Ockendon-Powell, Nina F., Beck, Alice, Hird, Diane L., Thomas-Hughes, Helen, Boonham, Neil, Foster, Gary D., Bailey, Andy M. and Cronin, Bruce ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3776-8924 (2025) Network dynamics in developing interdisciplinary research capacity and collaboration: a case study in vector-borne plant virus research. [Working Paper] (doi:10.2139/ssrn.5052664)

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Abstract

Vector-borne plant virus research straddles plant virology, entomology, agricultural practices and international trade policies and practices. Reducing crop losses from plant viruses to better secure global food supplies necessitates interdisciplinary collaboration and improvement research capacity. A UK Government-funded research community network, the Community Network for Vector-Borne Plant Viruses (CONNECTED) aimed to increase international interdisciplinary research collaboration and capacity in vector-borne plant virus research through a multi-year programme of activities. Using network analysis, we show that the provision of CONNECTED's sequenced programme of inperson and online events, involving purposeful networking, training and collaborative projects, in the context of suitable framing conditions, leads to the development of relationships and to higher-order collaborative outputs including peer-reviewed publications. Exploring the evolution of multidisciplinary clusters of expertise, we demonstrate the emergence of interdisciplinarity within the network via the development of distinct epistemic communities. Our study provides evidence for a new theoretical model for the emergence of collaboration, where in-person and online interactions within and outside events and collaborative projects leads to a dynamic interplay of convergence (closure) and divergence (brokerage) within the network.

Item Type:	Working Paper
Additional Information:	This is a preprint and has not yet been subject to peer review.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	collaboration, research capacity, interdisciplinarity, vector-borne plant viruses, network dynamics, epistemic communities
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) Q Science > Q Science (General) S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Greenwich Business School Greenwich Business School > School of Business, Operations and Strategy
Last Modified:	10 Jan 2025 11:30
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/49327

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