Europe’s research infrastructures have a wide range of resources and interconnected facilities that provide access to unique instruments for thousands of external scientists. These infrastructures play a crucial role in political strategies and public engagement, driving societal well-being and economic advancement through innovation and cutting-edge research.
However, as these research infrastructures gain increased political attention and take on new objectives, they also face challenges. The expansion of their roles requires adapting to new demands and exploring innovative ways to maximize their impact on society and the economy.
To navigate these challenges and fully leverage the potential of research infrastructures, it is essential to develop unconventional skills and approaches. These skills will be instrumental in addressing the complex and evolving needs of these infrastructures and ensuring their continued success in driving scientific progress and societal development.
Katharina Cramer and Nicholas Rüffin argue that unconventional skills are necessary to fully harness the potential of Europe’s research infrastructures. They believe that developing these skills will help researchers overcome the obstacles they face when trying to access these resources.
One of the biggest challenges facing researchers is securing funding for their projects. Researchers must be able to identify funding opportunities, write grant proposals, and manage budgets effectively. They must also be able to communicate their findings clearly to stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, and members of the public.
Another challenge facing researchers is keeping up with technological advancements. Researchers must stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends, including data analytics tools, cloud computing platforms, and artificial intelligence algorithms.
In addition to technical skills, researchers must also possess soft skills such as collaboration abilities, critical thinking skills, creativity, communication skills, problem-solving abilities etc.
Furthermore, researchers need to understand how best to use research infrastructure facilities effectively. They should know how to optimize their experiments using state-of-the-art equipment such as particle accelerators or microscopes.
To address these challenges head-on, Katharina Cramer suggests that universities should offer more courses on unconventional skills such as project management or entrepreneurship.
Nicholas Rüffin adds that governments should invest more heavily in research infrastructure development programs by providing grants or subsidies for projects that incorporate innovative approaches or technologies.
In conclusion, unconventional skills are necessary for fully leveraging Europe’s research infrastructure potential. Researchers need a combination of technical expertise along with soft skills such as collaboration abilities or communication abilities. Universities can offer courses on unconventional skill sets while governments can provide funding opportunities for projects incorporating innovative approaches or technologies.