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Biography |
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Erik W. Thulstrup, born 1941.Danish citizen.
Honors: Gold Medals: Aarhus University, 1969, Polish Academy of Sciences 2006. Fellow of TWAS, 1996, Norwegian Academy of Sciences, 1999, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, 2008, and African Academy of Sciences, 2009.
Recent positions: Head of World Bank S&T program, 1989-93. Prof., Roskilde Univ, 1993-. Numerous visiting positions in other countries. President, Danish National Commission for UNESCO, 1993-95, Vice-president, Molecular Frontiers, 2007-
Leader of several large scale evaluations: Danida support for research in developing countries, 1992, the Sida Research Support for Ethiopia, 1995, Zimbabwe, 1996, Bolivia, 2006, Honduras, 2007; of IFS, 2001, of Swedish university cooperation with developing countries, 2009, and others.
Research Interests: 1) Polarization Spectroscopy, studies of aligned molecular samples, with applications from cancer research to flat screens. Author of 3 leading monographs. 2) Science and Development, in particular the role of scientific research and education for economic development. Extensive science policy and research evaluation work in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
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Abstract |
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ABSTRACT 1:
Why and How Should young Researchers Publish?
Why are researchers interested in publishing their research results? For several reasons:
1) they want to inform other researchers (and research users) about their results,
2) they want to receive constructive criticism from experts in their field,
3) they need to join relevant informal research networks, and
4) they want to document their efforts in order to secure funding and promotion.
At times, purpose 4) dominates and purpose 2) is avoided. This is a short term strategy. In the long run, it is more important to correct own mistakes and misconceptions than it is to impress non-experts. Thus, one should publish in journals that provide competent (and helpful) reviews, rather than produce a long publication list of papers in obscure journals. Do not hide your research!
This strategy is a winner these years. Increasingly, researchers being evaluated are asked not for their complete publication list, but for their most significant publications. Citation counts are also becoming part of evaluations; it is important to be cited, especially in good research journals. How can the young and inexperienced researcher accomplish this? The simplest way is to have a long-term research strategy, to establish research cooperation with experienced researchers at home or (mostly) elsewhere, and to try to maximize learning from such cooperation.
Publishing research results for research users, such as industry, ministries, etc., is an important, but often overlooked activity. Such publications will often contain reviews of the field in question, and producing reviews is a very healthy activity for any researcher. Cooperation with domestic research users may also lead to new results. Do not keep your research separate from real life!
ABSTRACT II:
How can an Improved Journal System Increase Scientific Output in Developing Countries?
Scientific productivity is closely connected to scientific publishing, both through traditional and electronic journals. Changing an old-fashioned journal system into a modern and efficient one may be the most cost-efficient way to strengthen research in many developing countries.
In many developing countries the number of research journals is too high (over 500 in Indonesia, over 1000 in Brazil). Unfortunately, the average quality tends to be correspondingly low. This makes it difficult to provide qualified reviewers, to avoid delays in publishing, and to ensure that a large number of relevant readers are reached. What can be done to improve this situation?
National or regional incentives must be provided so that small journal editors and publishers (often universities or scientific societies) agree to merge existing journals in a field into a modern and efficient journal. If it is not possible to use English as the journal language, they should at least have abstracts in English. This was done some decades ago by a huge number of small scientific journals in the Nordic countries, which were streamlined into a limited number of new, English language journals. Essentially all of the new journals obtained wide international recognition, and many have later merged with other journals to become leaders in their fields.
Some developing countries have followed this lead; especially scientific publishing in Brazil has made huge progress. New journals (for Chemistry and Physics) in Bolivia have also done well; they include articles for and by local industry. Also African efforts have been made, but it seems likely that stronger incentives are needed.
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