Crossing the Chasms of Socio- Ecological Research

Transcription

1 Crossing the Chasms of Socio- Ecological Research Structural Holes and Structural Folds in Basic Research Networks Christian Gulas, Harald Katzmair FAS.research GmbH

2 Outline 1. Aim and Scope 2. Approach 3. Resilience #1: Potential and Connectedness 4. Resilience #2: Cross-Scale-Linkages 5. Conclusions 6. Next Steps

3 1. Aim and Sope

4 1. Aim and Scope Long term study on collaboration and knowledge networks in the field of Austrian basic research Use models and concepts of Systems Ecology to interpret structural characteristics Determine the impact of energy input and resource flows on network morphology Operationalize resilience to identify adaptive science fields, research areas, and scientific disciplines.

5 2. Approach

6 Data Overview Data Source: Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research, Austrian Science Fund Project Data Base Time Period: Projects: Disciplines: 928

7 Research Project Scientific Disciplines

8 Classification of Scientific Disciplines 1-Digits Scientific Field 2-Digits Research Area 4-Digits Scientific Discipline 1 Natural Sciences 11 Mathematics, Computer Sciences 12 Physics, Mechanics, Astronomy 2 Technical Sciences 21 Mining, Metallurgy 1102 Algebra 1103 Analysis 1201 General mechanics 1202 Acoustics 3 Human Medicine 31 Anatomy, Pathology 4 Agriculture & Forestry, Veterinary Medicine 41 Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Plant Protection 5 Social Sciences 51 Political Sciences 6 Humanities 61 Philosophy 2102 Mining engineering 3102 General pathology 4102 Irrigated agriculture 5101 General political science 6101 General philosophy

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12 Funding and Number of Disciplines

13 3. Resilience #1 Potential and Connectedness

14 Resilience Definitions (Social) Life as a process of generative disruption and creative destruction. Resilience defined as being able to deliver value under changing conditions. Resilience defined as capacity to adapt to and shape change. Resilience defined as capacity to operate, respond & react under critical conditions (stress and disturbances).

15 The Adaptive Cycle Lance H. Gunderson, C.S. Holling: Panarchy. Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems, pp

16 The Adaptive Cycle 1. Storage Potential that is inherent in accumulated resources 2. Flows Connectedness of actors Lance H. Gunderson, C.S. Holling: Panarchy. Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems, pp

17 Two Dimensions of Network Emergence 1. Potential Available resources operationalized as funding. 2. Connectedness Clustering operationalized as extend of triadic relationships

18 1. Potential Aggregated Funding per Discipline

19 2. Connectedness Connectedness is operationalized as clustering. Clustering means beeing connected to actors which are connected themselves Extend of triadic relationships!

20 Disciplines - Funding and Clustering Molecular Biology

21 Disciplines - Funding and Clustering Molecular Biology

22 Disciplines - Funding and Clustering (Detail)

23 Disciplines with higher clustering than expected Difference between observed and expected values in percent.

24 Research Areas - Funding and Clustering

25 Research Areas with higher clustering than expected

26 Scientific Fields - Funding and Clustering

27 Scientific Fields with higher clustering than expected

28 Mean Percentage of Strongest Link

29 4. Resilience #2 Cross-Scale-Linkages

30 Structural Fold Networks Closure Network Brokerage Network Structural Fold Network 1 social circle Not overlapping social circles linked through ONE Broker Overlapping social circles, linked through SEVERAL Multiple Insiders Brokerage /closure concept, R.S. BURT Balázs VEDRES, David STARK

31 Measuring Overlapping Cross-Scale Cliques Clique 1 Clique 2 Search for cliques (maximal connected subgraphs).

32 Measuring Overlapping Cross-Scale Cliques Arts Mathematics, Computer Sciences Historical Sciences Philosophy Biology Physics Chemistry Anatomy, Pathology Search for cliques (maximal connected subgraphs). Only cross-scale links delete all connections within research areas (2-Digit Codes).

33 Disciplines sorted by number of overlapping cliques

34 Regression: Funding and Overlapping Cliques Additional funding of increases the number of cliques by 1.

35 Disciplines with more Cliques than expected Difference between observed and expected values in percent.

36 Cliques Co-Membership Network Natural Sciences/Human Medicine (Life Sciences) Humanities/Social Sciences

37 5. Conclusions

38 No intercohesion between natural sciences and humanities Natural sciences and human medicine dominate the network Life sciences particularly connect biological and medical research areas. Highly adaptive models and methods (biology, human medicine, and social sciences) Historical sciences dominate the field of humanities. Social sciences are highly differentiated (many codes); at the same time highly centralized and hierarchical, low clustering Social sciences need new links to innovative models and concepts (Ecosystem Research)

39 6. Next Steps

40 Dynamic application of the Adaptive Cycle Heuristic Time series analysis of knowledge networks New operationalization of cross-scale linkages (beyond time and space borders) Strengthen relationship between ecosystem and social system research Deepen our understanding of systems of people and nature

41 Thank you for your attention!