"EXCELScIOR": the science that studies science
Funded with around 2.5 million euros under the ERA Chair Actions, the "EXCELScIOR" project was presented on the 26th of April at "Colégio da Trindade". The goal is to boost research at the University of Coimbra in the field of biomedical sciences through meta-science
English version: Diana Taborda
"EXCELScIOR stands for excellent science", explains the ERA Chair Holder of the project, John Ioannidis. "We want to study science, how science works, and how we can improve research practices to have more reliable, more accessible and more efficient research", explains the professor from Stanford University, United States of America, summarising the concept of meta-science. The project was presented on the 26th of April at Colégio da Trindade.
"It's an ambitious project", considers John Ioannidis, "there are lots of opportunities and new things in terms of technology, in the way we communicate science and disseminate research, how we publish, how we do our scientific work every day". "EXCELScIOR starts by studying research carried out at the University of Coimbra (UC) but the ultimate goal is to "make a difference both at a national and international level."
Six researchers are involved in the project. They will analyse the data provided by the Associate Laboratory CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology and compare it with data from other Portuguese institutions.
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“It is the science of science" sums up the coordinator of "EXCELScIOR", Paulo Oliveira. Through meta-science, "we want to understand how the science that is done has quality and impact in the real world", adds the vice-president of the Centre for Neurosciences and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra (CNC-UC).
In a second phase, the project is to be applied to other areas of research at the UC, "such as economics and sociology" and to create guidelines for all types of research. "One of the goals of these ERA CHAIRS is to achieve a paradigm shift," Paulo Oliveira says. "We want to do something that can provide a new way of looking at science, evaluating science and applying the science we do", improving scientific processes and thus "improving Portuguese science."
The five-year project is funded under the ERA Chair Actions, a European Commission programme that supports universities and research centres in attracting and retaining qualified human resources and, at the same time, enhancing excellence in research.