J J .2 Prohlcms and Potentials of Joint Projects
273
the synthesis. The joint development of the models (Chaps. 5.4 and 8) supported
goal-oriented scientific studies. It would have been helpful to have had the theoretical consulting available right from the start of the project.
Synthesis
To synthesize the results of ELA W AT, nine months were available, which proved
to be much too short. Some sub-projects were running late in submitting their
reports and some results of the sub-projects have still not been published. The
missing joint analysis of the results of the collaboration between sub-projects
could not be compensated by the synthesis. In some cases, data still had to be
analysed, which was further held up as some data were submitted rather late. This
time was missing for the critical evaluation of results.
The synthesis was carried out by eight scientists from different disciplines,
which proved to be a necessary combination to fulfil the job lying ahead in the
given time. A further advantage was that we could all dedicate our time solely to
the synthesis and could collaborate as a team in one building.
11.2
Problems and Potentials of Joint Projects
Joint projects result when there is a necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration.
This is based on the idea that it is possible to gain more knowledge in a joint integrated project than can be achieved through several individual and only vaguelylinked projects. For ecosystem research, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration is self-evident. The "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" was realized by four
major joint projects. We have outlined in Sect. 11.1. how the joint ELA WAT
project was realized. and in Sect. I 1.4. we will present recommendations from the
projects' perspective. In this section, also from the experience of ELAWAT. we
discuss particular aspects of joint projects.
The decision as to whether a research project should be realized as a joint project or as a single one has to be based on the objectives of the project. If the central
question requires an interdisciplinary approach, there is no alternative to a joint
project (see also Reise 1997; Haber 1998). But joint projects pose special demands
in multiple ways. regarding their organisation and coordination and the nature of
scientific collaboration.
Aspects of subject
The more precise an interdisciplinary question is, the stronger is the advantage of a
joint research approach, resulting in a possible gain of quality. In this case, the
results of a joint project are more than the sum of results of a number of single
projects. But this calls for an intensive contact and scientific collaboration already
during the planning and application phase. It is required that the connections between sub-projects are known right from the beginning. It is further advisable that
273
the synthesis. The joint development of the models (Chaps. 5.4 and 8) supported
goal-oriented scientific studies. It would have been helpful to have had the theoretical consulting available right from the start of the project.
Synthesis
To synthesize the results of ELA W AT, nine months were available, which proved
to be much too short. Some sub-projects were running late in submitting their
reports and some results of the sub-projects have still not been published. The
missing joint analysis of the results of the collaboration between sub-projects
could not be compensated by the synthesis. In some cases, data still had to be
analysed, which was further held up as some data were submitted rather late. This
time was missing for the critical evaluation of results.
The synthesis was carried out by eight scientists from different disciplines,
which proved to be a necessary combination to fulfil the job lying ahead in the
given time. A further advantage was that we could all dedicate our time solely to
the synthesis and could collaborate as a team in one building.
11.2
Problems and Potentials of Joint Projects
Joint projects result when there is a necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration.
This is based on the idea that it is possible to gain more knowledge in a joint integrated project than can be achieved through several individual and only vaguelylinked projects. For ecosystem research, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration is self-evident. The "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" was realized by four
major joint projects. We have outlined in Sect. 11.1. how the joint ELA WAT
project was realized. and in Sect. I 1.4. we will present recommendations from the
projects' perspective. In this section, also from the experience of ELAWAT. we
discuss particular aspects of joint projects.
The decision as to whether a research project should be realized as a joint project or as a single one has to be based on the objectives of the project. If the central
question requires an interdisciplinary approach, there is no alternative to a joint
project (see also Reise 1997; Haber 1998). But joint projects pose special demands
in multiple ways. regarding their organisation and coordination and the nature of
scientific collaboration.
Aspects of subject
The more precise an interdisciplinary question is, the stronger is the advantage of a
joint research approach, resulting in a possible gain of quality. In this case, the
results of a joint project are more than the sum of results of a number of single
projects. But this calls for an intensive contact and scientific collaboration already
during the planning and application phase. It is required that the connections between sub-projects are known right from the beginning. It is further advisable that