The science forum created new focus on excellence and the research Ireland should be doing, writes CONOR O'CARROLL
TWO WEEKS ago there was a flurry of activity around the Euroscience Open Forum 2012 in Dublin. The conference brought together leading researchers, young researchers, funders and policy-makers from across the world. At this point one might ask what is the legacy of Esof for Ireland. It certainly gave us an opportunity to show the results of government commitment to research over the past 14 years. Speaking to researchers from around the world, they were genuinely impressed at the continued commitment during an economic crisis.
The news of the Higgs boson led to a discussion in the media on the type of research to be supported by government in Ireland. In the light of research prioritisation, there is a strong sense among the research community in Ireland that funding agencies have moved away from supporting frontier research and are focusing only on activities that may bring short-term gain to the economy.
We cannot neglect outstanding research and researchers across all disciplines. This was brought home during Nobel laureate Jules Hoffmann’s lecture, in which he explained how work on fruit flies led to major breakthroughs in human immunology. There is another aspect that must not be forgotten. If we want to attract graduates to research then they should be inspired by the leaders and type of research being done. The demonstration at Esof that leading-edge research can have high societal impact is a real legacy.
I chaired the careers programme, which is a central part of all Esof forums in that it provides practical support for researchers planning their career. As the majority at Esof were early-stage researchers, this was particularly relevant. The programme covered a wide range of issues from role models for women scientists to getting a job in industry.
The latter is particularly relevant, as the majority of early-stage researchers will not become academics. In many of the career sessions there were speakers from universities and companies in Ireland. There was the unique opportunity to showcase our own good practice in doctoral training and industry – academic collaboration, for example.
In the context of jobs outside academia, there is much discussion of the transferable skills of researchers – their ability to work in teams, lead projects and meet tight deadlines. Researchers have the ability to analyse and solve complex problems, a skill that is required in many jobs.
There are other transferable qualities, as PhDs are driven by curiosity that leads to questioning and never being complacent and accepting the status quo. Einstein, at the age of 16, tried to imagine what it would be like to ride on a beam of light. The answer precipitated a revolution in physics and our view of the universe.
What may not be apparent is that Esof acted as a magnet for many other satellite events. For example, over the past year there has been intense work on a project to develop policy and practice for research integrity. This is a collaborative effort between funding agencies and universities led by the Irish Universities Association and the Health Research Board.
A half-day workshop was held on July 12th involving a number of international experts in this area who had come to Dublin for Esof. This is one example of events that capitalised on the presence in Dublin of international leaders across all disciplines. This will soon lead to a long-lasting legacy of a national approach to research integrity.
In the past the European Commission was seen as an organisation with a very narrow view of science and research as purely a means to support industry.
This has changed and is clearly evident in the planning for the next round of funding from 2014 to 2020, Horizon 2020. The programme has three central themes: scientific excellence (28 per cent of total budget), industrial leadership and societal challenges.
The emphasis on scientific excellence will be funded through the European Research Council and Marie Sklodowska Curie fellowships. Moreover, European policy focuses on the career development of researchers. It promotes open and transparent recruitment, gender equality, support for professional development and attractive careers for researchers.
There is recognition that excellent research can be done only in an environment in which there are attractive careers for researchers. At Esof there was a clear commitment from the Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, to put science at the heart of Europe and Europe at the heart of science.
Esof has left a legacy in opening the debate on the kind of research Ireland should be doing, making younger researchers more aware of their career opportunities and reminding us that Europe is taking the lead in emphasising scientific excellence as a central part of economic recovery.
Conor O'Carroll is research director at the Irish Universities Association iua.ie