Innovation in research: reflections on a 20 year career! Kevin Ward Professor of Human Geography and Director of External Relations and Social Responsibility, School of Environment, Education and Development and Director, … and Editor of Area
Introduction Innovation in research? Different ways of thinking about innovation in research Summing up …
Introduction “ A new method, idea, product, etc.” “Innovations - new products, services and ways of making or doing things - are fundamental to business success and to economic growth and development. Manchester is one of the founding centres for the study of science, technology and innovation “( builds on a forty year old tradition of study in the area
Innovation and the PhD thesis “Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is awarded by the University in recognition of the successful completion of a programme of supervised research and training, the results of which show convincing evidence of the capacity of the candidate to pursue research and scholarship and make an original contribution and substantial addition to knowledge.” Innovation – originality – at the core of the document you hope to produce over the next few months or years!
Different ways of thinking about innovation in research I: Conceptual/theoretical Existing theory, different discipline Combination of existing theory Existing theory, new geographical context Existing theory, rescued Existing theory, translated “New” theory …
gg II: Methodological Existing methods, different discipline Combination of existing methods Existing methods, new geographical context Existing method, rescued “New” method...
III: Empirical Existing findings, rescued “New” findings... IV: Impact Existing impact pathways “New” impact pathways
Summing up … Innovation – that is something “new” – is important in the PhD thesis and in research more generally Range of different ways in which “innovation” can be thought about in relation to research Needs to be thought about/story you tell about yourself and your work