Value Of International Collaboration Research Articles

International megabenthic long-term monitoring of a changing arctic ecosystem: Baseline results

The sustainable development and environmental protection of the Arctic ecosystem is on the agenda globally. The Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals call for conserving at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas globally. Management tools to achieve this goal include marine protected areas (MPAs) and “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs) of structural megabenthic organisms (e.g. corals, sea pens, sponges, anemones, etc.). But large areas of the ocean are lacking information about seabed communities. Here we show that this data gap can potentially be filled by collecting data on megabenthic organisms that are “bycatch” (not the target species) on government research vessels monitoring commercial fish and shellfish. For this paper, several Arctic and sub-arctic nations contributed megabenthos data from a total of 12.569 fish assessment trawls and associated bottom water temperature data. The latter outline areas of warm sub-Arctic inflow versus colder Arctic waters, which we align with temperature affinities of community. We also found that maximum levels of shared taxa were higher between Atlantic and Eurasian Arctic Seas than with Pacific Arctic Seas. Areas of high standardized species richness generally, but not everywhere, coincided with areas of high standardized biomass and/or high current velocity and in transition zones between water masses. We did not find that standardized taxon richness declined with latitude (from 60 to 81°N) as has been previously hypothesized. High biomass was generally associated with Arctic outflow shelves and/ or (within-region) colder water masses. We identify areas with high proportions of sessile and upright taxa that may be susceptible to damage by bottom trawl gear, taxa with calcareous skeletons that may be susceptible to ocean acidification, and 'cold-water' taxa that may be most vulnerable to ocean warming. Our results demonstrate the feasibility and value of international collaboration and cooperation in understanding large-scale patterns of Arctic megabenthic communities and providing scientific advice for management of human activities in the global Arctic ecosystem.

Collaborations towards scientific breakthroughs

Dar-Bin Shieh is Deputy Minister of The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Taiwan, which supports and promotes innovations in science and technology. Before assuming his current position, Shieh previously occupied roles including; distinguished professor in the College of Medicine at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU); attending physician at NCKU Medical Center; Director of University Development at NCKU; and Founding Chair of the International Institute of Macromolecular Analysis and Nanomedicine Innovations (iMANI). Shieh and the MOST believe that science and technology should be developed for people, responding to society's needs, with a view to promoting the local economy and improving quality of life. The MOST is working towards a long-term national science and technology development roadmap that can assist with national development. The MOST is a proponent of the importance and value of international collaboration and has restructured its funding system to further encourage these collaborations. It also encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration, with a view to sparking innovation. Talent cultivation and recruitment are key challenges in scientific advancement and the MOST has initiated two talent recruitment programmes, including the Einstein and the Columbus programmes, to help encourage, foster and develop scientific talent in Taiwan.

The Value of International Collaboration in Pancreatic Cancer Research: EURECCA

The Value of International Collaboration in Pancreatic Cancer Research: EURECCA

Commentary: Physicists without borders

Commentary: Physicists without borders

Defining, Agreeing on, and Testing an International Physical Therapy Core Data Set: Results of a Feasibility Study Involving Seven Countries

To date, there has been no attempt to describe or compare physical therapy as practiced globally, nor any evidence that an international data set exists to support this effort. It is known that research evidence can be used in strategic and tactical ways, especially within the highly politicized context of the policy arena. The International Private Practitioners Association recognized the potential value a global evidence base could have in influencing policy and supporting professional development in a number of countries, yet it lacked a mechanism to achieve these aims. The purposes of this study were: (1) to identify and test an international data set, definitions, and means of data collection and (2) to establish views in relation to the value of international collaborations. A mixed, prospective design was used in the study. Phase 1 (2006-2007) involved the development of a data set, definitions, and Web-based and paper-based data collection options involving 98 physical therapists from 68 physical therapy practices in 7 countries. Phase 2 (2008-2009) involved testing of the data set in 34 practices involving 3,195 patient episodes and included physical therapist feedback of experience, local relevance of the data set, and value of international collaborations. Testing confirmed the relevance and reliability of the data set and definitions and a preference for Web-based data collection (74.0%). Physical therapist feedback supported these findings. Most respondents (60.0%-100.0%) reported the value of further international collaborations for their profession nationally or internationally. Although a true international collaboration, the limited sample size should be recognized. It is possible to develop an agreed-upon international data set and means of data collection. Testing appears to support its acceptability and relevance for use in practice. Participants highly valued the opportunity to undertake international collaborations that may benefit their profession nationally and internationally. Further testing and use of the data set are advocated before final validation is sought.

