Main objective

The overarching goal of EKLIPSE is to improve the integration of emerging issues into policy development related to or impacting on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

 

Approach 

We will reach this objective by establishing a transdisciplinary approach to jointly identify key emerging issues and research priorities with scientific actors from different disciplines, actors from practice, policy and society across sectors and countries in Europe.  In particular, we will analyse best practices in how emerging issues are communicated and integrated in research agendas and policy.

We will use innovative approaches (e.g. participatory townhall meetings such as the World Wide Views events, e-consultations, internet interactive platforms) to engage all relevant stakeholders from society, research and policy in the identification of current knowledge gaps and emerging issues on biodiversity. Part of our work will include co-designed foresight activities to identify and explore emerging issues in close collaboration with networks such as BiodivERsA3, EPBRS and ALTER-Net .

Throughout the project we will share the lessons learned via capacity building activities for both researchers and policy makers. 

 

On-going processes: 

 

Finalised processes: 

In 2017, we began scoping a request with Buglife on: The impacts of artificial electromagnetic radiation on wildlife (flora and fauna)? This resulted in a web conference which ran from 22nd to 25th January 2018 to discuss the current knowledge on the effects of EMR. Our call for knowledge was open on the topic until 18th April 2017. See our Past Calls pages for more information. 

Our first request 'Nature-based solutions to promote climate change resilience in urban areas' was conducted throughout 2016 and resulted in an Expert Working Group on NBS, a knowlege synthesis process (read our report and article), a foresight workshop in collaboration with EPBRS and BiodivERsA, and a science cafe in Helsinki (watch our video). More information on the outcomes can be found here.

 

Added value for experts responding to requests

• Ensure the usefulness of existing knowledge by having a direct impact on decision-making processes;
• Participate in the creation of key outputs and get acknowledged for your contribution;
• Learn about other experts' disciplines who work on the same issue from a different perspective;
• Develop your network on the European scale and discover the ins and outs of decision-making processes;
• Gain experience in the methods applied that may be new to you;
• Work under a secured channel of knowledge transfer, whereby transparent and credible processes are in place: open access, scientific expertise, excellency, inclusiveness of the relevant stakeholders, etc. (see EKLIPSE ethical framework); and
• Have a say in the processes and methods used by the mechanism developed by EKLIPSE.

 

What's in it for me? 

As a decision-maker, you may consider using the mechanism to make a request for detailed syntheses of the available knowledge on a relevant topic of your choice - or simply access existing syntheses; and you may also contribute to innovative consultations to explore emerging issues. You can also propose subjects for consultations and debates to identify research priorities and emerging issues.

As a scientist (from natural or social sciences), you may actively contribute to the synthesis processes by joining an Expert Working Group and providing your thematic or methodological expertise, and you could shape future research policies related to biodiversity by bringing your expertise to foresight activities and follow capacity building events to better understand the policy cycle and how emerging issues reach policy agendas.   

As a practitioner or other knowledge holder, you may also contribute to the knowledge synthesis process depending on the addressed question and the method being used.

As a stakeholder, you can get engaged in the scoping of the question, contribute your knowledge via the KNOCK Forum and be active in the review process.

As a citizen, you can join science cafes and online debates and discussions through EKLIPSE science-society KNOCK Forum. 

 

Participate

Please visit our Open Calls page to see our calls for knowledge and experts, and visit our Request and Activities page to see what we are currently working on.  

To learn more about how to get involved please join the EKLIPSE expert network, sign up to receive our newsletter via Keep me Posted, read our open calls or propose a question.