Ines Varela-Silva: Science must be at the Service of Citizens

The purpose of scientific research should not only be the publication of papers, but how to apply the results and improve people's lives - said in a interview for the web portal of the University of Montenegro Ines Varela-Silva, PhD from the British Longhborough University. She believes that the internationalization of universities and linking institutions and individuals is extremely important, because "diversity" make us smarter.

Varela-Silva, who works as a senior lecturer in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, the best university in the world in the field of sports, says that no one knows how exiting of the Great Britain from the European Union will affect the mobility of students and teachers and internationalization overall, but adds that at the individual level cooperation is always possible.

"I think that we need to "mix" because diversity makes us smarter. The more you get to know different people and find out about the world which is different from yours you improve yourself and science you practice. The future is in networking and students support, especially PhD students. Do not advise them, be their mentor. This is the way, "said she.

Commenting on the increasing productivity of scientists in the field of sports science, with annual publications up to 25 thousand papers, which is almost exactly like publishing in the field of IT technology, Varela-Silva says that the sport cannot be separated from society, because it affects all of its segments.

"It is important to publish papers in Journals dealing with sports science. However, if you want to achieve multidisciplinarity or interdisciplinarity, then you have to work with people from other areas and publish papers in the issues related to sports science, but also about physical activity and public health. You cannot separate the sport from the society, it has an impact everywhere, "she explained.

Varela-Silva recalls that sport can be used to reduce socio-economic inequalities, adding that she knows that the public believes that sports science is not a science at all.

"We should not pay attention to what people say we should practice the science, and present the results. But also to try to ensure that the results have an impact on people's lives. And if the work gets done well, stereotypes will disappear, "she said.

On a comment that Faculty for Sport and Physical Education and Montenegro Sports Academy - organizers of the international conference "Transformation Processes in Sport - Sport Performance", stick to this principle for 14 years, where she was one of the plenary lectures - Varela-Silva said that it is very good that different profiles of participants participate at the Conference, who not only come from different parts of the world, but also in different scientific fields.

"You have sociologists, psychologists, those dealing with human biology and anthropology. You have people who deal with management, sports and youth activities, "she said.

In order to achieve this, according to Varela-Silva, first we must meet people and get out of the comfort zone which is comfortable, but offers no knowledge.

"The next step is to begin with asking probing questions, which are interesting for everyone, so that everyone cooperates and gets some knowledge. Then the lives of those with whom we work change. I do not see science as the only thing we have to do - to publish papers. Science that I practice and in which I believe is the one where I come to data and information and based on that data I publish my work, but the people I work with have to get feedback from those results in a way that it can be used to improve their own lives, "she said. (University of Montenegro)