the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers

Young researchers and risk:Young researchers and risk:a diverging reality? a diverging reality?

Renzo RubeleRenzo RubeleADI, Past President of EURODOCADI, Past President of EURODOC

NEST-PROMISE Regional WorkshopRisky and Visionary Research: Challenges and Opportunities

Pisa, September 18th 2006

eurodoceurodoc is the federation of the national associations is the federation of the national associations of Ph.D. candidates and junior researchers in Europeof Ph.D. candidates and junior researchers in Europe

Representing young researchersRepresenting young researchers

««RCUK says scientists are deterred from RCUK says scientists are deterred from running with more adventurous ideas running with more adventurous ideas because to get on in their careers they because to get on in their careers they need a portfolio of successful projects. And need a portfolio of successful projects. And those deciding which projects are awarded those deciding which projects are awarded funding may err on the side of caution funding may err on the side of caution because of pressures to ensure a return on because of pressures to ensure a return on public funds.public funds.»»

Natasha Gilbert Natasha Gilbert

in in High-risk research,High-risk research, The Guardi The Guardian,an, June 20, 2006 June 20, 2006

Young researchers Young researchers and risky research and risky research

Science as Science as endless frontierendless frontier

Frontiers of research are more and more far Frontiers of research are more and more far away from common perception and knowledge away from common perception and knowledge

(many)(many) ExperimentalExperimental efforts are in need of efforts are in need of larger facilities, or to access larger resourceslarger facilities, or to access larger resources

Theoretical and conceptual research implies Theoretical and conceptual research implies mastering all the previous work done on the mastering all the previous work done on the issues at stake issues at stake

Research environment and constraintsResearch environment and constraints

ManagementManagement of research activities: facing research activities: facing increasing pressure, standardizationincreasing pressure, standardization

attractiveness of a researcher’s careerattractiveness of a researcher’s career

Doing research is a hard job Doing research is a hard job

AA renewed attentionrenewed attention

WiderWider debate in Europe after 2000 due to debate in Europe after 2000 due to the Lisbon targets and the Bologna Processthe Lisbon targets and the Bologna Process

Increasing number of youngsters enrolled in Increasing number of youngsters enrolled in research degree programmesresearch degree programmes

But there is But there is tensiontension between between- Generic skills, wide employabilityGeneric skills, wide employability- Specialist training, advanced and in-depth Specialist training, advanced and in-depth studies, and conduction of specific researchstudies, and conduction of specific research

Individual (economic) conditions Individual (economic) conditions

Everlasting discussions on the nature of Everlasting discussions on the nature of research (in particular: doctoral) trainingresearch (in particular: doctoral) training

Research TrainingResearch Training

GermanyGermany 23.04323.043

UKUK 14.93514.935

FranceFrance 8.4208.420

SpainSpain 7.4797.479

ItalyItaly 6.3516.351

PolandPoland 5.4505.450

PortugalPortugal 3.7233.723

SwedenSweden 3.5583.558

NetherlandsNetherlands 2.5842.584

AustriaAustria 1.7901.790

FinlandFinland 1.7591.759

Czech Rep.Czech Rep. 1.5461.546

BelgiumBelgium 1.4321.432

HungaryHungary 1.0671.067

DenmarkDenmark 993993

NorwayNorway 714714

IrelandIreland 668668

YearYear 20032003 20002000

EU 25EU 25 88.11588.115 79.24779.247

USAUSA 45.99445.994 44.90444.904

JapanJapan 14.51214.512 12.19212.192

IsraelIsrael n.a.n.a. 859859

SwitzerlanSwitzerlandd

2.6852.685 2.7452.745

Ph.D. graduatesPh.D. graduates

(figures of 2003)(figures of 2003)

Source: reported from Source: reported from She Figures 2006, ECShe Figures 2006, EC

Some key features of the early stagesSome key features of the early stages

Employment on short-term contracts Employment on short-term contracts

External funding of projects External funding of projects

Question of the independence of the Question of the independence of the researcher (in a group/institution/society)researcher (in a group/institution/society)

AssessmentAssessment criteria, recruitment conditionscriteria, recruitment conditions

Research environment, Research environment, ""systemic variablessystemic variables""

But there is But there is tensiontension between between- project-based activitiesproject-based activities- curiosity-driven researchcuriosity-driven research

[despite efforts to format the second into the [despite efforts to format the second into the first] first]

Career development after the Ph.D.Career development after the Ph.D.

Elements affecting choicesElements affecting choices

A researcher’s career – always a pathway A researcher’s career – always a pathway within the unknown: but how much within the unknown: but how much uncertainty is sustainable?uncertainty is sustainable?

