Macronutrient Cycles
Workshop report
22-23 April 2010
Kensington Close Hotel, London
A two-day interactive workshop for researchers to consider how to develop the kind of interdisciplinary activity needed to address the science goals defined in the Macronutrient Cycles programme was held on 22-23 April at the Kensington Close Hotel in London.
This facilitated workshop was designed to help the formation of research networks and encourage brainstorming, research-dating and stakeholder engagement to provide a platform from which the research community have the information to develop ideas and to provide input that will help define the subsequent call.
The workshop provided the opportunity to:
- identify the scientific issues involved in designing a research programme to meet the high level science goals defined in the theme action plan;
- consider how the Macronutrients Cycles programme relates to other research programmes, stakeholder interests, international work, etc; and
- provide input to form the basis for further planning and development of the first call.
An agenda and list of participants for the two days can be downloaded below.
It is anticipated that prior to the main Announcement of Opportunity for this programme there will be a call for proposals for 'capacity building' to support workshops, networking activities and short term development studies to prepare research tools and techniques across the different science communities (atmosphere, land surface, estuary, soils, freshwater) whose collective expertise is needed to deliver the science in the area of macronutrients cycles.
It is expected that this workshop will be the first of a series of such events as the programme develops. This event was organised and facilitated in part by the NERC research centres, and also by an independent facilitator, Alister Wilson of Waverly Consultants. The role of the NERC centres was also to explain how their national capability can contribute to the macronutrients action.
The five NERC Theme Leaders whose themes contribute to this programme attended the workshop on the first day to explain the programme's high level science goals and how these map on to the themes, and to answer any questions from the participants.
The slides that were used for these Theme Leader talks are available to download below.
Louise Heathwaite, SUNR Theme Leader (1·96MB)
Ally Lewis, Technologies Theme Leader (62KB)
Tim Jickells, ESS Theme Leader (39KB)
Roy Harrison, EPHH Theme Leader (547KB)
Ken Norris, Biodiversity Theme Leader (264KB)
Stakeholders who had expressed an interest in being involved with the programme were invited to give short presentations on the morning of the second day. These presentations aimed to set out their respective organisations perception of the Macronutrient Cycles programme, and also to outline any envisaged future participation. The slides that were used for these Stakeholder talks are available to download below.
Helen Jones, Scottish Government (71KB)
Jim Wharfe, Environment Agency (81KB)
Dan Osborn, Living With Environmental Change (313KB)
Workshop participants were assigned to one of four break-out groups, which were based on the secondary goals (see agenda). Other participants (stakeholders, Theme Leaders, etc) were free to choose which break-out group they attended. Each break-out session was led by two co-chairs, and took place during the late afternoon of 22 April, reconvening early on 23 April (see agenda).
The slides that were used to introduce the break-out sessions, which detail the break-out groups, listing the two Chairs and participants along with the science goal being discussed, can be downloaded below.
Alister Wilson, Break-out group discussions (58KB)
A full report of the workshop produced by the Planning Group is available to download below.
Report on Macronutrient Cycles workshop (39KB)
The final scope of the research programme's Announcement of Opportunity will be decided following the appointment of a programme Director and support staff. The Director will be appointed by means of an open call as soon as possible.
About the programme
- Macronutrient Cycles home
- Background
- Events and announcements
- Awards, facts and figures
- Resources
- Contacts
Related links