How to be elite without being elitist
A comment on the quarrels over an Austrian Elite-Universtiy by Barry Dickson, Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna
The bold vision of Zeilinger and co to establish an Elite-Uni in Austria is now dead. Political will alone will not suffice to create a leading international scientific research institute out in the woods. Nothing will come of the current proposal to establish the Elite-Uni at Gugging. It simply cannot succeed without its scientific initiators, and having alienated the very communities it is intended to support and attract - scientists, students, and industrial entrepreneurs. The only question that remains is whether it will die peacefully, or become a hugely expensive and internationally embarrassing flop.
This is a shame. Austria deserves better. It has great potential. There is no shortage of talented and motivated young students. It is an attractive country in the centre of Europe with an open, international culture and a strong economy. It is already home to several outstanding research institutes. Even the political will to support basic scientific research and education is there. So why can't Austria get it right? Judging from events of the past few weeks, one reason seems to be that its government is more determined to demonstrate a strong will, rather than show respect for opposing voices and the courage to reconsider its decisions.
The one positive outcome of the Elite-Uni fiasco is that more and more voices are now being heard. The politicians would do well to listen to these voices, not stifle them. It is an encouraging sign that, having previously been either disenfranchised or ignored, Austrian scientists - both at home and abroad - are now questioning not just the corruption of scientific ideals for political ends, but also the whole concept of an Elite-Uni. Much of this discussion is understandably negative. Constructive suggestions are lacking. As a foreigner whose only interest in the matter is a strong desire to see Austrian science blossom, I would like to propose an alternative concept to the Elite-Uni.
My proposal shares Zeilinger's vision of a strong interdisciplinary basic research institute. In addition, it also addresses two critical aspects that I believe were missing in the original Elite-Uni proposal - strengthening rather than weakening the existing university system and a long-term commitment to improving science education. The proposal is built in part on the experience of the IMP in Vienna, which has been successful because it gives complete freedom and generous support to a small number of promising young scientists for a limited time. It is also modelled in part on the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), which has had a major impact on biomedical research in the US by supporting the more established scientists within the university system.
As with Zeilinger's Elite-Uni, the core of this proposal is a single flagship research institute. For the sake of discussion, let's just call it the Institute for Science & Technology (IST). This is a research institute, not a university, as it only trains postgraduate scientists. It is interdisciplinary, encompassing biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science. The IST offers young scientists generous support for their research and complete freedom from administration, grant-writing, and teaching. Each scientist heads a small group of no more that 10 people. All groups are housed in the one building, with no departmental or disciplinary boundaries and as few walls and doors as possible. The purpose of the IST is to foster innovative interdisciplinary research by outstanding young scientists during the most creative periods in their scientific careers. The IST should be a breeding ground for ideas and innovation, and a testing ground for the most promising scientific minds.
These junior positions are initially funded for 5 years, with renewal for a second 5 year period subject to international peer review. After 10 years, scientists are again evaluated, but now for a tenured senior position. Only in rare cases will the tenured scientist be allowed to remain at the IST, as the ratio of junior to senior positions at IST should be at least 4:1. In most cases, the scientist will be expected to move into one of the many universities across the country, taking her generous IST funding with her. She retains a dual affiliation both with IST and the host University and has full access to the scientific facilities and communities at both.Now installed within the university system, the IST investigator will infuse ideas, innovation, and a whole new scientific culture to her department. She will be a magnet to attract other promising young scientists to the university, and an inspiration to those already there. She will strive to create within the university the same environment she experienced at the IST itself. Thus, the IST will not bleed talent away from the established universities. Precisely the opposite. It will feed new scientists and new funding into the university system. The IST must not let the universities wither away; its very purpose is to reinvigorate them.
Importantly, the IST investigator at the university will now be engaged in undergraduate teaching and shaping the undergraduate curricula. Young students will be able to learn from and be inspired by some of the most brilliant scientific minds. They will be infected by their vigor, ideas, and passion for science. Thus, the IST will have a lasting impact on scientific education across the country. It will not merely attract the elite from abroad and lock them away in splendid isolation, with little impact on the local scientific community. Instead, by feeding in to the national university system it will ultimately help to raise a whole new crop of elite Austrian scientists. Some may go on to become IST investigators themselves. Some will go abroad to further enhance Austria's international scientific reputation. Many will enter other sectors of society, such as teaching, industry, and health care. Some may even enter politics. And what a marvellous thing it would be if Austria were blessed with politicians that understood science and scientists. That, more than anything else, would allow Austria to realise the potential it has to become one of the leaders in the global, knowledge-based economy of the 21st century.
Barry Dickson
Since this year Australian neurobiologist Barry Dickson is Scientific Director of the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna, a subsidiary of the Boehringer Ingelheim Group. In 2005 he was awarded the prestigious Wittgenstein Prize by the Austrian government for his scientific achievements. Lab Times 02/2006 will cover a comprehensive interview with Dickson.
