Discipline Hopping for Discovery Science (UoBirmingham)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Vice Chancellors Office
Abstract
This £100,000 grant offered to the University of Birmingham by NERC will be used to support 'discipline-hopping' activities that push the boundaries of discovery science. Activities could include, but are not limited to, researcher exchange, work shadowing or organizing meetings and workshops. Full details are included in the attached governance plan.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Dominique Moran (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Chakraborty S
(2023)
Does the doping strategy of ferrite nanoparticles create a correlation between reactivity and toxicity?
in Environmental Science: Nano
Menon D
(2023)
How safe are nanoscale metal-organic frameworks?
in Frontiers in Toxicology
| Description | The University of Birmingham 'Discipline Hopping for Discovery Science' funding allocation was used to support a range of small Discovery Science-focused research projects open to researchers from across the institution, regardless of disciplinary affiliation. A relevant example is a project designed to enable better use of an existing atmospheric science dataset captured as a secondary outcome from the Birmingham Solar Oscillation Network (BiSON), a network of six solar telescopes operated by UoB since 1975. Two half-day workshops were undertaken to explore the astronomy dataset in relation to climate research, to share knowledge, and to better understand the propagation of atmospheric aerosols, and their effects on climate change. The sessions introduced the BiSON dataset to climate researchers and facilitated discussion around what contributions it could make towards atmospheric chemistry and the environment. The BiSON project has already identified potential outcomes around applying the dataset to volcanic aerosols, and enhancing the existing "ground truth" record of atmospheric aerosols. To develop this potential output a literature review of the eruption of Mount. Pinatubo in 1991 has been generated to inform discussions on existing knowledge around the eruption, and how the BiSON data could be used to help better determine the time of peak atmospheric disturbance at different locations around Earth, and the duration of the effects. Further activity includes creating interdisciplinary (Physics/Geography) student projects to further process and study the dataset. The project team are also in the initial stages of developing a project for an interdisciplinary PhD student. |
| Exploitation Route | Given the large proportion of our projects led by Early Career Researchers, it is perhaps unsurprising that one of the most valuable elements was the opportunity, for the first time in their academic career, to lead a small project, coordinate an inter- and multi-disciplinary research team and manage resources. Applicants reported that they valued the level of independence that the Discipline Hopping Award afforded them, facilitating opportunities for independent drafting of the initial funding application and the building of networks that were not dependent upon their former supervisor, line manager or lab lead. The relative fast turn around of projects from application stage to award was also valued. In terms of building upon the initiative, all researchers indicated that a longer award duration would have been beneficial. There was also a request for more awards targeted specifically at Post Doctoral researchers, with sufficient funding to enable at least short term contracts for pursuing their own research programs. Colleagues who were outside of the Early Career Stage valued the opportunity to establish connections with experts across various fields and to learn from their unique perspectives. Those working on more exploratory projects, such as identifying alternative uses for existing datasets or working with new fields such as AI for the first time, valued the time to investigate new collaborations. Multiple award holders have mentioned the recently released UKRI Cross Council pilot program as being of interest to them, and a possible target scheme for new projects arising from this initial Discipline Hopping opportunity |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment |
| Description | Given the large proportion of our projects led by Early Career Researchers, it is perhaps unsurprising that one of the most valuable elements was the opportunity, for the first time in their academic career, to lead a small project, coordinate an inter- and multi-disciplinary research team and manage resources. Applicants reported that they valued the level of independence that the Discipline Hopping Award afforded them, facilitating opportunities for independent drafting of the initial funding application and the building of networks that were not dependent upon their former supervisor, line manager or lab lead. The relative fast turn around of projects from application stage to award was also valued. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Indian Institute of Technology (Gandhinagar) |
| Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-publication of outputs (see outputs section). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access training, expertise and equipment not available at UoB |
| Impact | Chakraborty, S., Menon, D., Akhil, V. V. S., Sahoo, M., Ranganathan, R., Zhang, P., & Misra, S. (2023). "Does the doping strategy of ferrite nanoparticles create a correlation between reactivity and toxicity?" Environmental Science: Nano. DOI: 10.1039/D3EN00076A. |
| Start Year | 2022 |