Research relevance, 'knowledge transfer' and the geographies of CASE studentship collaboration

The Co-operative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE) studentship programme of the UK Research Councils provide one example of wider efforts internationally to encourage so-called 'knowledge transfer' and thereby harness publicly supported university research more closely to the goals of national competitiveness, regional economic development and local regeneration. In this paper we describe the implications of how the various UK research councils have interpreted the objectives and beneficiaries of 'knowledge transfer', both for the relative opportunities available to human and physical geographers for collaboration through CASE and for the sorts of values that their research must serve. Then, we draw on unpublished data from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to explore the geographies of CASE studentship allocation and participation. The broad regional and institutional patterns of participation we describe have important implications for ongoing debates in the UK about research selectivity and the role of the university as an engine of local development, while the striking disciplinary patterns of CASE participation, and in particular the overwhelming success of geographers in this competitive programme, provide an opportunity to reassess claims about whether and for whom geographical research is relevant.     

中国南极软科学研究的意义、现状与展望

本文指出中国的南极研究大多集中在自然科学,而软科学研究相对薄弱,存在着研究领域较少和研究深度不够等不足,这会制约我国在国际南极事务中的话语权、应有权益和国际地位。为了提高中国在国际南极政治和南极事务中的地位,应重视和加强南极软科学研究。文章分析了南极软科学的研究现状和存在的问题,对今后的研究方向和课题进行了展望和讨论,可供极地软科学研究者和管理层参考。     

PEIV模型参数估计新算法

PEIV(Partial Errors-In-Variables)模型是EIV模型的扩展,它能解决系数矩阵含有非随机元素或存在结构特性的问题。针对常规PEIV模型算法的复杂性,提出了一种PEIV模型参数估计的新算法。该算法将系数矩阵含误差的元素看成是一类观测值,与平差模型原观测值构成两类观测值,将PEIV平差模型表示为类似于传统的最小二乘间接平差模型,再通过非线性最小二乘平差理论,推导出了算法的迭代公式和精度评定公式。算法迭代格式与间接平差类似,通过算例验证了算法的可行性和正确性。     

我国高校遥感科学与技术专业现状分析

为了进一步研究新型交叉性学科——遥感科学与技术专业的建设与发展问题,该文对我国高校遥感科学与技术专业的现状进行了剖析。为适应遥感科学与技术专业人才的需求,我国已有28所高校开设了遥感科学与技术专业。此专业主要设置在理工类普通高等院校,并以测绘科学背景院校为主。不同的学科背景,专业培养目标各具特色,课程体系与结构设置差异较大。为深化遥感科学与技术专业的教学改革,科学合理地设置专业、建设课程体系,在专业的地区分布、设置院校、专业培养目标、课程体系与结构等方面尚需进一步优化。     

Review of Earth Critical Zone Research

Since the Earth Critical Zone put forward by National Research Council of America in 2001, it has got a lot of attention and some significant progresses have been made. This paper summarized those Earth Critical Zone projects and related research plans organized and implemented by the United States of America, Germany, Australia, France, China and the European Union, as well as main scientific problems and future development direction in the study of Earth Critical Zone. According to research status of China, the four main research contents should be strengthened including structure, formation and evolution mechanism of Earth Critical Zone, the coulpling interaction mechanism between migration and transformation of material and multi-processes, sevice function and evolution features of Earth Critical Zone and its support and effect on sustainable development, model simulation of process and system of Earth Critical Zone. In addition, our country should actively conduct cooperation and communication with the advanced countries, and enhance our involvement in international key research plans.     

Analysis on Marine Science and Technology Strategy and Key Layout of Japan and the Inspirations to China

The Basic Ocean Law (BOL) and Basic Ocean Plan (BLP) are important guarantee for the maritime strategy of Japan, which has established a complete policy system for the development of marine science and technology. On the other hand, the Japanese Government has started some major marine strategies and plans to promote the BLP. In this paper, the marine science and technology plans launched by the Japanese Government and its participation in the international cooperative research projects were introduced. The research of Japan Marine Science and Technology Center and the University of Tokyo Institute of Oceanography in the long-term planning and focus on the layout features, deep sea research technology layout, contents and advanced equipment were analyzed. At last, some recommendations for China’s development on marine science and technology were proposed, such as strengthening the legislation work and process, carrying out research and development of marine infrastructure with independent intellectual property rights, actively participating in international large-scale ocean plan, improving the discourse right and enhancing national maritime awareness and suggestions and so on.     

