Strategies towards Evaluation beyond Scientific Impact. Pathways not only for Agricultural Research
Journal Title: UNKNOWN - Year 2015, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
Various research fields, like organic agricultural research, are dedicated to solving real-world problems and contributing to sustainable development. Therefore, systems research and the application of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches are increasingly endorsed. However, research performance depends not only on self-conception, but also on framework conditions of the scientific system, which are not always of benefit to such research fields. Recently, science and its framework conditions have been under increasing scrutiny as regards their ability to serve societal benefit. This provides opportunities for (organic) agricultural research to engage in the development of a research system that will serve its needs. This article focuses on possible strategies for facilitating a balanced research evaluation that recognises scientific quality as well as societal relevance and applicability. These strategies are (a) to strengthen the general support for evaluation beyond scientific impact, and (b) to provide accessible data for such evaluations. Synergies of interest are found between open access movements and research communities focusing on global challenges and sustainability. As both are committed to increasing the societal benefit of science, they may support evaluation criteria such as knowledge production and dissemination tailored to societal needs, and the use of open access. Additional synergies exist between all those who scrutinise current research evaluation systems for their ability to serve scientific quality, which is also a precondition for societal benefit. Here, digital communication technologies provide opportunities to increase effectiveness, transparency, fairness and plurality in the dissemination of scientific results, quality assurance and reputation. Furthermore, funders may support transdisciplinary approaches and open access and improve data availability for evaluation beyond scientific impact. If they begin to use current research information systems that include societal impact <span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">data while reducing the requirements for narrative reports, documentation burdens on researchers may be relieved, with the funders themselves acting as data providers for researchers, institutions and tailored dissemination beyond academia.</span>
Authors and Affiliations
Birge Wolf, Jürge Heß, Anna-Maria Häring
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP196503
- DOI 10.12924/of2015.01010003
- Views 118
- Downloads 0
Tillage System Comparison in Organic Farming: Effects on N Mineralization, Soil Microbial Biomass, and Yield
The nitrogen supply can be a yield-limiting factor in organic farming, especially when reduced tillage is applied. An organic field experiment was conducted from 2007 to 2013 to analyse the potential of the nitrogen supp...
A Fresh Start for Organic Farming Research
Over the past few decades the area of farmland underorganic management has significantly and continuously increased [1]. This trend, observed across all continents, has been accompanied by a strong expansion of the mark...
A New Evaluation Culture Is Inevitable
Changes in the production of research (more collaborative, more inter- and transdisciplinary, more oriented towards societal demand) are influencing the ways in which research is evaluated. Traditional methods of evaluat...
Applications of Open Source 3-D Printing on Small Farms
There is growing evidence that low-cost open-source 3-D printers can reduce costs by enabling distributed manufacturing of substitutes for both specialty equipment and conventional mass-manufactured products. The rate of...
Research into Practice—Promoting Participation, Perseverance and Publications
This year, organic farmers, advisors and researchers in the West of Germany celebrate the 25th anniversary of the foundation of an organic research and demonstration network. Established to support and improve organic fa...