Research circles are small cohorts of faculty members that meet biweekly during the academic year to discuss their scholarship and development of research projects. They share papers, conference presentations, grant proposals, and their work in-progress.
Benefits. Feedback from cross-disciplinary perspectives can lead to sharper analysis and fresh insights - ultimately to increased productivity and enhanced quality. Writing-group members report that they complete projects in a more timely fashion and their papers are more polished because of their colleagues' comments and encouragement. (Note: Research circles are not designed to give specialized, discipline-based feedback; and, except in special circumstances agreed to by all members of a circle, the circles are not designed to require advance reading of entire paper, but are designed to support the continued writing by all members.)
At a circle meeting, each member brings sample pages of any writing about which he or she wants feedback. Each member places the material in its larger context, reads the pages (sometimes twice). Group members respond, ask questions, make suggestions, and so forth. (In an initial meeting, groups develop their own norms for feedback.) Each participant should have several goals so that the activity can be assessed on completion.
Research Circles, along with Teaching Circles, were initiated during the 2002-2003 academic year, as a new means of helping faculty and academic staff to strengthen and expand their interdisciplinary scholarship and teaching. Each participant receives a modest stipend for research materials and travel, as well as "seed money" for innovative research. For more information, please contact Diane Gillespie, professor in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences - dianegil@u.washington.edu
2004-2005 Research Circle Reports
