Published:
Research leaders from Heriot-Watt University, the Moredun Research Institute and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) have participated in a special ‘Exchange Event’ aimed at stimulating novel interdisciplinary research collaborations and proposing new ideas for even closer research cooperation between the three institutions.
I was very impressed by the originality and scope of new ideas generated by this intensely interactive event.
The participants represented a wide range of biological, engineering, management, physical and mathematical sciences spanning many of the principal areas of research excellence from Heriot-Watt University, Moredun and RZSS. Over two days, the group learned more about the research aims, expertise and facilities of each institution from key note speakers including Scientific Director of the Moredun Research Institute, Prof Julie Fitzpatrick; Chief Executive Officer of the RZSS, Prof Chris West; Director of Giant Panda Project and Strategic Innovations, RZSS, Dr Iain Valentine; and Head of Research Institute in Signals, Sensors and Systems at Heriot-Watt University, Prof Marc Desmulliez.
Enthusiasm and originality
Reflecting on the potential for future research collaborations with the RZSS and Moredun, Prof Desmulliez said, “It was very rewarding to see so much enthusiasm and goodwill amongst the participants. I’m looking forward to seeing the great projects and collaborations that will stem from this event.”
Prof Alan Miller, Former Deputy Principal for Research & KE, Heriot-Watt University and Trustee of the RZSS, said, “I was very impressed by the originality and scope of new ideas generated by this intensely interactive event, which I am certain will lead to many innovative interactions and projects exploiting the complementary knowledge and skills of the participants from the three organisations”.
Future inter-institutional research collaborations between Heriot-Watt University, the Moredun Research Institute and the RZSS are likely to exploit shared facilities and the complementarity of different research strengths.
The ‘Exchange Event’ was developed by the Centre for Academic Leadership & Development (ALD) at Heriot-Watt University based on their experience of designing Scottish Crucible and Heriot-Watt Crucible programmes.