2. the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers Young researchers and risk: a diverging reality? Renzo Rubele ADI, Past President of EURODOC NEST-PROMISE Regional Workshop Risky and Visionary Research: Challenges and Opportunities Pisa, September 18 th 2006

3. eurodoc is the federation of the national associations of Ph.D. candidates and junior researchers in Europe Representing young researchers

4. «RCUK says scientists are deterred from running with more adventurous ideas because to get on in their careers they need a portfolio of successful projects. And those deciding which projects are awarded funding may err on the side of caution because of pressures to ensure a return on public funds.» Natasha Gilbert in High-risk research, The Guardian, June 20, 2006 Young researchers and risky research

5.  Science as endless frontier  Frontiers of research are more and more far away from common perception and knowledge  (many) Experimental efforts are in need of larger facilities, or to access larger resources  Theoretical and conceptual research implies mastering all the previous work done on the issues at stake  Research environment and constraints  Managementresearch activities: facing increasing pressure, standardization  Management of research activities: facing increasing pressure, standardization  attractiveness of a researcher’s career Doing research is a hard job Doing research is a hard job

6.  A renewed attention  Wider debate in Europe after 2000 due to the Lisbon targets and the Bologna Process  Increasing number of youngsters enrolled in research degree programmes  But there is tension between - Generic skills, wide employability - Specialist training, advanced and in-depth studies, and conduction of specific research  Individual (economic) conditions  Everlasting discussions on the nature of research (in particular: doctoral) training Research Training

7. Germany23.043 UK14.935 France8.420 Spain7.479 Italy6.351 Poland5.450 Portugal3.723 Sweden3.558 Netherlands2.584 Austria1.790 Finland1.759 Czech Rep. 1.546 Belgium1.432 Hungary1.067 Denmark993 Norway714 Ireland668 Year20032000 EU 25 88.11579.247 USA45.99444.904 Japan14.51212.192 Israeln.a.859 Switzerland2.6852.745 Ph.D. graduates (figures of 2003) Source: reported from She Figures 2006, EC

8.  Some key features of the early stages  Employment on short-term contracts  External funding of projects  Question of the independence of the researcher (in a group/institution/society)  Assessment criteria, recruitment conditions  Research environment, "systemic variables "  But there is tension between - project-based activities - curiosity-driven research [despite efforts to format the second into the first] Career development after the Ph.D.

9.  Elements affecting choices  A researcher’s career – always a pathway within the unknown: but how much uncertainty is sustainable?  Personal attractiveness for a discipline, a field, a theme, an inquiry  Matching aspirations and actual possibilities  Researchers’ labour market  Risky research: a risk on the top of a risk?  How to strike a balance between certainties and uncertainties?  «Multi-dimensional space of risks» Career development and risk

10.  Geographical mobility  Obstacles/risks related to mobility:  Family-related issues  Financial issues  Loss of reintegration prospects in the country of origin  Bureaucratic/Administrative obstacles  Language problems  Social and Cultural problems  Lack of information  Difficult transfer of social benefits  Lack of international networking  Opposition by the supervisor Mobility and risk (1)

11.  Inter-disciplinary mobility  Changing your field or subject may be a risk  Inter-sectorial mobility  Academia-industry relationships  Problematic in some countries and fields  Different appraisal systems  Difficult mixed career paths  Business not interested in risky research  Public Administration  Uneasy valorization of competencies Mobility and risk (2)

12.  Institutional traditions and practices  Depend on countries and available resources  Intertwined with wider social customs  Affect choices of career and of research  Academic localism  culture and practice of inbreeding  Reseach organisation  disciplinary/inter(trans)-disciplinary structures (from degree courses to doctoral programmes to research activities)  research strategies, decisions Research environment and risk

13.  Assesment of risky research  Question of potential vs. record of results «For science and engineering, if what you want is roughly the same distribution as you get with the RAE then you may as well use a metric-based system […]. "But if you want is a system that supports the kind of risky research that the funding council grant is supposed to be for then you need something different.» P. Cotgreave reported by S. Pincock in UK plans research funding overhaul, The Scientist, 20/06/06  Risky research badly formatted inside existing project management? Funding schemes and risk

14.  Unequal chances around Europe  Different opportunities and policies as what regards young researchers  Career structure, appraisal system  Question of solutions by way of long-term Fellowships, tenure-track  European Research Council  «Starting Independent Researcher» Grant Scheme: a strong signal of change  Hopeful dissemination of ideas and practice at the national and local level Research track and risk

15.  Need to cope with multi-facet types of risk  Young researchers are more subject than others to risks, not (necessarily) overcome by enthusiasms  Build a better framework for a researcher’s career  «Risky researchers» are to be protected unless we risk a diverging reality  The «Renaissance Man» left to the past, and future competition on knowledge and economic growth based on other factors Conclusions: risky research and risk

16. «Although welcome, more money won't in itself encourage researchers to take more risks. Career structures and the framework in which science is funded act as a deterrent. If a culture change within the system leads the way, researchers will follow.» Natasha Gilbert in High-risk research, The Guardian, June 20, 2006 «Although welcome, more money won't in itself encourage researchers to take more risks. Career structures and the framework in which science is funded act as a deterrent. If a culture change within the system leads the way, researchers will follow.» Natasha Gilbert in High-risk research, The Guardian, June 20, 2006