Page 130 - The ISA Handbook in Contemporary Sociology

9781412934633-Chap-07 1/10/09 8:43 AM Page 101

NEW COLLABORATIVE FORMS OF DOING RESEARCH 101

national needs. Therefore, CIDE’s objectives full-time academics of ‘La Laguna,’ they
in the production of knowledge include the allow the students to carry out the experi-
development of an innovative model of mental work in the University laboratories,
research where projects are linked to social with the consent of University authorities.
needs; reach an internationally competitive Another instance of individual negotiation is
level in research results through scientific the case of Rocío González, a microbiologist
production in visible publications; and pro- working on her PhD. She works in the
duce reliable, precise, and replicable research Microbiology Laboratory of the Mexican
results with scientific relevance, within the Social Security Institute (IMSS), the national
limits set by standards of measurement. social security agency that covers workers in
CIDE promotes inter-institutional agree- the private sector. González carries out her
ments that will make the achievement of experimental work in her laboratory, with per-
institutional educational objectives possible, mission of the authorities. Students purchase
and produces scientific knowledge that will their own disposable laboratory materials.
aid national development by searching for CIDE’s coordinators and advisors do their
solutions to problems related to the biological job as a social contribution to regional devel-
environment. opment, as a way of returning to society
To make the promotion of human some of what they have got from it; hence
resources a reality, CIDE’s objectives also they do not expect a regular economic
include maintaining a link between teaching compensation. Since CIDE does not have a
and research, to promote academic collabo- physical infrastructure or faculty salaries, it
ration with national and international is capable of keeping expenses at a low level.
research centers, to identify and promote new
paradigms of learning, to establish training in Regional scientific communities: The objec-
alternative teaching practices, to modernize tive of CIDE is to form regional scientific
cybernetic learning units, to maintain communities (López-Pérez, 2004). The com-
constant updating of study plans in accor- munity is formed based on a group of
dance with society’s structural changes, the ‘brains’ who have in common an interest in
advancement of scientific knowledge, and scientific development, and invest everything
the organic knowledge of learning processes. they have at hand to reach that objective.
Generally this is an individual decision,
Financing: How is this project financed? where people from educational institutions,
According to several inquiries made by research centers, and firms participate. In the
the author, it is mostly self-financed, and, words of one of its founders: ‘we are above
compared to any other alternative, public or all interested in forming brains that will
private, is not expensive. In an interview with develop professional activity in the real
Dr. Rafael Rodríguez (2007), CIDE’s world (firm, farm, etc.).’ It is clear that these
Coordinator in Torreón, Coahuila, he communities are not produced in the univer-
explained that students do not pay either reg- sities, even when they carry out research,
istration or periodic fees. The transportation since they have different characteristics and
expense of external advisors is covered with objectives.
funds raised by the students themselves. These communities have developed
External advisors stay in the homes of either research centers, in some cases. Such is the
local advisors or the students themselves. case of the first community established,
Laboratory facilities are negotiated individu- working out of Colima, the capital of the
ally by the students, according to their needs. State of the same name, where there is a
For example, the seat of CIDE in Torreón is biotechnology laboratory, producing scien-
the ‘La Laguna’ branch of the Antonio Narro tific data and results that are published in
University. Since the Torreón advisors are prestigious international journals. CIDE has