Friday Focus: Collaboration and resourcefulness
October 31, 2019
— by Larry Hinzman, vice chancellor for research
Every day I am inspired by the research being conducted at UAF. Just last month, Regine Hock and Gary Kofinas contributed to the latest report by the United Nations-led Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Terry Chapin was named the 2019 recipient of the Volvo Environment Prize, and Julie Hagelin and Janice Straley won second place at the 2019 Arctic Innovation Competition.
All our successful research is the product of a robust research infrastructure consisting of faculty, staff and students. Lab managers, grant writers, faculty, contract administrators and fiscal technicians, among many others, all contribute in important ways.
What makes UAF an elite research institute isn’t just hard work but also our collaborative approach and resourcefulness. This reminds me of the entrepreneurial mindset, which many members of our UAF community adopt consciously or without even realizing it. In everything we do, we have the opportunity to think about how we can add value to our organization, be innovative and nimble, and grow our networks to find synergies and discover better practices. This approach is valuable in all of our many different roles at UAF, from managing a budget to running a department, and from teaching courses to handling HR matters.
Through the Alaska Center ICE innovation hub, we offer the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program for teaching entrepreneurship, and we have experienced entrepreneurs who offer one-on-one mentorship. Center ICE also sponsors student internships at Alaska startup companies and awards minigrants through its Center ICE seed fund. The Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization helps bring UAF innovations to the general public, often through patenting and licensing. Please consider taking advantage of these great opportunities and resources.
Partnering is critical to successful research; all of our research success stories over the years have involved some level of partnering. Partnership is the cornerstone of the Center for One Health Research; I hope you watch this short video that demonstrates the exciting work a broad coalition like One Health can undertake. So, seek out the partners you need to be successful, and offer your assistance, guidance or resources to help your colleagues excel in their research.
Partnering and having an entrepreneurial approach to our work at UAF are as important as ever as we strengthen our foundation and strive to reach Tier 1 research status. I am thinking about how I can approach my work in a more innovative and entrepreneurial manner, and I encourage you to do the same.
Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of UAF’s leadership team every week.