Brochure - Cover letter

The following cover letter refers to a printed brochure that can be sent by post to any postal address in the world, on request.

Send message here , or email: researchcooperative-at-gmail-dot-com.

To whom it may concern,

I am a researcher from New Zealand, living and working in Japan. This letter introduces the history and aims of the Research Cooperative (see enclosed brochures). While working for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Mie, for Kyoto University in Kyoto, and for the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka (cumulative years, 1990-2011), I realised that finding help for translation or editing is often difficult for researchers in Japan.

Most researchers in Japan have little money to spend on language services, or can only imagine working with a translator or editor who has been recommended by someone they already know.

In reality, not all authors can find affordable help from someone who has been personally recommended. In the Research Cooperative, we welcome requests for volunteer help. Researchers, editors, translators, and others are invited to help each other gain experience and improve their communication skills.

The Research Cooperative is not a complete solution to all the problems, but does give all researchers at least a chance of meeting other people -- in the context of a friendly social network.  

Our network was established in 2001, and remains a not-for-profit and independently-managed organisation. Since 2001, other social networks such as Linked-in and Facebook have become global commercial giants where it can be difficult to develop useful connections with other people. In the Research Cooperative, every member has joined because of some interest in research and better research communication.

We now have more than 3600 members from across the world, and more than 100 from Japan, including editors and translators as well as graduate students and researchers. You may already know someone who is a member of our network.

Please show this letter and the enclosed brochures to any researchers, graduate students, or administrative staff who might like to learn about the Research Cooperative. If more copies are needed, please contact my research assistant Ms Etsuko Tabuchi (email pjm2 AT idc.minpaku.ac.jp) (in Japanese or English), or me (see below) (in English or German).

Any questions about this letter and the Research Cooperative are also welcome.

                                                                         Yours sincerely,

                                                                                                            Dr Peter J. Matthews,

                                                                                                            Network Creator & Chief Administrator,                                               

The Research Cooperative

Internet: http://researchcooperative.org