual cultures - I like this idea and know of some Schools here at UWA that have done a great job in creating a culture of shared ideas and excitement about the creation of new knowledge.

What, in your mind, should we do to build vibrant intellectual cultures?

Robyn's Blog : Culture

A research culture

US looking to reform doctoral education