垂荡式波浪能装置运动模型数值分析

垂荡式波浪能装置在海洋可再生能源开发中被广泛应用,通过浮子与摇杆在垂荡方向的相对运动吸收波浪能。在以往相关的运动预报数值分析中,通常基于微幅波假设,仅考虑浮子与摇杆在垂荡方向的运动,忽略摇杆其他自由度运动。建立并求解了垂荡式波浪能装置的非线性联合运动方程组,分析垂荡式波浪能装置的波浪载荷、浮子与平台连接处的受力情况。数值计算系统的运动响应,并将计算结果与已有的试验数据进行比较验证,结果表明数值模拟的垂荡式波能装置的运动响应与试验结果相符合。最后,应用本计算方法分析PTO(power take-off)参数对波能装置发电性能的影响。     

Ozone and climate governance: An implausible path dependence

Many observers and commentators have used the case of ozone science and politics as a role model for climate science and politics. Two crucial assumptions underpin this view: (1) that science drives policymaking, and (2) that a unified, international science assessment is essential to provide “one voice” of science that speaks to policymakers. I will argue that these assumptions are theoretically problematic and empirically questionable. We should realize that both cases, ozone and climate, are profoundly different and only have superficial similarities. Ozone science developed late, but efforts to protect the ozone layer happened swiftly. The relation between carbon dioxide and climate change has been studied for many decades, but efforts to control global warming have failed so far. I will discuss the linear model of the science-policy relationship and use the typology of tame and wicked problems to explain this stark difference.     

科学与主权：晚清民国时期西方学者在中国的地质学考察

晚清随着中国国门洞开,西方学者、传教士、商人、探险家以“科学无国界”的旗号,将中国视为一个巨大的“露天博物馆”,纷纷来华进行各种科学考察。其中比较著名的如庞佩利、李希霍芬、塞切尼、奥勃鲁切夫、维理士、安得思以及斯文·赫定等,在中国先后组织了多次系统的考察,在地质学等领域取得了许多影响深远的成果。这些考察不仅丰富了西方地质学家对中国地质的认识,对之后的中国学者也颇多裨益。民国以后,西人的考察活动激起了中国学者的民族主义反弹,不断遭遇中国学者的主权诉求,尤其是斯文·赫定组织的西北考察成为其中的一个标志性事件。在民间团体的努力下,政府对外国人在中国的考察活动逐渐作出了明确的法律限制,中国学者亦自发开展独立的地质学考察和研究。     

ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-LINEAR SOIL RESPONSE AND DYNAMIC SOIL PROPERTIES USING VERTICAL ARRAY DATA IN JAPAN

Non-linear response of the soil is investigated by comparing the spectral ratios (uphole/downhole) using weak and strong motions. Data from seven vertical arrays in Japan are analysed in this study. The frequency-dependent transfer function of soil is calculated as a ratio of the spectrum at uphole to the spectrum at downhole, considering the horizontal component of shear wave. In spectral ratio analysis auto- and cross-spectra are employed. The reduction in the predominant frequency of the transfer function with increases in excitation level reflects the non-linear response of the soil. Results of analysis demonstrate a significant non-linear ground response at six sites with surface PGA exceeding 90 gal. However, the results of one site show the linear response up to 130 gal surface PGA. Furthermore, the in situ strain-dependent soil behaviour is examined through the shear modulus – shear strain relationship. When compared, the actual and laboratory results of the shear strain – shear modulus relationship are in agreement. Additionally, a good consistency between the tendency of reduction in shear modulus ratio with shear strain increases, and reduction of predominant frequency with ground motion increases, confirms the significance of non-linearity in site effects study.