Nurturing and sustaining research talent
It is rightly said that humans are born with natural creativity, which is ingrained in the genes. In the era of AI and digital technology, humans are losing their creativity due to over-dependence on technology. There are also other factors which are responsible for the loss of intellectual creativity, which are generally difficult to ascertain. Let us imagine a person with natural creativity for research who has spent their precious time exploring science and ended up in a different field of work. In such a scenario, one should think outside the box to remain connected to their original talent, and circumstances should not hinder them from embracing creativity. It is not within your control to secure the legitimate position (as per your needs) to explore science to its fullest. You cannot control system, intrinsic, and extrinsic factors, as well as issues of meritocracy in universities; nevertheless, you can surely have internal control to think differently and contribute to research under various capacities.
Choosing a research career at the very beginning of one’s life is like embarking on a deep-sea expedition, which is always turbulent and full of risks. However, sometimes it is destiny that forces you to choose such a career, intentionally or unintentionally, without knowing its future consequences. One of my advisors once told me that submitting a real PhD thesis by a good researcher is akin to submitting their youth. It is pertinent to mention that, like other professions, the field of research is plagued with multiple issues, such as quality control, research fabrication, plagiarism, ghost-writing, paper duplication, and fake research awards, which have also degraded the value of research. Researchers who engage in these acts are hardly acceptable in Western societies, but unfortunately, such individuals are being appreciated, felicitated, and awarded special academic positions in our world, without considering the future consequences of such decisions. It is rightly said that meritocracies in the elite universities of any country depict the quality of academics and research. Coming to the positive aspect, young aspirants in the UT of J&K are really making excellent inroads in research.
Actually, interest in a research career began in our part of the world in the last decade, which was not surprising, as youngsters were seeking new opportunities. Over the last 20 Years, our UT has produced some of the most efficient researchers, who could have served and contributed through their research and policy-making. However, lack of opportunities, issues with meritocracy in our universities, and other internal and external factors have hindered their progress in their research endeavours. Allowing good researchers to grow and contribute to nation-building is a real debate for our think tanks and stakeholders, in order to shape our intellectual human research in the right direction. Having said that, good researchers can contribute hugely without having a proper position and should remain content with his/her talent. I will delve into some of the areas where innovative researchers can engage himself/herself while working in other professions.
Keep engaged with recent research: The best way to stay informed about research is to keep up with the latest innovations in your area of interest. Exploring new research areas is crucial for taking your research in a new direction. In the absence of an official platform, one can still start reviewing articles, formulate thematic research papers and also write opinion pieces. Another way to remain engaged in research is to participate in scientific debates and discussions that aim to explore new dimensions relevant to society. Over the last couple of years, some of the University Departments in our region have been inviting faculty members from colleges to participate in the science-policy interface. Participation in such healthy discussions will also help reduce the communication gap between different departments, allowing them to collaborate for the benefit of society. Attending a conference on emerging themes is another way to become acquainted with the latest research findings that could inform the production of thematic papers.
Contribute towards popular science: Citizen science (CS) is an interesting area where good researchers can engage themselves by writing exciting science stories. Complex research findings can be translated into science stories that students easily grasp. Most often, complex research written in scientific language fails to reach the layman due to a communication gap and language barriers. In such a scenario, it is essential to articulate and convey scientific discoveries in layman’s terms. This can be done in many ways. In one approach, the latest scientific inventions and discoveries can be presented lucidly and straightforwardly to demonstrate their applications to all sections of society. Such information also serves as a bridge between scientists working in the lab and the general public working in the field. For instance, farmers in this region need updated information about new crop varieties and their feasibility of planting in this part of the world. In another approach, complex theories and discoveries can be more effectively elucidated through popular science write-ups.
Contribution towards citizen science: Engaging amateur citizen scientists is another way for researchers to contribute to the field of study. For instance, citizen science can help retrieve large datasets (from large geographical regions) which are inaccessible due to various reasons. The integration of citizens with mainstream science could be used to resolve some of the pressing issues currently faced by human society. Citizen Science has great value to scientists and various stakeholders within different scientific fields, including ecological and environmental sciences. CS may help generate new ideas, integrate public participation in the development of education policy, promote outreach goals, and ultimately contribute to the development of a scientific ecosystem.
In short, researchers with a passion for research should focus on making research contributions through various means, including staying connected with the latest research, contributing to the popularisation of science, and connecting citizen science with mainstream science.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are personal and do not represent the official stance of the Institution.
Dr. Ummer Rashid Zargar Assistant Professor at Department of Zoology,
GDC Dooru