An approach to the internationalisation of the curriculum: Sino–British joint efforts for three online courses

With a view to facilitating good practice and enhancing further exchanges and collaboration with the Open University UK, the Open University of China initiated a joint programme of training to offer online tutors and academic management staff three courses: Student Support, Tutoring On-line, and Course Design. The programme brought in not only a new learning mode and a new learning management system, but also new ideas and new assessment mechanisms, which created a positive impact on the reform of teaching and learning in the Open University of China. This paper will reflect on the implementation of the programme to explore the value of international collaboration and to look at changes that have taken place in both tutors and trainees. Through analysing feedback from both tutors and trainees, we can appreciate the potential significance of the joint programme and reflect on our own practice. The paper will also indicate some of the defects of the programme – our students expected more relevant content – and more involvement on the part of the UK experts, so that we can further explore improvements and join hands for meaningful collaboration.

Heat treatment and surface engineering in the production of automotive components

Origin The conference was the outcome of a discussion held in Beijing in 1997 which considered the value of international collaboration with Thailand. The participants in that discussion were Professor Tom Bell, Robert Wood (as members of IFHTSE Executive Committee), and Dr John Pearce (MTEC and Chiang Mai University). The 1997 economic downturn in Asia ± Paci® c put planning on hold, but the idea was revived, and early in 2002 meetings were held between IFHTSE and MTEC contacts. The outcome was a plan for a small conference on an automotive theme, in or around Bangkok. A planning team, along with the IFHTSE Executive Committee, noted that investment by most of the major global carmakers had been attracted to Thailand early in the 1990s. The perception of the country and its engineering potential was very positive. It was also seen to offer political and social stability and there was a willingness to ease some of the usual dif® culties for investors. By 2001/2 Thailand showed signs of having pulled out of the trough rather better than some other countries in the region. Manufacturing companies are taking a more positive view of the stable position of Thailand, with China and India also giving considerable priority to automotive production. It is likely, therefore, that the Asia ± Paci® c region will see some interesting developments in supply and demand in the automotive industry. Thailand restarts from a promising baseline, and the big names are still there. There will, however, be no advantage in producing `old tech’ vehicles. Production will have to be state of the art with all the new global pressures for weight reduction, ef® ciency, and emissions reduction. Heat treatment and surface engineering processes play a crucial role in the successful production of reliable, wear resistant and recyclable automotive components. Success in this ® eld is not con® ned to the OEMs; increasingly, the whole supply chain is involved in process development and quality assurance. The gradual global adoption of TS 16949:2002 will change the way in which the suppliers relate to the vehicle manufacturer. In Thailand, the downturn arrested the development of a tier 1 and tier 2 automotive supplier structure. The remaining suppliers in Thailand tend to be Japanese or US owned, but a much more diverse and elaborate structure of suppliers and subcontractors will be needed to support growth. This offers considerable opportunities for SMEs as well as larger companies. A further implication is a demand for a domestic supply of competent engineers. The signs suggest that Thailand can satisfy that need very well. There are said to be around 100 engineering schools/departments in the country, turning out about 10 000 graduates annually across the engineering disciplines. One problem is that many of these engineers have been educated almost entirely in Thai; the authorities are now emphasising the need to distribute more English language education and training materials and to increase the capabilities of Thai engineers in the use of English and other world languages. It was therefore concluded that a degree of urgency was needed in scheduling the conference. The organisational and administrative time available was short, but enthusiasm was generated and the competence of the MTEC staff overcame the dif® culties involved.

Research council hopes

Research council hopes