How can you innovate in your research field?

Everybody knows that identifying gaps is a critical aspect of innovation in any research. The identified gaps have to be highly impactful and wide-ranging. For instance, Instead of "The village is starving" or "Farmers' suicides are rising," we can say "Lack of climate-resilient farming knowledge due to long drought". When it comes to opportunities, consider my research: Rather than artificial pollination, making flowers attractive to natural pollinators yields innovative solutions. Having right problems or gaps can lead to the right solutions through innovation. Identifying such gaps and opportunities is facilitated through comprehensive literature searches and open-minded discussions with peers, mentors, experts, and supervisors.

Innovation in research doesn't always require entirely novel topics; it can emerge from the synthesis of existing concepts and ideas in a fresh and insightful manner. A prime example of this innovation is my research on hookup culture on college campuses. While previous studies typically viewed hookups solely through a sexual lens, I introduced a new perspective by considering them as a byproduct of the use of online dating apps. By combining sociological insights with an understanding of online interactions and technology, I was able to uncover a previously unexplored dimension of hookup culture. This innovative approach broadened our understanding and highlighted the evolving dynamics between tech, social behavior, and relationships.

It's essential to consider diverse perspectives and approaches when addressing identified gaps and innovating solutions. Nowadays, there's a trend towards multidisciplinary research, involving experts from interrelated fields. Take my research, for example. I initially studied bee behavior on flowers to understand floral sex systems and pollination. Still, I ended up delving into the evolutionary origins of sex systems within study plant group and correlated them with flower traits using phylogenetic analyses. Diversifying my research focus allowed me to comprehend the evolution of sex systems in my study plant groups comprehensively. As a researcher, this provided me with an overarching view of both the problem and potential solutions.

"My innovation is incomplete if I can't effectively communicate my solutions to laymen. This consideration must be factored in during the innovation process. My supervisor used to say, 'Imagine you meet a funding agency representative in an elevator, and they ask you about your project. You have only a short elevator ride to pitch your innovative idea.' I was introduced to the 3 minute thesis program. In this program, you explain your work in just 3 min using only one PPT slide. If you can successfully communicate your idea within this constraint, then you have truly mastered it. Nowadays, there are many ways to disseminate research outcomes. The primary goal is to share your findings with your peers and eventually with end users."