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How research programs stack up — a photo essay

1–2 minutes
TimAbbott_patchwork
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?

Most research programs
1. Most research programs. 
Brickstacks_original
2. Some of the better agency research programs.
Lightweight bricks stack easier
3. Lightweight studies stack easier.
Many studies are colorful, but not strong
4. Many studies are colorful, but not strong.
tenure_Depositphotos
5. A common tenure package.
TimAbbott_patchwork
6. Building from different brick types and shapes is difficult, but often necessary.
7. Often research must move forward creatively
7. Often research must move forward creatively. 
8. What we wanted
8. What we wanted.
Often the best we can do
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

 

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4 responses to “How research programs stack up — a photo essay”

  1. Tom Cannon Avatar
    Tom Cannon

    I like the analogy of trees instead of bricks. Many people can’t see the forest through the trees.

    Reply
    1. jaylund Avatar
      jaylund

      True. Or the need for structure, for attention to the bricks.

      Reply
  2. Joe Novitski Avatar
    Joe Novitski

    Brilliant! I particularly like the typical tenure package.

    Reply
  3. Blog round-up: Shades of Owens Valley in the Delta?, The project that could have saved the US from drought, A bad water deal, A special session on drought, and more …MAVEN'S NOTEBOOK | MAVEN'S NOTEBOOK

    […] How research programs stack up: A photo essay:  “Riding into work the other day, I was thinking how our understanding of hard problems requires understanding a lot of pieces and how these 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? … ”  Read more from the California Water Blog here:  How research programs stack up […]

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