Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #201:Science to Policy-Makers and People – a conference and workshop held in the North during the IPY timeframe that will be the culminating event of a series of workshops designed to examine, understand, improve, and facilitate the transfer of relevant information between Arctic researchers and policy and decision makers who need information to make informed decisions for the present and future.  (Science to Policy-Makers and People)

Outline
In Canada and abroad, ongoing Arctic research and that planned for the IPY will provide increasingly updated and improved information. It is essential this information is available for policy and decision makers who need the “latest and best information available regarding ongoing changes in the Arctic” (ACIA Overview Document). For research to affect change there must be a clear process by which relevant information is brought to the attention of policy and decision-makers and, similarly, there must be a mechanism for governments and organizations to communicate concerns, priorities and information needs to Arctic researchers. For this transfer to occur an open dialogue, one that goes beyond simply providing accessible research results to engaging in a two-way transfer of information, must exist. The processes that exist for this information transfer have not been well documented or understood. Within Canada research is being conducted to understand these processes of information transfer and its use by policy and decision makers. The research project titled Science to Policy-Makers and People is led by Dr. McBean, The University of Western Ontario and funded by ArcticNet. ArcticNet is a Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada that brings together scientists and managers in the natural, human health and social sciences with their partners in Inuit organizations, northern communities, federal and provincial agencies and the private sector. The focus of ArcticNet research is the changing climate – an issue of great concern in the north – as demonstrated in the recent Arctic Climate Impact Assessment and the public and government response to it and other studies. The purpose of this project is to examine the information transfer process and use this understanding to facilitate the dialogue between scientists, and decision and policy makers with the aim to improve the communication of research results of relevance and priority to the North. This research, leading to more effective two-way communication between policy-makers, people and the scientific community, will be of broad benefit. Learning how to communicate better will be a major legacy of ArcticNet and of IPY. To achieve this purpose, a series of workshops are planned over the course of the next four years, with the first workshop being held in June 2005. These workshops are designed to build on one another, with the initial workshop examining the processes of information transfer, areas where specific improvement is needed, and methods to improve and facilitate these processes. A key to the strategy of this research project is “learning-by-doing”, thus serving both to transfer information to and from the ArcticNet research community and, by doing this, to research and improve the process. This work will culminate in the major conference and workshop proposed here, to be held in 2007 in the Canadian Arctic, probably Iqaluit. At this event, lessons learned will be implemented to facilitate information transfer between Arctic scientists and policy and decision makers. It is this major conference and workshop that will occur during the IPY timeframe and is submitted here for approval.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The proposed conference and workshop will not be specific to a unique discipline, such as the social, health, or natural sciences. Instead, the aim is to improve the transfer of all information. Included in this aim is that the information be relevant to the needs of northern governments and organizations. That the project is a part of a multidisciplinary research network gives the investigators access to a range of information that is of immediate use to northerners. As such, the contributions of this project will occur across all six themes and targets in the improved understanding of the information transfer process.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The Conference and Workshop would be led by Project 4.7 Investigators (Professor Gordon McBean, Project Leader and ArcticNet Theme Leader and Professor Leslie King, Dean of Environmental Studies, University of Manitoba) with the support of ArcticNet leaders and Board members (including Jose Kusugak (ITK), Sheila Watt-Cloutier (ICC), and Robert Corell (ACIA)), and the involvement of participants from other Arctic Council countries. The government of Nunavut and the Federal Government would also be invited to participate in the organization and conduct of the Conference and Workshop. Dr. McBean has made initial connections in this regard.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The geographical location of the proposed workshop is Iqaluit, NU. Iqaluit is easily accessible to participants and has the necessary infrastructure to hold a workshop. A key consideration is the central location of main offices for both government and organizations in Iqaluit.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 2007            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
An appropriate venue for the conference and workshop and accommodation for participants are the only facilities required for this project. It is expected that workshop participants would include other IPY researchers and that the workshop report and any resulting publications would be of immediate use to Arctic researchers within Canada and internationally. We understand that other scientific conferences are being proposed to the IPY and there are possible synergies.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The legacy of this project and specifically the 2007 conference and workshop will be in the change it affects. Policy and decision-makers need relevant information that will enable them to develop effective policy and strategies to adapt to climate and other changes in the Canadian Arctic. This project, as part of a larger network, will have access to research results and collaborative efforts of scientists across the spectrum of health, social and natural sciences. The intended legacy of this project is that the transfer of relevant information to communities, governments and organizations of the Canadian Arctic will enable policy and decision makers.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
National agency
Own support
Other sources of support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The approval and funding of ArcticNet the NCE Program indicates the priority given to this network and the essential need for multi-year research in the coastal Canadian Arctic. This project is recognized as an integral component of ArcticNet. The planned 2005 workshop has several co-sponsors including the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, and The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research further indicating the relevance and importance of this issue. This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Healthy and Sustainable Communities: Policy and Governance

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Expansion
This project is part of ArcticNet which is funded through to 2008.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project as part of ArcticNet is overseen by an Administrative Centre, Research Management Committee and Board of Directors. ArcticNet has partnered with Inuit organizations, northern communities, federal and provincial government agencies and the private sector to assist in the management and direction of this large research network. Specifically, this project is based out of The University of Western Ontario and lead by Dr. Gordon McBean. The project employs a research associate who assists with the overall organisation and management of this project. For the conference and workshop proposed, a steering committee will be created to oversee the planning and implementation of this event.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
ArcticNet has developed education, outreach and communication programs that this project can take advantage of, including the Schools on Board program, website, newsletters, and Annual Scientific Meeting. A specific means of communication for this project will be through the workshop and resulting reports. Additionally, project investigators will actively publish research results in both scientific journals and media easily accessible to northern communities. Connections with the media, both in the north (CBC North, Nunatsiaq News) and south have been established through participation of Dr. McBean in ACIA and through ArcticNet.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
There are no data management issues identified at this time. The conference and workshop will be summarized in reports made accessible to both participants and a wider audience. Publications, both in scientific journals and other more widely accessible media, will be used to further communicate research results.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding for this project will come in part from ArcticNet. ArcticNet through Project 4.7 will provide $40K in direct funding plus the in-kind contributions of the project team and the full-time Theme 4 coordinator (who will help with conference organization). Other sources of funding will be needed to cover the cost of holding the conference and workshop in the North and ensuring appropriate communication materials are developed to disseminate results. It will be important to have funds to bring many community leaders from across the Arctic and a small number of international participants. It is expected that an additional $70,000 will be needed to fund this workshop and make it an event of the stature that the Canadian IPY would be proud to be a co-sponsor of.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Gordon McBean
1389 Western Road, London, ON


N6A 5B9
Canada

Tel: 519-661-4274
Mobile:
Fax: 519-661-4273
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information