I I Experiences and recommendations
279
meetings, which would enhance the connections in the joint project. Working
groups should have precise goals and focus on common publications.
• For the tlow of information between the sub-projects, a central "info-exchange"
is suggested, which can be realized nowadays via e-mail or web-sites (interlintranet) for all participants. Thanks to these new means of communication a
fast, free and cheap exchange of information is possible, which does not need to
be mediated through the co-ordinator. Yet, qualified personnel is required for
the maintenance of this service.
Synthesis
• The synthesis of the results is an absolutely essential step for the analysis of a
joint project.
• A synthesis group has to be sufficiently staffed and consist of scientists from
various disciplines.
• The synthesis group should be lodged at one institution to work efficiently in a
team.
• A synthesis builds up on reports and publications of a project. To avoid delays,
a synthesis should either follow straight after the end of the main study phase or
overlap with it towards the end. The latter way would allow for a collective
analysis of the results in the direction of the synthesis with the colleagues from
the sub-projects.
Efficiency
• Based on our experiences (Sect. 11.1), our recommendations for the realization
of future research (Sect. 11.3) can be condensed to one major prerequisite: the
strengthening of scientific personnel and finances of universities and research
institutions. This would allow for a continuity in the study of specific research
subjects again, which would immediately improve the education of young scientists and the thorough analysis of certain topics. The poor supervision, insufficient literature knowledge and -supply and a declining quality of scientific results can only be counteracted with the establishment of scientific "schools".
• For the supervision of research projects and young scientists, a sufficient tenured academic staff is indispensable. The universities have to be equipped with
respective permanent positions. This would also take financial burdens off joint
projects (cf. Haedrich 1995).
• A continuity is also required for technical personnel. Since technical staff is
increasingly externally funded through projects as well, deficits occur in the
maintenance of (often enough expensive!) equipment and routine measurements.
A better basic supply of universities and institutions does not at all imply to turn
away from interdisciplinary collaboration, but is rather a precondition for it. Interdisciplinarity requires intensive contact between scientists, the interest for combined research and the ability for dialogue. Joint projects can always just set the
stage for this and are just one possible way to create and foster interdisciplinary
studies.
279
meetings, which would enhance the connections in the joint project. Working
groups should have precise goals and focus on common publications.
• For the tlow of information between the sub-projects, a central "info-exchange"
is suggested, which can be realized nowadays via e-mail or web-sites (interlintranet) for all participants. Thanks to these new means of communication a
fast, free and cheap exchange of information is possible, which does not need to
be mediated through the co-ordinator. Yet, qualified personnel is required for
the maintenance of this service.
Synthesis
• The synthesis of the results is an absolutely essential step for the analysis of a
joint project.
• A synthesis group has to be sufficiently staffed and consist of scientists from
various disciplines.
• The synthesis group should be lodged at one institution to work efficiently in a
team.
• A synthesis builds up on reports and publications of a project. To avoid delays,
a synthesis should either follow straight after the end of the main study phase or
overlap with it towards the end. The latter way would allow for a collective
analysis of the results in the direction of the synthesis with the colleagues from
the sub-projects.
Efficiency
• Based on our experiences (Sect. 11.1), our recommendations for the realization
of future research (Sect. 11.3) can be condensed to one major prerequisite: the
strengthening of scientific personnel and finances of universities and research
institutions. This would allow for a continuity in the study of specific research
subjects again, which would immediately improve the education of young scientists and the thorough analysis of certain topics. The poor supervision, insufficient literature knowledge and -supply and a declining quality of scientific results can only be counteracted with the establishment of scientific "schools".
• For the supervision of research projects and young scientists, a sufficient tenured academic staff is indispensable. The universities have to be equipped with
respective permanent positions. This would also take financial burdens off joint
projects (cf. Haedrich 1995).
• A continuity is also required for technical personnel. Since technical staff is
increasingly externally funded through projects as well, deficits occur in the
maintenance of (often enough expensive!) equipment and routine measurements.
A better basic supply of universities and institutions does not at all imply to turn
away from interdisciplinary collaboration, but is rather a precondition for it. Interdisciplinarity requires intensive contact between scientists, the interest for combined research and the ability for dialogue. Joint projects can always just set the
stage for this and are just one possible way to create and foster interdisciplinary
studies.