THE NEED FOR A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH IN RESEARCH

Abstract

In the modern scientific world, scientists depend and survive on their extensive collaborations with colleagues. Sharing specialized reagents, techniques and expertise are the engine that accelerates their projects and creates new ideas and scientific breakthroughs. The presence of established channels of effective communication, stable partnerships and broad networks between academics allows critical information to flow between them. While collaboration has been an integral part of research for a long time, the nature of collaboration appears to be evolving form partnerships within the disciplines/institutions to an interdisciplinary/multi-contextual collaboration. This approach has stimulated the pace of research and encouraged the development of innovative and groundbreaking strategies in increasingly new and complex fields.
Scientists and researchers need to change their attitudes to adapt to a culture of cooperation. Partnership among researchers ensures that their knowledge, skills and techniques are made available to everyone interested and mutually benefit the participants. The more researchers collaborate, the greater are the chances for success and problem solving. In developing countries like Pakistan, where world-class resources are extremely limited, collaboration becomes especially helpful in acquiring knowledge and experience. It is important to have such approach, not only in sharing knowledge but also in making equipment, facilities, and laboratories available to other researchers even if they belong to another institution.