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Day 2: Options and Opportunities • Theme: Meeting Global Needs

Adding value to Earth-system science via networking, capacity enhancement and communication

Tobias Langanke, Global Land Project (GLP), Denmark; Thorsten Kiefer, Past Global Changes (PAGES), Switzerland; Ninad Bondre, International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), Sweden; Joao Morais, International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), Sweden; Patricia Pinho, International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) regional office, Brazil

Session content:
Understanding the Earth system requires working across scales and regions, and bringing together researchers from different disciplines to address common questions. This rarely happens on its own without foresight and purposeful action. For over two decades, the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and its projects, along with other partners, have done exactly this: they have built communities, set research agendas, trained and mentored young scientists, and synthesised knowledge through workshops and publications. This has ensured more efficient and effective use of funds. This session will discuss the lessons learned from this experience and the role of networking and capacity-enhancement activities in the changing landscape of global-change research. While highlighting specific successes, the session will also explore ways of improving the involvement of developing-country scientists and the science-policy links. It will also explore how existing research communities could make the transition to transdisciplinary science.

Specific topics that will be discussed include:

1. Raising the next generation of Earth system scientists
2. Developing a truly global science community
3. Promoting science across disciplinary boundaries
4. Facilitating better communication with stakeholders