Alternate Scholarship Organisations

Is it time for an alternative to the traditional RSI institutions in Aotearoa?

Last week I found a paper related to my work that I was interested in reading behind a paywall. As you do, I decided to write to one of the authors and request a PDF. The author's affiliation was Ronin Institute -- a place I had never heard of. It is a place for researchers who are not necessarily affiliated with a traditional academic institution. We know that here in Aotearoa, we are graduating many more researchers with PhDs than there are places for them in universities, research institutes, or CRIs. This is one example of an alternative approach.

‍From their FAQ (which is worth reading in full):

The Ronin Institute is creating a new model for scholarly research that recognizes that the world outside of traditional academia is filled with smart, educated, passionate people who have a lot to offer to the world of scholarship. We aim to transform the way that scholarly research is coordinated and funded. Ultimately, we want anyone who is interested in pursuing high-quality scholarly research to be able to do so. Moreover, we want these people to be able to pursue their research in a way that is consistent with all of their life’s priorities.

With the quiet killing of Te Ara Paerangi / Future Pathways and the very real possibility of harsh austerity in the RSI system, perhaps we can explore creating something like this here.

The Ronin Institute is not the only model to look at. There are others on their Fellow Travelers page including the Independent Scholars Association of Australia just across the ditch which we could look at as well.