Using network science to identify and bridge scientific communities at a research university
Members of the Network Science Program at BEBR gave a presentation at the Translational Science 2018 conference on their data analysis and intervention strategies. The program aims to expand network science and science of team science at UF, map and analyze collaboration networks across CTSA hubs and design network interventions to stimulate collaborative research at UF and across the CTSA consortium. The research of the program is based on publication, grant proposal, and office space data, as well as membership in PhD committees.
As part of a research project at the Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere, data on the research interests, collaboration and topics of classes taught by the UF Humanities faculty members was collected. In a joint effort with the Network Science Program team at BEBR, a network profile of shared research topics and co-publications was generated and presented during a meeting of the Social Network Analysis Journal Club at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The insights into the underlying social and topical structure are a profound representation of the research and teaching activities within the Humanities, which enable these faculty members to identify and approach groups and individuals for promising future collaborations on shared or neighboring research topics.