Personal attractiveness for a discipline, a Personal attractiveness for a discipline, a field, a theme, an inquiryfield, a theme, an inquiry

Matching aspirations and actual possibilities Matching aspirations and actual possibilities

Researchers’ labour market Researchers’ labour market

Risky research: a risk on the top of a risk?Risky research: a risk on the top of a risk? How to strike a balance between certainties How to strike a balance between certainties and uncertainties?and uncertainties? «Multi-dimensional space of risks»«Multi-dimensional space of risks»

Career development and risk Career development and risk

Geographical mobilityGeographical mobility

Obstacles/risks related to mobility:Obstacles/risks related to mobility: Family-related issuesFamily-related issues

Financial issuesFinancial issues

Loss of reintegration prospects in the country of Loss of reintegration prospects in the country of originorigin

Bureaucratic/Administrative obstaclesBureaucratic/Administrative obstacles

Language problemsLanguage problems

Social and Cultural problemsSocial and Cultural problems

Lack of informationLack of information

Difficult transfer of social benefitsDifficult transfer of social benefits

Lack of international networkingLack of international networking

Opposition by the supervisorOpposition by the supervisor

Mobility and risk (1) Mobility and risk (1)

Inter-disciplinary mobilityInter-disciplinary mobility

Changing your field or subject may be a riskChanging your field or subject may be a risk

Inter-sectorial mobilityInter-sectorial mobility

Academia-industry relationshipsAcademia-industry relationships Problematic in some countriesProblematic in some countries and fields and fields

Different appraisal systemsDifferent appraisal systems

Difficult mixed career pathsDifficult mixed career paths

Business not interested in risky research Business not interested in risky research

Public AdministrationPublic Administration Uneasy valorization of competenciesUneasy valorization of competencies

Mobility and risk (2) Mobility and risk (2)

Institutional traditions and practicesInstitutional traditions and practices

Depend on countries and available Depend on countries and available resources resources

Intertwined with wider social customsIntertwined with wider social customs

Affect choices of career and of researchAffect choices of career and of research

Academic localismAcademic localism

culture and practice of inbreedingculture and practice of inbreeding

Reseach organisationReseach organisation

disciplinary/inter(trans)-disciplinary disciplinary/inter(trans)-disciplinary structures (from degree courses to doctoral structures (from degree courses to doctoral programmes to research activities)programmes to research activities)

research strategies, decisionsresearch strategies, decisions

Research environment and risk Research environment and risk

Assesment of risky researchAssesment of risky research

Question of potential vs. record of results Question of potential vs. record of results

««For science and engineering, if what you want is roughly For science and engineering, if what you want is roughly the same distribution as you get with the RAE then you may the same distribution as you get with the RAE then you may as well use a metric-based systemas well use a metric-based system […] […]. "But if you want is a . "But if you want is a system that supports the kind of risky research that the system that supports the kind of risky research that the funding council grant is supposed to be for then you need funding council grant is supposed to be for then you need something different.something different.»»

P. Cotgreave reported P. Cotgreave reported byby S. Pincock S. Pincock i in n UK plans research funding overhaulUK plans research funding overhaul, The , The SScientistcientist,, 20/06/06 20/06/06

Risky research badly formatted inside Risky research badly formatted inside existing project management?existing project management?

Funding schemes and risk Funding schemes and risk

Unequal chances around EuropeUnequal chances around Europe

Different opportunities and policies as what Different opportunities and policies as what regards young researchersregards young researchers Career structure, appraisal systemCareer structure, appraisal system

Question of solutions by way of long-term Question of solutions by way of long-term Fellowships, tenure-trackFellowships, tenure-track

European Research CouncilEuropean Research Council

«Starting Independent Researcher» Grant «Starting Independent Researcher» Grant Scheme: a strong signal of changeScheme: a strong signal of change

Hopeful dissemination of ideas and practice Hopeful dissemination of ideas and practice at the national and local levelat the national and local level

Research track and risk Research track and risk

Need to cope with multi-facet types of Need to cope with multi-facet types of riskrisk

Young researchers are more subject than Young researchers are more subject than others to risks, not (necessarily) overcome by others to risks, not (necessarily) overcome by enthusiasms enthusiasms

Build a better framework for a researcher’s Build a better framework for a researcher’s careercareer

«Risky researchers» are to be protected «Risky researchers» are to be protected unless we risk a diverging realityunless we risk a diverging reality

The «Renaissance Man» left to the past, and The «Renaissance Man» left to the past, and future competition on knowledge and future competition on knowledge and economic growth based on other factorseconomic growth based on other factors

Conclusions: Conclusions: risky research and risk risky research and risk

««Although welcome, more money Although welcome, more money won't in itself encourage won't in itself encourage researchers to take more risks. researchers to take more risks. Career structures and the Career structures and the framework in which science is framework in which science is funded act as a deterrent. If a funded act as a deterrent. If a culture change within the culture change within the system leads the way, system leads the way, researchers will follow.researchers will follow.»»

Natasha Gilbert Natasha Gilbert

in in High-risk researchHigh-risk research, The Guardian, June 20, 2006, The Guardian, June 20, 2006

««Although welcome, more money Although welcome, more money won't in itself encourage won't in itself encourage researchers to take more risks. researchers to take more risks. Career structures and the Career structures and the framework in which science is framework in which science is funded act as a deterrent. If a funded act as a deterrent. If a culture change within the culture change within the system leads the way, system leads the way, researchers will follow.researchers will follow.»»

Natasha Gilbert Natasha Gilbert

in in High-risk researchHigh-risk research, The Guardian, June 20, 2006, The Guardian, June 20, 2006