4. EVALUATION OF THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND FORESTRY
4.2 Department of Biology
A SCIENTIFIC QUALITY OF RESEARCH
The research activities are focused towards environmental aspects of plant and animal biology, living in various ecosystems. The various research groups are well networked with other units of the UEF. The Department maintains, despite the several recent reorganization processes, a good and collaborative environment.
Researchers at the Department have published a number of scientific papers.
However, their level in terms of quality of the journals and number of citations is not very high. Only 10–13% of the publications are classified at JUFO level 3. This may be one of the reasons for the low attraction of EU funding.
Recommendation:
i. While the topics addressed can be of high impact and relevance, the researchers should put maximum efforts in increasing the quality of research which would be reflected in top level publications. They also need to coordinate efforts and individual projects to increase the societal impact of the Department.
B RESEARCH ACTIVITIES VS STRATEGY
The Department’s strategic vision is clearly stated and in part maps onto the UEF strategy. The plan for research strategy features a SWOT analysis and clear definitions of goals (including promotion of a high quality in research), indicators to be measured, and actions aiming at attaining them.
However, it would be even more useful if these indicators were quantified where possible so that these “key performance indicators” can be used in the future to assess where the Department has made progress and in which areas more action is required.
The Department receives UEF “Spearhead Projects” and “Innovative Research Initiatives” funding. The danger is that the UEF funding in these areas is simply used to conduct on-going research and publish papers and does not lead to larger and sustainable activities in the Department.
Recommendations: A Departmental strategy to allow renewal and expansion of research facilities and infrastructure should be developed, with a plan for implementation. The Department should explicitly discuss and decide how it will make an impact in the three strategic focus areas of the UEF and thus advance the research strategy of the University. The Department should decide how it will build on its current involvement in the Spearhead Projects and Innovative Research Initiatives to ensure that these research areas become sustainable in the Department
4.2 DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
A SCIENTIFIC QUALITY OF RESEARCH
The research activities are focused towards environmental aspects of plant and animal biology, living in various ecosystems. The various research groups are well networked with other units of the UEF. The Department maintains, despite the several recent reorganization processes, a good and collaborative environment.
Researchers at the Department have published a number of scientific papers.
However, their level in terms of quality of the journals and number of citations is not very high. Only 10–13% of the publications are classified at JUFO level 3. This may be one of the reasons for the low attraction of EU funding.
Recommendation:
i. While the topics addressed can be of high impact and relevance, the researchers should put maximum efforts in increasing the quality of research which would be reflected in top level publications. They also need to coordinate efforts and individual projects to increase the societal impact of the Department.
B RESEARCH ACTIVITIES VS STRATEGY
The Department’s strategic vision is clearly stated and in part maps onto the UEF strategy. The plan for research strategy features a SWOT analysis and clear definitions of goals (including promotion of a high quality in research), indicators to be measured, and actions aiming at attaining them.
However, it would be even more useful if these indicators were quantified where possible so that these “key performance indicators” can be used in the future to assess where the Department has made progress and in which areas more action is required.
The Department receives UEF “Spearhead Projects” and “Innovative Research Initiatives” funding. The danger is that the UEF funding in these areas is simply used to conduct on-going research and publish papers and does not lead to larger and sustainable activities in the Department.
Recommendations: A Departmental strategy to allow renewal and expansion of research facilities and infrastructure should be developed, with a plan for implementation. The Department should explicitly discuss and decide how it will make an impact in the three strategic focus areas of the UEF and thus advance the research strategy of the University. The Department should decide how it will build on its current involvement in the Spearhead Projects and Innovative Research Initiatives to ensure that these research areas become sustainable in the Department
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in the future by building on them and by obtaining external funding in the same areas.
C INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION AND RESEARCHER MOBILITY
The Department of Biology hosts the International Master's Degree Program in Environmental Biology, which accepts 10 students annually, and a FAO-implemented Master's Degree Program in Fisheries tailored especially for Kyrgyz students. Preparation work for a double degree program in the field of biotechnology and food safety was also started during the assessment period. The number of joint scientific publications involving international co-operation has increased by 63% during the assessment period. This is an indication of the growing internationality of the Department. However, the leading role of the Department of Biology in this international cooperative work is not high. In the ten listed international joint scientific papers, three are led by the Department and seven by counterparts. The volume of EU or other international funding is small, which also affects the resources for international collaboration.
Recommendation:
ii. The researchers of the Department need to take more often a leading role in international collaboration, including joint project coordination.
D OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS
The Department of Biology has research groups under two main research themes focusing on the biology of environmental change in (I) terrestrial and (II) aquatic ecosystems. Both of these main foci are supported by groups working on animal physiology, cell models and animal behavior and welfare.
The research groups under the two main themes are:
I. Terrestrial biology (including wetland ecosystems) a. The plant ecophysiology research group b. The plant resistance ecology research group c. The plant biotechnology research group d. The animal ecology research group e. The ecosystem ecology research group II. Aquatic biology
a. The aquatic ecology and behavioral ecology research group b. The aquatic ecotoxicology research group
c. The lake ecosystems and food webs research group
d. The Saimaa ringed seal research and conservation research group
Each one of the research groups is led by at least one professor, and composed by two to five senior researchers and four to eight doctoral students, on the average.
There is a good cooperation level among groups under a same theme.
The number of person-years in 2012 for professors was 7.8, 0.4 for associate professors, 24 for senior researchers, 11.2 for post-docs and 35.4 for doctoral students. Given the progressively higher number of younger people, the structure of the unit appears to be sustainable, although auxiliary personnel should be increased.
The total funding has been around 8.4 M€ per year, of which around 2.8 M€ has come from external sources. Particularly low is the attraction of funds from the European Union (91–154 k€ per year). While the amount of basic funding allocated by the University to the Department of Biology appears to be in line with both the average in the Faculty and their specific needs, external research funding is by far low, and below what is attracted by the other Departments and Schools in the Faculty.
The Department has a strategic personnel development plan, annually evaluating the importance of each vacancy and planning hiring. The Department is also actively considering further acquisition of complementary skills (e.g., bioinformaticians) and of international researchers, post-docs, and doctoral students.
Laboratory equipment appears to be just adequate to the research objectives and goals, although the research of the Department would clearly benefit from their improvement. Some of the equipment is state-of-the-art in its field.
The activities of the Department do not seem to be greatly affected by operations being performed in two campuses. However, the use of some of the specially equipped laboratories has suffered from the merging and restructuring because of the reduction of auxiliary personnel.
Overall, the Department has relatively well-organized groups with clear development plans. A sufficient number of young researchers able to sustain research in the long run are also present. Further development of bioinformatics would be of high benefit to all research areas of the Department.
Recommendation:
iii. Interdisciplinary research and cooperation with other Departments/Schools of the Faculty (most notably with the School of Computing in the bioinformatics field) should be strengthened to the mutual benefit of all involved parties. The Department should aim at increasing the quality and impact of the research, to address more challenging problems, to increase the attraction of international funds and to increase interdisciplinary scientific collaborations.
Each one of the research groups is led by at least one professor, and composed by two to five senior researchers and four to eight doctoral students, on the average.
There is a good cooperation level among groups under a same theme.
The number of person-years in 2012 for professors was 7.8, 0.4 for associate professors, 24 for senior researchers, 11.2 for post-docs and 35.4 for doctoral students. Given the progressively higher number of younger people, the structure of the unit appears to be sustainable, although auxiliary personnel should be increased.
The total funding has been around 8.4 M€ per year, of which around 2.8 M€ has come from external sources. Particularly low is the attraction of funds from the European Union (91–154 k€ per year). While the amount of basic funding allocated by the University to the Department of Biology appears to be in line with both the average in the Faculty and their specific needs, external research funding is by far low, and below what is attracted by the other Departments and Schools in the Faculty.
