Meeting Overview

To support building capacity and infrastructure in the Science of Science Management, NIH brought together a multi-disciplinary group of experts in October to create an arena for topics relevant to the systematic research of science management with a focus on providing evidence-based information for decision makers.

Purpose / Intent

The Science of Science Management October meeting created a forum to initiate the systematic research of science management issues, with a focus on providing evidence-based information for executives, scientists, practitioners, individuals, and policy decision-makers.  The evaluation of science has been problematic, due to the complexities of the research and development process because of unknown timeframes, costs and products.  Shifting the focus to science management may foster more appropriate research and development (R&D) performance assessments, develop schemas and models for benchmarking, and build the capacity to systematically research science management topics. These results can be used to foster evidence-based decision making.  Seemingly, no one discipline or tool can appropriately assess science management. Therefore, NIH created a venue for cross-talk between multi-disciplined experts in the fields of evaluation, social and behavioral sciences, economics, organization/systems theory, information technology, and science policy, as well as with NIH science staff. The goal of this collaborative effort was to produce assessment models that can be researched and tested post meeting. 

A core element of the meeting was four simultaneous, closed session breakout discussions, which aligned with the conceptual model of the meeting (see Meeting Overview below). Each breakout discussions focused on a single priority question in order to create a feasible cross-disciplinary assessment model.  The discussions were lead by NIH Institute Directors with the participation of invited experts and a cross-section of key NIH staff.  These collaborative efforts created proposed assessment models that may be tested.  The results can provide evidence-based information for decision makers to plan or to create policy.

Science of Science Management Meeting Now Available Online

Click here to access highlights and summaries, and the videocast and presentation slides.

Meeting Materials

Meeting Agenda 
Meeting Overview
Meeting Flyer
Meeting Participants
October Meeting Priority Questions
Bibliography