scholarly journals From climate information to climate services: the need for a Belgian climate service centre

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rozemien De Troch ◽  
Piet Termonia
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Climate Services ◽  
Climate Research ◽  
Scientific Expertise ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Meteorological Institute

<p>The Belgian expertise with respect to climate research is very fragmented and led by both federal (like the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, hereafter RMI) as well as regional scientific research institutions and universities. Furthermore, both in societal, research as well as policy context there is an increasing need for detailed, quantitative, reliable and consistent climate information and services, in particular linked to the expected climate changes and its impacts in different sectors (e.g. water, agriculture, energy, health, transport).</p><p>To make all this scientific expertise and climate information available in a coordinated and, above all, user-friendly way, a Belgian climate centre or a one-stop shop for climate research and services would fully address the needs. With its long-standing scientific expertise and service provision, RMI plays a crucial role in fulfilling this growing need for climate information and services.</p><p>Hence, RMI has elaborated a proposal on the creation of a Belgian climate centre. For the creation of such centre it is preferable to use existing collaborations from previous or ongoing research and service-provision activities in Belgium, requiring a structural cooperation in which each members’ expertise can be fully deployed. In the context of a previous research project, a large consortium of Belgian research institutions active in regional climate modelling, calculated for the first time a consistent set of high-resolution climate projections and sectoral impacts for Belgium. Nevertheless, it should be emphasized that the number of models used was far too limited to develop reliable information of the future climate. Moreover, this was a one-time project and there is currently an urgent need to update the climate projections to meet the new scientific requirements of the IPCC's new sixth Assessment Report.</p><p>One of the activities of the centre would thus be the coordination of the climate research based on scientific research projects. Furthermore, in order to ensure the continuous development and provision of climate services based on this objective and scientifically based expertise coming from Belgian climate scientists, the climate centre would carry out two main core tasks: (i) the production and storage of climate information and (ii) the support for the development of climate services.</p><p>The financing and implementation of a Belgian climate centre, would provide a structural framework for climate research and services, establishing partnerships with the various regions and communities, at both policy and research levels. In this way, RMI, as national meteorological institute and at the start of the climate services value chain, can guarantee a continuous scientific expertise and respond to the major needs for climate information and services at national and international level.</p>

Evaluating the quality of model-based regional climate information: the case of the UK Climate Projections 2018

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Baldissera Pacchetti ◽  
Suraje Dessai ◽  
Seamus Bradley ◽  
David A. Stainforth
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Climate Services ◽  
Probabilistic Uncertainty ◽  
The Uk

<p>The kind of long-term regional climate information that is increasingly important for making adaptation decisions varies in temporal and spatial resolution, and this information is usually derived from Global Climate models (GCMs). However, information about future changes in regional climate also comes with high degrees of uncertainty–an important element of the information given the high decision stakes of climate change adaptation.</p><p> </p><p>Given these considerations, Baldissera Pacchetti et al. (in press) have proposed a quality assessment framework for evaluating the quality of regional climate information that intends to inform decision making. Evaluating the quality of this information is particularly important for information that is passed on to decision makers in the form of climate services. The framework has five dimensions along which quality can be assessed: diversity, completeness, theory, adequacy for purpose and transparency.  </p><p> </p><p>Here, we critically evaluate this framework by applying it to one example of climate information for adaptation: the UK Climate Projections of 2018 (UKCP18). There are two main motivations for the choice of UKCP18. First, this product embodies some of the main modeling strategies that drive the field of climate science today. For example, the land projections produced by UKCP18 provide probabilistic uncertainty assessments using multi-model and perturbed physics ensembles (MME and PPE), use locally developed GCMs and the models from the international Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), perform dynamical downscaling for producing information at the regional scale and further fine grain information with convection permitting models. Second, the earlier version of the UK Climate Projections (UKCP09) has received criticism from philosophers of science. The quality assessment framework proposed by Baldissera Pacchetti et al. partly aims to reveal whether the pitfalls identified by philosophers in UKCP09 persist in UKCP18.</p><p> </p><p>We apply the quality assessment framework to four strands of the UKCP18 land projections and illustrate whether and to what extent each of these strands satisfies the quality dimensions of the framework. When appropriate, we show whether quality varies depending on the variable of interest within a particular strand or across strands. For example, the theory quality dimension highlights that epistemic quality along this dimension is better satisfied for estimates about variables that depend on thermodynamic principles (e.g. global average temperature) than fluid dynamical theory (e.g. precipitation) (see, e.g., Risbey and O’Kane 2011) independently of the strand under assessment. We conclude that for those dimensions that can be evaluated, UKCP18 is not sufficiently epistemically reliable to provide information of high quality for all of the products provided.</p>

scholarly journals Weather and Climate Services in Africa as Digital Public Goods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelmer Jeuring ◽  
Anders Sivle ◽  
Håvard Futsæter ◽  
Vegard Bønes ◽  
Kristine Gjesdal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Goods ◽  
Public Good ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Pilot Phase ◽  
Climate Services ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Weather And Climate ◽  
Meteorological Institute

