INSciTS Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are member-led groups that provide a “home within a home” for INSciTS members to connect and collaborate with colleagues who have shared interests in the SciTS field.
INSciTS SIGs:
Enable INSciTS members to connect around shared interests and aligned activities to build community,
Provide a forum for INSciTS members to collaborate with one another throughout the year,
Help to advance key priority areas in the Science of Team Science (SciTS) field, and
Create opportunities to engage as a community with external groups.
Active Special Interest Groups
Active SIGs are described below. “Example topics” offer a sense of the current scope of each SIG. Focus areas and activities of each SIG will evolve based on the interests and goals of SIG members.
1. Fostering Team Science In Academia
Co-Chair: Stephen Crowley, PhD, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Boise State University
Co-Chair: Kathy Halvorsen, PhD, Professor of Natural Resource Policy, Michigan Technological University
Co-Chair: Sawsan Khuri, PhD SFHEA FRSA. Director at Collaborative Capacities and part time Lecturer in Medical Sciences at the University of Exeter, UK
Co-Chair: Angela Mendell, MS, CCTST, University of Cincinnati
Co-Chair: Alison Deviney, PhD, STEPS, NC State University
Co-Chair: Elizabeth F. Ryder, PhD, Associate Professor of Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
The goals of this SIG are to articulate and promote the need for a dedicated career path around interdisciplinary research expertise, and to develop and improve practitioners' tools, best practices, success metrics, and career trajectories.
Professional development – effective best practices, tools, methods, etc.
Evaluation
Hiring, promotion and tenure
To Propose a New SIG
SIGs are a dynamic part of INSciTS. Their goals, objectives, and activities evolve over time to reflect advances in the evidence base and the interests of SIG members.
We welcome proposals for new SIGs dedicated to topics not already represented among existing SIGs. Any INSciTS member may propose a new SIG and may self-nominate or nominate other(s) for SIG chair/co-chair positions.
Please include the following information in your proposal. Proposals should not exceed 1 page.
Your name, title, affiliation, and contact information
Proposed SIG topic
Rationale for the topic, including: importance of the topic to TS and SciTS; level of interest in the SciTS community, and readiness of the SciTS community for collaborative activities around the topic; and
(Optional, though highly encouraged) Proposals for SIG chair/co-chair, including names, titles, affiliations, and contact information.
INSciTS SIGs Frequently Asked Questions
How do I join an INSciTS SIG?
INSciTS members may join up to two SIGs in any membership year. To join a SIG, please do so on your INSciTS member registration form, and/or contact the SIGs Chair at [email protected]
How are SIG goals, objectives, and activities established?
SIG goals, objectives, and activities are developed by the members of each SIG and reflect the shared interests and aligned independent activities of SIG members.
Can you provide some examples of SIG objectives?
Examples of SIG objectives include, but are not limited to:
incubating and advancing collaborations,
aligning and optimizing projects,
providing mentorship,
facilitating resource sharing,
advancing collective inquiry and problem solving,
promoting ideation,
accelerating scholarship, and
developing leadership opportunities.
Can you provide some examples of SIG activities?
Examples of SIG activities include, but are not limited to:
Development and/or implementation of evidence-based tools for team science,
Implementation of effective or predicted effective practices for team science in real-world settings and alignment of related projects,
Development of a research agenda specific to the topic of the SIG,
Collaborative research among SIG members,
Collaborative development of research methods/approaches/metrics,
Mentoring early career colleagues with an interest in the topic,
Development and submission of proposals for conference featured sessions (e.g., plenary speakers or panels, or submitted sessions) to bring attention to the SIG focus area/topic,
Collaborative work on conference presentations, publications, syllabi, and other scholarship, and
Hosting SIG meetings at the SciTS conference.
How and when do SIGs meet?
SIGs meet monthly or every-other month -- at the discretion of the SIG members and chairs -- via videoconferencing/teleconferencing. Agendas and minutes are distributed to all SIG members. In addition, SIGs meet in person at the annual SciTS conference.
How do SIGs communicate internally?
There is a chair email address and member listserv for each SIG.
What are the roles and responsibilities of SIG Members?
Attend the majority of the SIG’s meetings
Actively contribute to the goals, objectives, and activities of the SIG
Subscribe to the SIG listserv
Review the SIG meeting minutes
What are the roles and responsibilities of SIG Chairs?
SIG Chairs serve a two-year term providing leadership for a SIG. SIG Chairs develop networks within INSciTS and leadership experience within the organization.
Serve a two-year term
Select a co-chair if desired
Schedule and facilitate virtual SIG meetings (monthly to bi-monthly is expected)
Prepare meeting agendas
Ensure that minutes are created for each SIG meeting, and shared with SIG members and the INSciTS SIGs Coordinator
Maintain SIG membership list (names, titles, affiliations, emails) and communications
Lead in person SIG meeting at annual INSciTS meeting (requires
chair
to attend in person)
Provide semi-annual written reports to INSciTS board and conference program committee
Attend semiannual in person or video/teleconference meeting of all SIG leaders (chairs, co-chairs) and the InSciTS SIGs Coordinator
Grow the membership of the SIG through communication of goals, objectives, activities
How do SIGs communicate with the INSciTS community, broadly?
The INSciTS SIGs Coordinator supports SIGs in engaging with the broader INSciTS community. Toward this goal, the SIGs Coordinator and SIG chairs/co-chairs meet twice a year -- once via video/ teleconference, and once in person at the INSciTS annual meeting. They discuss opportunities, challenges and resource needs to optimize success, impact and value of the SIGs.
In addition, at the time of each semi-annual meeting, each SIG is asked to provide a brief (1-2 page) report of its activities in the last 6 months, which will address the following: SIG goals, objectives, activities, plans, barriers and/or challenges, and requests for engagement and/or support from INSciTS.
These reports enable the InSciTS organization to support SIGs with resources, communications, and strategic alignment of goals and activities across the organization.
To help facilitate the visibility of the SIGs within the broader INSciTS community semi-annual SIG reports are sent to the INSciTS SIGs Coordinator [email protected] and the INSciTS Membership Chair [email protected] and posted on the INSciTS website.
