What is ANdiNA?

Antendees at the first ANdiNA workshop

AnDIna is an informal international network of scientists which aims to inject good-humored critical debate into science where it is currently lacking and to foster international dialogue, collaboration and mentoring. 

We are not aligned to any particular society, giving us the flexibility to address issues and to fill gaps that formal organisations miss. We can put our efforts into actions and dialogue rather than internal organisation and committee meetings. However, as we have no membership fees and do not make profits from running large conferences, the only resource we can call upon is the time and goodwill of colleagues. 

We organise highly innovative workshops designed to stimulate debate about the objectives and directions of research.  Our meetings also provide a step up for early-career researchers, to have them engage as equals in debate and to link them to new or existing networks and mentors. The workshops have been held every two years in outstandingly beautiful, mountainous, secluded locations: Montana, the Spanish Pyrenees, southern Alberta, the southern Andes of Argentina and - in February 2023 - Chile.  The outcomes of these meetings have been published in international journals. 

For enquiries, contact Emeritus Professor Roger Cousens at The University of Melbourne  rcousens@unimelb.edu.au

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Why is AnDIna needed? 

Most national and regional societies focus on the communication of completed research: there are few opportunities for critical debate on research directions and objectives - and especially not at traditional conferences. Good-natured debate and the consequent exchange and exploration of ideas add to the vigor and excitement of a scientific discipline. We help to ensure that such dialogue occurs.  We need a better way of linking applied scientists with those interested in extending generic understanding and principles and in pushing the boundaries of knowledge. 

Many researchers - but particularly those early in their careers - are not involved in active collaborations, especially international ones, and do not benefit from the spin-offs that result, such as discussions, publications and mentoring. Although we make new acquaintances at conferences, the events seldom foster active collaboration. We need ways to initiate team work among researchers and especially among different disciplines (who often do not attend the same meetings).