<p>The global digitalization of societies is arguably one of the most influential  drivers of change in the development, implementation and dissemination of weather and climate information. From observations and measurements, to communication of weather warnings, the value chain of Weather & Climate Services (WCS) is increasingly characterized by digital interactions. Yet, digitalization occurs at different paces across regions, depending on a wide range of (local) socio-economic factors. Access to digital information is an important indicator of socio-economic development, and as such strongly embedded in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Particularly in the context of objectives to provide equal access to information, education and knowledge, open weather data can provide significant benefits in developing countries, and contribute to meeting various SDGs. </p><p>Many NMHSs, including the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, currently provide access to weather data under open access licences. One of its most important open data data services is MET Norway Weather API, a global location based time-series forecast service. Recently this api has formally been recognized as a Digital Public Good. </p><p>Open weather data can provide opportunities to improve the forecasting capacity of African NMHSs and improve the quality of weather and climate information in African countries. With the objective to provide leading examples of the potential of open weather data as Digital Public Good, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute has been funded by NORAD to explore this potential in a pilot project together with African NMHSs. We present insights and experiences from the pilot phase of our collaboration with NMA in Ethiopia, and DCCMS in Malawi. We reflect on the challenges and successes of the first phase of this project. Also, we present an overview of key factors that need consideration when aiming to transform open weather data into value-added services that meet user-oriented criteria of Digital Public Goods. Finally, we provide an overview of next steps to move beyond the pilot phase.</p>

GOAL SETTING AND ITS ACHIEVEMENT AS A CRITERION OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF CIVIL LAW

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 96-123
Author(s):  
L.V. Shchennikova
Keyword(s):  
Goal Setting ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Civil Law ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Scientific Results ◽  
Definition Of

Introduction: the article deals with the methodological problem of the meaning of the goal of civil law research. The author analyzes the dissertation abstracts from the point of view of goal setting, which were completed in different periods of the development of Russian civil law science, identifies the qualitative characteristics of the stages, and proves the connection of the achieved results with the researcher’s knowledge of the methodological methods of goal setting. Purpose: to show the value of goal setting in scientific research in general and in civil research in particular; to consider the relationship of goal setting with the achievement of specific scientific results on the examples of dissertations defended in the specialty 12.00.03; to justify the need to set as goals the fundamental problems associated with the identification of patterns of development of relations that are part of the subject of civil law regulation and the creation of effective mechanisms that mediate them. Methods: system-structural, system-functional, generalization, abstraction, analogy, logical, statistical, classification, legal modeling, comparative legal, forecasting, formal legal, historical. Results: civil methodology should take into account the importance of the goal in the organization of scientific work. Only a competent possession of goal setting skills can ultimately ensure the creation of scientifically-based mechanisms for effective impact of civil law norms on regulated social relations. Conclusions: 1) any science, including the science of civil law, is not only designed to study and describe existing problems, including legislative, doctrinal, and law enforcement. Research, in order to meet the criterion of scientific character, must attempt to identify the laws of development, both regulated relations and mechanisms that mediate them; 2) the significance of the goal in the development of science has been proven by outstanding philosophers. In addition, the very definition of science indicates that goal setting is one of its essential characteristics; 3) the analysis of the author’s abstracts of leading Russian tsivilists showed how the skilful setting of research goals helped to achieve them consistently, as well as to create a high-quality categorical apparatus of civil law science; 4) the analysis of modern dissertations showed that not all young researchers see the value of goal-setting and this methodological disadvantage is important for the author to eliminate.

Evaluation of Climate Services: Enabling Users to Assess the Quality of Multi-model Climate Projections and Derived Products

2020 ◽  
pp. 183-201
Author(s):  
Maida Zahid ◽  
Juliane El Zohbi ◽  
Elisabeth Viktor ◽  
Diana Rechid ◽  
Susanne Schuck-Zöller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Projections ◽  
Climate Services

scholarly journals Results and prospects for the development of scientific research in FSBSI FSVC

2021 ◽  
pp. 15-23
Author(s):  
V. F. Pivovarov ◽  
A. V. Soldatenko ◽  
O. N. Pyshnaya ◽  
L. K. Gurkina
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Microspore Culture ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
New Varieties ◽  
The Creation

The article reflects the issues of the current state of scientific research at the FSBSI FSVC, shows the directions and prospects for the development of selection and seed production of vegetable crops. The main mission of the selection and seed-growing work of the FSVC is the creation and reproduction of varieties and hybrids of vegetable and melon crops of a new generation, characterized by resistance to abiotic and biotic stressors, high productivity and product quality. One of the main ways to increase the efficiency of the breeding process is the use of modern methods of biotechnology and molecular genetics, which make it possible to obtain new genotypes and reduce the time of breeding. Success has been achieved in the creation of homozygous lines of cabbage, squash, cucumber, carrots. For the first time, it was possible to complete a full cycle of obtaining doubled radish haploids in microspore culture in vitro. The institution pays special attention to immunological research on the resistance of crops and new varieties to diseases, as well as protecting plants from pests and diseases. Phytosanitary monitoring, assessment and selection of resistant genotypes are carried every years. One of the important theoretical and practical problems solved at the institution is the development of environmentally friendly products based on preparations obtained from plants with a high content of biologically active compounds with adaptogenic properties. In the center, a new direction of research in traditional breeding has received significant development - the creation of varieties of vegetable plants with an increased content of biologically active substances and antioxidants, on the basis of which functional products are created. The persistence of modern varieties and hybrids of table carrots, depending on the biochemical composition, has been studied. Methods for enriching vegetable plants with micronutrients are being developed. A large amount of scientific research is being carried out on the development of technologies for the cultivation of new varieties and hybrids, as well as technologies for their seed production. At the branches located in different soil and climatic conditions, hospitals were established to study the interaction of factors controlling soil fertility and the productivity of vegetable crops in agrocenoses (crop rotation, soil treatment systems, fertilizers and plant protection). In general, at the FSBSI FSVC, all research is aimed at developing and improving methods in breeding and seed production of vegetable crops, creating new breeding achievements and developing varietal technologies for their cultivation.

