CONSULTANCY ADVICE & COLLABORATION
Biological, environmental and social scientists benefit greatly from ready access to modern statistical and mathematical expertise to ensure that their research is carried out in the most effective way and to help them analyse and interpret the increasingly complex data that are now routinely collected. BioSS is unique in the UK for combining in a single organisation a wide breadth both of methodological expertise and of experience in the application of quantitative methods to underpin scientific research.
BioSS staff are either permanently located at client organisations or run regular consultancy sessions on their sites. Thus local consultants are readily accessible and well known to their scientific colleagues. Local advice is supplemented by specialist expertise from BioSS staff at other sites when required. Scientific applications in which we have particular experience can be grouped into four broad areas:
Long-term working relationships are particularly valuable as they allow us to develop a deeper understanding
of specific areas of science and to become genuine research partners. The quality and impact of BioSS
contributions to research programmes are reflected in our jointly authored outputs including many papers in
refereed journals and conference presentations.
The expertise developed in our interactions with the Scottish Executive's Main Research Providers is of value to a much wider community. Consultancy agreements have been established with other research organisations, supporting their research and, by helping fund additional posts, allowing BioSS to strengthen its skill base. They also extend our range of scientific and organisational contacts and are an important way of raising the profile of BioSS.
Face-to-face meetings are the most efficient way of exchanging ideas with scientists