Time to reflect and time to plan

We are approaching the end of 2010. Another year will soon be upon us. For me, early January is holiday time since I live and work in Australia and it is our summer. It gives me a time to reflect on the past year and a chance to think about the year ahead. In terms of research, I wonder what your plans are for 2011?

I want to work on revising some of my papers in progress and under review, to write at least several new papers, apply for some funding, go to a conference or two, take on some new PhD students, and try to help those I am working with where I can. Is this enough? Hmmm, not really. I have done this type of thing now for many years. What I really would like to do is scale up my research.

What about using this blog as a way of developing a research network for instance? Maybe we could decide on a problem, or class of problems and write papers together, explore funding, share knowledge, have exchange visits and try to make a difference on an international level?

Some suggestions for research topics might be:

Improving health and wellbeing in developing countries - the role of the Internet.
Supporting small business owners in developing countries via the Internet - a knowledge network.
New business models via the Internet.
Innovation networks - using blogs and online forums.

Just a few ideas.... what do you think?