The Department has a strategic personnel development plan, annually evaluating the importance of each vacancy and planning hiring. The Department is also actively considering further acquisition of complementary skills (e.g., bioinformaticians) and of international researchers, post-docs, and doctoral students.
Laboratory equipment appears to be just adequate to the research objectives and goals, although the research of the Department would clearly benefit from their improvement. Some of the equipment is state-of-the-art in its field.
The activities of the Department do not seem to be greatly affected by operations being performed in two campuses. However, the use of some of the specially equipped laboratories has suffered from the merging and restructuring because of the reduction of auxiliary personnel.
Overall, the Department has relatively well-organized groups with clear development plans. A sufficient number of young researchers able to sustain research in the long run are also present. Further development of bioinformatics would be of high benefit to all research areas of the Department.
Recommendation:
iii. Interdisciplinary research and cooperation with other Departments/Schools of the Faculty (most notably with the School of Computing in the bioinformatics field) should be strengthened to the mutual benefit of all involved parties. The Department should aim at increasing the quality and impact of the research, to address more challenging problems, to increase the attraction of international funds and to increase interdisciplinary scientific collaborations.
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E IMPACT OF RESEARCH
The Unit is active in promoting interest and knowledge in biology in the local community (collaboration with Karelia Univ. of Appl. Sciences, training, visits of high-school students, and SciFest) and, via the “Ask the biologist” internet pages for the general public, in the whole country. It actively transfers knowledge to companies, farms, and municipalities. It is active in Digitarium in helping to digitize natural history collections.
The Department focuses on natural conditions and phenomena in the local northern ecosystems, with significance in protection biology and in the sustainable exploitation of natural resources. It is also active in the study, protection, and public discussion of ecological issues and the conditions of endangered species such as the Saimaa ringed seal. The research and public discussion in national TV, radio and newspapers have had an impact on fishing legislation and other aspects of political decision-making, e.g., in issues related to climate change, genetically modified plants, and animal farming.
The Department collaborates with local companies that deal with fertilizers, food and other natural products as well as bio-products. It belongs to the Forest Cluster Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation (SHOK).
There have been six invention disclosures during 2010–2012, but no patent applications have been submitted.
Overall, the Department of Biology has a significant impact on local companies and the discussion and policy issues related to the biology of ecosystems. Its role in research-based teaching and education extends beyond the academic boundaries of the University. Several faculty members have an important influence in positions of trust in Finland and elsewhere.
On the contrary, the impact at the international level is rather limited; this is reflected in the limited level of international funding and in the limited leading role in international collaborations.
OVERALL COMMENTS
The Department’s documentation describes a unit that sees an important role for itself in understanding and managing the terrestrial and aquatic resources of the region locally and nationally. We agree with this. At the same time, in reality, the Department has a mix of biological and ecological science capabilities and interests but lacks the critical mass to provide the depth that certain areas of research may require. Further, the Department is relatively new in its current configuration and is perhaps spread too thinly over its research areas for its size. At the same time we are impressed that modest additional resources would do much to strengthen the Department. There are significant research and teaching overlaps between the activities of this Department and those of the Department of Environmental Science; efforts should be taken to streamline these, particularly to make teaching more efficient in order to free up staff time for research. Effective communications between these departments is absolutely essential. More radically, consideration
should be given to the merger of the Departments of Biology and Environmental Science, to maximize efficiencies and synergies in research and teaching and to reach critical mass.
NUMERIC EVALUATION
CRITERIA NUMERIC
EVALUATION SCALE 1-6
Scientific quality of research 3
International and national research collaboration and
researcher mobility 3
Operational conditions 3
Impact of research 4
OVERALL ASSESSMENT (not the average of the scores
above) 3
should be given to the merger of the Departments of Biology and Environmental Science, to maximize efficiencies and synergies in research and teaching and to reach critical mass.
NUMERIC EVALUATION
CRITERIA NUMERIC
EVALUATION SCALE 1-6
Scientific quality of research 3
International and national research collaboration and
researcher mobility 3
Operational conditions 3
Impact of research 4
OVERALL ASSESSMENT (not the average of the scores
above) 3
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