Around St Patrick’s Day there is much talk of the Irish abroad and how to maintain links. Ireland has a great deal of highly talented researchers around the world most of whom watch developments here with great interest. We should be thinking of new ways to connect to the global Irish research community.
Being internationally mobile is an integral part of developing as a researcher and is a very strong tradition among the Irish. Mobility can be viewed in terms of private and public good, and from both perspectives, it can be a double-edged sword. For the researcher, moving to a successful research group in another country can be highly beneficial for their career. Some will return home but many remain and establish themselves abroad.
From the host country’s perspective, gaining highly talented researchers from abroad can strengthen their research excellence. It brings diverse talent to their own research teams. However, if the increasing numbers displace local researchers this can have a long-term negative effect if the foreign researchers return home in large numbers. For example, the US has in recent years seen a brain drain of foreign researchers with countries such as China and South Korea incentivising returning researchers.
Mobility is closely linked to career stage, eg PhD and postdoctoral researchers can be highly mobile. This is linked to a range of funding opportunities but also because the majority of researchers at this stage of their careers tend not to have strong commitments that mitigate against mobility. As researchers become more established they seek stable locations to set up their own research group.
Once a researcher obtains a long-term position the incentive to be mobile is limited to conferences, short stays and perhaps a sabbatical. Many Irish researchers have followed this path and are now well established abroad. There are schemes to attract back outstanding researchers with Science Foundation Ireland funding. However, I believe there is an opportunity to reach out to this community by promoting virtual mobility.
The European Science Foundation developed this concept in depth in its 2012 report, Developing Research Careers in and Beyond Europe . Virtual mobility is defined as cross-border research co-operation based on verifiable signs of collaboration and participation. Examples would include co-publications, co-patenting and cross-border grants. Virtual mobility is about collaborative projects, short-term visits and student exchange without the need for researchers to move.
We should invest national funds in schemes to support virtual mobility to generate more collaboration with Irish researchers abroad. There is already a well-established network of US based Irish scientists who recognised the need to advance the Irish contribution in the sciences in addition to that of business and culture. The Wild Geese Network of Irish Scientists (wildgeesenetwork.org) was formed in 2011 and is supported by Ireland’s ambassador to the US and the Northern Ireland Bureau. Last week a partnership with Connect Ireland was announced to promote greater co-operation among – and visibility of – Irish scientists abroad.
The network provides a forum for discussion, ideas, consultancy, publicity and engagement of Irish scientists in policy. It has members who are senior academics and early career professionals in academia, pharmaceutical companies, the energy and biotechnology sectors and science policy and communications. It promotes mentoring of Irish students and scientists in academia and industry and highlights the achievements and successes of Irish scientists. There are already in place well-established similar networks of scientists for Austria and Turkey.
Outstanding Irish researchers abroad are recognised with the RDS Boyle Medal. This is awarded biennially, alternating between a scientist based in Ireland and abroad. In 2011, it was won by Margaret Murnane, a laser physicist originally from Limerick and graduate of UCC now based in the University of Colorado at Boulder. The Wild Geese is working with Irish agencies to introduce a number of schemes that will develop closer ties to Ireland through internships and recognising Irish researchers abroad.
There is a wonderful community of Irish researchers around the globe and we should not view this as lost talent. The Wild Geese Network shows the desire of Irish researchers abroad to work together and forge links with Ireland. The opportunity here is to tap into the goodwill of these Irish researchers abroad through virtual mobility, as they are only too willing to establish links with Ireland.
Conor O'Carroll is research director in the Irish Universities Association, iua.ie