Analytic Model of Departamental Research as Science-Based Advising of Actors in Political Process - Analysis of Research Activity of the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment from Novi Sad

U posljednje vrijeme sve su izraženiji zahtjevi za “uporabljivom” znanosti s izravno primjenjivim rezultatima u praksi. Mnoge europske zemlje, tako i Srbija i Hrvatska, postavljaju slične zahtjeve. Postojeće strategije i zakoni koji se odnose na znanstvenoistraživačku djelatnost javnih instituta (Vlada RS 2010, Vlada RH 2006, Hrvatski sabor 2003, MZOS 2006, 2007, 2010) navode da se znanstvenoistraživačka djelatnost obavlja radi ostvarivanja državnih interesa, uskom suradnjom s praksom i aktivnim prijenosom znanstveno utemeljenih i pravodobnih informacija donositeljima odluka i ostalim zainteresiranim stranama. Na primjeru Instituta za nizinsko šumarstvo i okoliš iz Srbije, pokazat ćemo da li, kako i u kojoj mjeri javni znanstveni instituti u području šumarstva i okoliša “osluškuju” potrebe sudionika u političkim procesima, odnosno koliko je znanstvenoistraživačka djelatnost Instituta u skladu sa zahtjevom “uporabljive znanosti”. Pri tome ćemo se poslužiti modelom resornoga istraživanja (Böcher i Krott 2010), koji aktivnosti i rezultate Instituta promatra kroz sfere istraživanja, integracije, znanstvene i praktične primjene. Veze između tih sfera prikazane su proizvodnim linijama, koje predstavljaju tijek i rezultate proizvodnje, u našem slučaju projekata. Analiza obuhvaća 51 znanstveno-istraživački projekt u razdoblju od 2005. do 2010. godine. Rezultati pokazuju primjenjivost modela resornoga istraživanja na odabrani Institut te jaku vezu između Instituta i korisnika rezultata istraživanja. Korišteni model, analizom aktivnosti Instituta za nizinsko šumarstvo i okoliš naglašava upravo uporabljivost rezultata koja je pri uobičajenim metodama evaluacije Instituta teško vidljiva.Many governments express a growing need for having a science that is “usable”, which means that research results should be useful for practical application. In Serbia and Croatia current strategies and laws addressing science and research see public research institutes as organizations with activities primarily oriented toward public interest, in a way that policy actors are provided with timely and adequate science-based information. In this paper we analysed scientific and research activities of public research Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE) to see whether, how and to what extent this institution meets the needs of actors in policy processes, i.e. if it is in line with the requirements of “usable science”. The Model of departmental research (Böcher i Krott 2010), based on sociology of scientific knowledge and analytical theory, has been applied on total scientific and research activities of ILFE. The very Model consists of following spheres: research, integration, scientific and practical utilisation, whereas production lines connect them and stay for activities of research projects (Figure 1). In total 51 research projects of ILFE for the period 2005–2010 have been analysed (table 1), based on project documentation, as well as semi-structured questionnaires and interviews with project leaders and management of the Institutes. Collected information was used in analysis of each project and graphically presented by production line on the model of departmental research. This was followed by synthesis and interpretation of the results. Results showed five types of production lines: (1) Preliminary research, starting in integration sphere, with the idea what will in the future be relevant for particular actor(s). However most activities remain in the research sphere, and foster results toward scientific utilization (Figure 2). In total 15 research projects of ILFE correspond with this type of production line. (2) Research stopped in the integration discourse. This production line also starts in the integration sphere, continues to the research sphere, where project proposal has been made, but its implementation gets stopped by the actors in political process, i.e. in the integration sphere (Figure 3). Only three projects of ILFE correspond with this type of production line. (3) Research oriented toward practical utilisation, where constant interaction between research and integration spheres, ends up in practical utilisation of results (Figure 4). Analysis showed 6 out of 51 projects fall into this group of typical science-based advising of actors in policy processes. (4) Research projects oriented toward scientific and practical utilisation, with the main difference that results are meant not only for practice, but for the scientific community as well (Figure 5). A group of 18 projects can be presented by this production line. (5) Consulting activities of public institutes. In ILFE seven out of 51 projects can be depicted by this type of production line, for which is typical that usually entire project is within the integration sphere with outputs in the practical utilisation discourse. During the research we were able to present all projects of the ILFE by production lines on the model of departmental research. There is a strong connection between ILFE and users of its expertise, with more than half of research projects having practical application (table 1). There are also im portant consulting activities going on which confirms importance of their role and quality of connection with the practise and society. The model proves to be advantageous over existing evaluation methods, while it makes transparent all aspects of departmental research, which is useful for both users of science-based expertise and founders of these institutions. It also makes a solid base for optimisation and quality management processes within institutions