Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research (2005) / Chapter Skim
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7 The Role of Professional Societies
7 The Role of Professional Societies
Pages 137-148
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From page 137... ...
Their influence flows from their continuing and highly visible functions: to publish professional journals, to develop professional excellence, to raise public awareness, and to make awards. Through their work, they help to define and set standards for their professional fields and to promote high standards of quality through awards and other forms of recognition.
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From page 138... ...
The central position of professional societies brings excellent leverage with which to design and promote change, including through publications, policy statements, meetings, committees, lectureships, and awards. One particularly important function of professional societies relative to IDR -- publishing professional journals -- is shared with commercial publishers, some of which are large and influential forces in their own right.
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From page 139... ...
Those published by professional societies have an opportunity to lower barriers to researchers by revising policies. In the committee's survey, the top two recommendations for journal editors were to incorporate interdisciplinary expertise in review panels (38.8 percent)
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From page 140... ...
For example, the journal Cell includes a section that highlights recent findings on signaling mechanisms with article summaries from such journals as Neuron, Immunity, Molecular Cell, and Current Biology and another section that highlights cancer biology findings with article summaries from such journals as Cancer Cell, Current Biology, Immunity, and Chemistry & Biology. The interdisciplinary journal Science has a regular feature called "Editor's Choice" that highlights recent publications in many fields and journals.
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From page 141... ...
In the American Geophysical Union, all disciplinary awards include a sentence indicating that IDR investigators can qualify for the award. · Target stipends, awards, or scholarships that permit students to spend time in other laboratories or with collaborators at various institutions.
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From page 142... ...
Similarly, both the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America have held special sessions on geobiology at their annual meetings since 2000. Organizing Interdisciplinary Society Panels or Divisions Organizations that support researchers often foster IDR through the creation of groups or divisions in the society.
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From page 143... ...
Interdisciplinary Recognition Awards and Lectureships Professional societies can recognize and encourage IDR by granting awards to researchers whose interdisciplinary work has advanced the field. For example, at its annual meeting, the Materials Research Society presents one member with the von Hippel Award for "brilliance and originality of intellect, combined with vision that transcends the boundaries of conventional scientific disciplines."d Esteemed lectureships, such as the George A
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From page 144... ...
Funding agency representatives can discuss grant mechanisms and topics of high funding priority, allowing graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty to plan programs and partnerships. Organizers can hold topical interdisciplinary symposiums or colloquiums that are sponsored jointly by other societies.
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From page 145... ...
Plenary sessions featured internationally renowned scholars in a variety of disciplines who spoke of their own research and of their perception of geography and its role in interdisciplinary education and research. Speakers included Nation al Academies President Bruce Alberts, a biochemist; past National Science Foun dation Director Rita Colwell, a microbiologist; Clark University Professor Cynthia Enloe, a political scientist; and Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs, an economist.
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From page 146... ...
Disciplinary societies are a convenient medium for researchers to voice their opinions, and such initiatives as regular focus groups on emerging research concerns can pro mote the recognition of topics ripe for interdisciplinary collaboration. The collabora tion of disciplinary societies can allow their members to interact and develop a common language and to learn more about research in other fields.
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From page 147... ...
FINDING Professional societies have the opportunity to facilitate IDR by produc ing state-of-the-art reports on recent research developments and on curriculum, assessment, and accreditation methods; enhancing personal interactions; building partnerships among societies; publishing interdis ciplinary journals and special editions of disciplinary journals; and promoting mutual understanding of disciplinary methods, languages, and cultures. RECOMMENDATIONS Professional Societies PS-1:Professional societies should seek opportunities to facilitate IDR at regular society meetings and through their publications and special initiatives.
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From page 148... ...
Journal Editors J-1: Journal editors should actively encourage the publication of IDR research results through various mechanisms, such as editorial-board membership and establishment of special IDR issues or sections. In particular, journal editors can · Increase the exposure of IDR by devoting special issues or sections to specific IDR directions in a field and accepting more research papers that introduce new IDR areas.
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