Page 290 - Becoming Metric Wise

282 Becoming Metric-Wise

that it leads to the best possible scientific research. The lab should neither
be too fragmented into small units, nor be a huge mastodon with little
internal structure. Researchers are encouraged to take upon them leading
duties in academic organizations at the national and international level.
Leading scientists from all over the world should be invited to participate
in the lab’s work. Teamwork in a spirit of cooperation should be encour-
aged. Moreover, teams should consist of scientists of all ages, but be dom-
inated by younger and middle-aged colleagues. The lab is to be
characterized by an intellectual and science friendly atmosphere. Finally
the lab must provide training for young talented students. It provides
Master and PhD education for national (Chinese) and foreign students.

8.10.3 Open Communication and Management

This point also consists of three parts.
• Publicly shared facilities and instruments. Does the lab have all the
research facilities and instruments necessary for research at the fore-
front of science? The lab should develop its own instruments for
leading-edge experiments and share the use of big expensive instru-
ments with other labs.
• Open academic communication. The lab must have an open commu-
nication structure, internally as well as with the outside world, in par-
ticular with fellow scientists all over the world. Open communication
also implies sharing the use of costly instruments (see above). The lab
always has a group of temporary and visiting scholars. Its openness is
also characterized by participation in international events, and the
organization of international, national, regional and local conferences
and symposia.
• Management. Clear management guidelines must exist, so that each
member knows their duties and all operations are performed smoothly.
The lab has access to all necessary research materials. Academic com-
mittees are present and play a role in the organization and manage-
ment of the lab. Financial conditions are adequate and the lab receives
the necessary support from an affiliated institute.
As with all evaluation procedures these indicators also have a prescriptive
function: they tell lab directors what they should certainly do, namely activi-
ties that are explicitly mentioned in the evaluation procedures and what is of
less importance, namely activities that are not evaluated.