Photo by Tim Abbott/Flickr Commons
By Jay Lund
Riding into work the other day, I was thinking how our understanding of hard problems requires understanding a lot of pieces and how those pieces fit together – sort of like how a pile of bricks gets transformed into a habitable structure.
If every research study is a brick in our understanding, how would research programs stack up?
1. Most research programs.
2. Some of the better agency research programs.
3. Lightweight studies stack easier.
4. Many studies are colorful, but not strong.
5. A common tenure package.
6. Building from different brick types and shapes is difficult, but often necessary.
7. Often research must move forward creatively.
8. What we wanted.
9. Often the best we can do.
Photo credits: (1) Jeff Stvan/Flickr Commons, (2) Simon Bratt/Depositphotos, (3) Jack Two/Flickr Commons, (4) Derek Bruff/Flickr Commons, (5) Glyn Lewis/Depositphotos, (6) Tim Abbott/Flickr Commons, (7) Buzzhunt, (8) Google Maps, (9) Dave Herholz/Flickr Commons
I like the analogy of trees instead of bricks. Many people can’t see the forest through the trees.
True. Or the need for structure, for attention to the bricks.
Brilliant! I particularly like the typical tenure package.
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