Microbial Nanobiotechnology: The Melting Pot …
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Beyond these, national and international associations and societies in microbiology must rise to the occasion to recognize microbial nanobiotechnology as a subfield of endeavour, and articulate issues relating to its practice, growth and development. A section should be created for the sub-discipline to thrive, reputable international platforms should be established for publication of research outcomes in the
area, and established researchers in the field of microbial nanobiotechnology must
also rise to the occasion to write and publish textbooks on topical issues in the field. In
addition, opportunities should be made available for young scholars and postdoctoral
fellows to pursue career in the bourgeoning field.
8.3 Interdisciplinary Research and International
Collaboration
Obviously, engagement in nanotechnology research by life scientists generally
and microbiologists in particular entails interdisciplinary pursuit. Primarily, understanding of the concepts of materials science, nanoscience, nanotechnology and
instrumentation is requisite for meaningful research in nanotechnology. Therefore,
microbiologists must endeavour to integrate their research activities within the
enclave of interdisciplinary research which can be exploited among disciplines of
natural sciences, food sciences and nutrition, agriculture, environmental sciences,
medical and allied sciences. In some specific instances, wider coverage that integrates physical and chemical sciences as well as engineering may be necessary to
conduct some investigations. It is interesting to note that due to the ubiquitous nature
of microbes and their negative and positive impacts in all facets of the ecosystem,
most disciplines in engineering, natural, agricultural, environmental and medical
sciences have been impacted by studies on microbes. Thus, it becomes easier for a
microbiology research to be integrated within these disciplines. Table 1 illustrates
some of these potential interdisciplinary activities.
Aside institutional interdisciplinary research, advances in ICT have made it easier
for collaboration beyond borders. Both national and international collaborations can
be exploited for research activities to address the dearth of sophisticated equipment
that are needed for nanotechnology investigations on the one hand, and to seek
for advanced training in established institutions through short training and fellowships. Similarly, bilateral and multilateral relationships among developed and developing nations can provide opportunities for research collaboration in nanotechnology
through the engagement of science diplomacy (Ezekiel 2020), to address the wide
gap in nanotechnology research between the north and the south. Such engagements
have been reported in the literature (Appelbaum and Parker 2008; Katz et al. 2009;
Yazdi and Zarj 2013; Ezema et al. 2014; Sgouros and Stavrou 2019; Friedersdorf
2020; Yu and Jen 2020).
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Beyond these, national and international associations and societies in microbiology must rise to the occasion to recognize microbial nanobiotechnology as a subfield of endeavour, and articulate issues relating to its practice, growth and development. A section should be created for the sub-discipline to thrive, reputable international platforms should be established for publication of research outcomes in the
area, and established researchers in the field of microbial nanobiotechnology must
also rise to the occasion to write and publish textbooks on topical issues in the field. In
addition, opportunities should be made available for young scholars and postdoctoral
fellows to pursue career in the bourgeoning field.
8.3 Interdisciplinary Research and International
Collaboration
Obviously, engagement in nanotechnology research by life scientists generally
and microbiologists in particular entails interdisciplinary pursuit. Primarily, understanding of the concepts of materials science, nanoscience, nanotechnology and
instrumentation is requisite for meaningful research in nanotechnology. Therefore,
microbiologists must endeavour to integrate their research activities within the
enclave of interdisciplinary research which can be exploited among disciplines of
natural sciences, food sciences and nutrition, agriculture, environmental sciences,
medical and allied sciences. In some specific instances, wider coverage that integrates physical and chemical sciences as well as engineering may be necessary to
conduct some investigations. It is interesting to note that due to the ubiquitous nature
of microbes and their negative and positive impacts in all facets of the ecosystem,
most disciplines in engineering, natural, agricultural, environmental and medical
sciences have been impacted by studies on microbes. Thus, it becomes easier for a
microbiology research to be integrated within these disciplines. Table 1 illustrates
some of these potential interdisciplinary activities.
Aside institutional interdisciplinary research, advances in ICT have made it easier
for collaboration beyond borders. Both national and international collaborations can
be exploited for research activities to address the dearth of sophisticated equipment
that are needed for nanotechnology investigations on the one hand, and to seek
for advanced training in established institutions through short training and fellowships. Similarly, bilateral and multilateral relationships among developed and developing nations can provide opportunities for research collaboration in nanotechnology
through the engagement of science diplomacy (Ezekiel 2020), to address the wide
gap in nanotechnology research between the north and the south. Such engagements
have been reported in the literature (Appelbaum and Parker 2008; Katz et al. 2009;
Yazdi and Zarj 2013; Ezema et al. 2014; Sgouros and Stavrou 2019; Friedersdorf
2020; Yu and Jen 2020).