27R
II .JoInt Research Projects
Organisatioll of joint projects
• Joint projects require a central coordination, administration and logistics.
• Further central tasks are statistical consulting, data management, modelling,
theoretical consulting and public relations. The general view obtained by these
tasks benefits the entire project. Statistical and theoretical consulting should
contribute to the planning stage already, so that experiments are designed in
view of the statistical analysis of the data. Data management should be provided from the start of a project to ensure a sound handling of data. Modelling
and theoretical consulting are helpful for joint projects and should also be included from the beginning. This way the understanding of relations and interactions is continuously challenged and both overriding comprehension or deficits in knowledge are recognized much faster.
• Joint projects can only reach their goals efficiently with an interdisciplinary
conceptual framework. To think in models, which facilitates a focused and
problem-oriented scientific work, requires a training in theoretical ecology and
fundamentals of modelling. Ecological models can help to integrate the results
from various sub-projects and to extrapolate their findings beyond the temporal
and spatial frame set by the project. The formulation and analysis of ecological
models requires a lot of time and can only be accomplished by skilled personnel.
• For the planning of organisational structures in a joint project, experiences
made in other areas, e.g. in economy, should be considered as they could give
suggestions for an efficient and economic structure of projects. It should be
further considered to get a professional training for co-ordinators and project
leaders.
• The organisation and coordination of research projects should be realized
through scientific institutions. In the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea", the
steering group responsible for the coordination was employed at the National
Park Administration to allow for a quick transfer of scientific results into the
administrative work. However, for the coordination of a research project it was
not appropriate to be lodged within an administrative body. Furthermore, to
give recommendations for an integrated coastal zone management, a scientific
project should be independent and not work for any public authority. An open
dialogue with all stakeholders is only possible if the research project stands free
from the interests of administrative bodies and NGO's.
• Joint projects should identify a designated spokesperson. The co-ordinator
would be suitable for this task because of his/her overview of the project. Subproject leaders should be spokesperson for their respective sub-project.
Communicatioll
• Working groups are a suitable means for the promotion of interdisciplinary
work in a joint project. They should be structured already during the planning
stage and sub-projects should be allocated to working groups. The working
groups should be linked by the mutual participation of their speakers on the
II .JoInt Research Projects
Organisatioll of joint projects
• Joint projects require a central coordination, administration and logistics.
• Further central tasks are statistical consulting, data management, modelling,
theoretical consulting and public relations. The general view obtained by these
tasks benefits the entire project. Statistical and theoretical consulting should
contribute to the planning stage already, so that experiments are designed in
view of the statistical analysis of the data. Data management should be provided from the start of a project to ensure a sound handling of data. Modelling
and theoretical consulting are helpful for joint projects and should also be included from the beginning. This way the understanding of relations and interactions is continuously challenged and both overriding comprehension or deficits in knowledge are recognized much faster.
• Joint projects can only reach their goals efficiently with an interdisciplinary
conceptual framework. To think in models, which facilitates a focused and
problem-oriented scientific work, requires a training in theoretical ecology and
fundamentals of modelling. Ecological models can help to integrate the results
from various sub-projects and to extrapolate their findings beyond the temporal
and spatial frame set by the project. The formulation and analysis of ecological
models requires a lot of time and can only be accomplished by skilled personnel.
• For the planning of organisational structures in a joint project, experiences
made in other areas, e.g. in economy, should be considered as they could give
suggestions for an efficient and economic structure of projects. It should be
further considered to get a professional training for co-ordinators and project
leaders.
• The organisation and coordination of research projects should be realized
through scientific institutions. In the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea", the
steering group responsible for the coordination was employed at the National
Park Administration to allow for a quick transfer of scientific results into the
administrative work. However, for the coordination of a research project it was
not appropriate to be lodged within an administrative body. Furthermore, to
give recommendations for an integrated coastal zone management, a scientific
project should be independent and not work for any public authority. An open
dialogue with all stakeholders is only possible if the research project stands free
from the interests of administrative bodies and NGO's.
• Joint projects should identify a designated spokesperson. The co-ordinator
would be suitable for this task because of his/her overview of the project. Subproject leaders should be spokesperson for their respective sub-project.
Communicatioll
• Working groups are a suitable means for the promotion of interdisciplinary
work in a joint project. They should be structured already during the planning
stage and sub-projects should be allocated to working groups. The working
groups should be linked by the mutual participation of their speakers on the