Evaluation of individual research units - Norges forskningsråd

Evaluation of individual research units
Systematics & Evolution
Grading of scientific quality
Good
Evaluation of biology, medicine and health research in Norway (2011)
Description of unit
The unit has nine scientific staff members, two of whom are female. Many of the
members are over 60. The focus of the group is biosystematics of a few taxonomic
groups, particularly mosses and some insects, and the molecular laboratory facilities have
been recently upgraded.
General evaluation & recommendations
We were impressed with the unit’s efforts to integrate research with the Department of
Biology at NTNU. The productivity of the group is uneven, with relatively low
publication rates and many publications in journals with relatively low impact and
readership. We support efforts to increase the number of PhD students and postdoctoral
fellows via teaching by the staff, but also recommend exploring other avenues for such
recruitment, such as advertisement in online evolution fora. It is clear that the group is
still responding to the changes implemented in 2009, and we encourage the unit to move
toward more process-oriented research.
Societal impact
The museum is part of the national effort to understand and conserve biological diversity,
an effort with clear societal relevance. Outreach to the public and other non-academic
users of the museum’s resources is an important component of museum activities.
Conservation Biology
Grading of scientific quality
Fair to Good
Description of unit
The Conservation Biology group aims to develop and integrate research, public outreach,
and education and to generate strong interactions among professional researchers and
students. The group is relatively small. When the self-assessment was submitted the
group included six academic and research staff, three postdoctoral fellows, and one PhD
student.
General evaluation & recommendations
The group’s ability to collaborate effectively with the management community is a great
strength. It might consider publishing manuscripts not only on natural science research
but also on the process of working closely with stakeholders or end users. Many other
researchers seek to improve the relevance of their research or their collaborations with
diverse partners, and are eager for well-communicated guidance on what processes are
effective as well as less effective. The pending retirement of a high proportion of staff
may create opportunities to either reinforce or identify new strategic directions. Another
strength is the emphasis on empirical research, which will allow the group to remain well
grounded in natural history. It is possible that publication output is in part a function of
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