I am an affiliated researcher at the Aarhus University Cognition and Behvaior Lab (http://bss.au.dk/research/research-labs/cognition-and-behavior-lab/).
We have some very good resources, but have also been looking into new and emerging gear, including high-end mobile EEG solutions (we're running comparison studies with cheaper commercial versions versus lab-grade stationary hoods) and fNIRS, but we don't want to devote >80.000 euros to equipment we might only use once or twice.
This leads me to wonder:
- Are there any networks or channels for coming to other labs to do studies, or lending out equipment to colleagues?
- Perhaps with the help of colleagues who know their way around the tools and techniques?
I imagine visiting to borrow labs for a study is easy, as long as equipment and facilities are unused anyway, and someone is ready to play host. There's a potential gain for all involved in visiting talks, co-authorship, networking, new co-funding opportunities, etc.. Shipping expensive equipment around would be more tricky, and require some kind of legal arrangements and insurance.
I am mostly interested in equipment and techniques for experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience and behavioral economics, but the question is a general one.
Dear Andreas,
when it comes to in vivo imaging modalities, the "EuroBioImaging" system has established just such a network to provide access to imaging facilities of users without own equipment. You can find EuroBioImaging on the internet.
Maybe this helps a bit?
Mathias Hoehn
Have you searched through the European Infrastructure Portal?
http://riportal.eu
Thanks Björn! I didn't know about that site. It doesn't look too updated based on a couple of loose searches, though.
Andreas that sounds like a very good idea! We all spend most of our time in applying for expensive resources which are often used only for one or two protocols. Exchange of these resources would be a tremendous step forward. In fact we do even have the duty to share our resources which are all provided by the tax payers. We are doing exactly this with our fMRI equipment: colleagues come to our lab to work on their questions and we provide support for that. However, these colleagues are always people we have previously worked with in other Universities. It should also be possible without the personal link. It would be extremely fruitful to share TMS-labs or EEG-resources. It would be great to build up a network of resources and researchers who are happy to exchange. Mathias, thanks for the great link to "EuroBioImaging". That seems to be a perfect realization of the idea Andreas posted!
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