scholarly journals Legal Basis of State Support for Creating Innovative Medicinal Products

2021 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
S. V. Vasyliev
Keyword(s):  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
The State ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
State Support ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Development Fund ◽  
Private Partnership ◽  
The Creation

The study is focused on the legal regulation of state support for the creation of innovative medicinal products. Establishment of the measures of state support for scientific research for creating innovative medicinal products within legislative acts and by-laws should help to increase the competitiveness of the pharmaceutical industry in Ukraine. The government declares the provision of support for scientific research in the field of creating innovative medicinal products. The legislation establishes the conditions for registering an innovative project, provides the maintenance of the Register of scientific institutions that received the state support. A detailed characteristic of the existing means of the state support for scientific research in the pharmaceutical industry is provided. The state supports innovations by establishing tax incentives for research institutions and providing funding for some innovative projects. Support for innovations is carried out by the State Innovative Financial and Credit Institution, the National Research Fund of Ukraine and the Innovation Development Fund. Funding for the creation of innovative medicinal products can be realized through public and private partnership. The scholars have declared their propositions regarding the introduction of specific measures of the state support for innovations in the field of creating new medicinal products. It has been offered to amend the current legislation on the issues of state funding of scientific research in the sphere of developing new medicinal products. It is necessary to delineate the competence of various funds for promoting innovations in relation to supporting innovations in the field of pharmacia. It is important that the law should provide the procedure and conditions for supporting public and private partnership projects at the expenses of funds for promoting innovations.

scholarly journals Demonstrating the full-value chain of climate services in Southern Africa: the FOCUS-Africa project

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Boscolo ◽  
Hamid Bastani ◽  
Asmerom Beraki ◽  
Nicolas Fournier ◽  
Raül Marcos-Matamoros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
End Users ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Climate Services ◽  
Wide Range

<p><strong><em>FOCUS-Africa</em></strong> is an EU Horizon 2020 project funded to co-develop tailored climate services in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The project, led by the WMO and started in September 2020, gathers 16 partners across Africa and Europe jointly committed to addressing the value of climate services for key economic sectors in Africa: agriculture and food security, water, energy, and infrastructure.</p><p>The project is piloting eight case studies (CSs) in five different countries involving a wide range of end-users. New services derived from seasonal and decadal forecasts are applied for food security and crop production in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. High-resolution climate projections, as well as historical climate reanalyses, are used to support planning and investment decisions for: a railway infrastructure and a mix of renewable energies in Tanzania, hydropower generation assessment under climate change scenarios in Malawi, and water resources management in Mauritius.</p><p>For all the FOCUS-Africa’s case studies, socio-economic impact assessment of the delivered climate services will be carried out in collaboration with the CS leaders, service providers, and end-users, by providing ex-ante and ex-post evaluations grounded in the Global Indicator Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals. The project will align the capacity development efforts with those promoted by WMO for enhancing the capabilities of the NMHSs to deliver climate services to users and will make sure that the project's innovative processes and tools will be part of the WMO training curricula.</p><p>FOCUS-Africa's expected impacts are:</p><ul><li>Build a strong link between the climate scientific community and stakeholders in the SADC region by leveraging the advanced scientific knowledge and strong networks of the implementing team, and by establishing dedicated channels of communications, so as to target the full value chain of our users, from the start of the project</li> <li>Advance the way in which climate information is developed by characterising end-use requirements through regular engagement</li> <li>Contribute to the advancement of the scientific knowledge in the region and strengthened support for international scientific assessments through publications and reports such as those relevant for the IPCC, through the innovative science developed by FOCUS-Africa</li> <li>Demonstrate the effectiveness of the climate information by strengthening the adaptive capacity of end-users by delivering tailored, actionable, and exploitable climate services and by estimating their socio-economic benefits across the full value chain.</li> <li>Enhance policy-making for climate adaptation in the project and other countries</li> <li>Increase women’s access to climate services</li> </ul>

scholarly journals On the roles of scientists, press officers and journalists

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (03) ◽  
pp. E ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Weitkamp
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Public Engagement ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
News Production ◽  
The Public

This issue of the Journal of Science Communication raises a number of questions about the ways that new scientific research emerges from research institutions and in particular the role played by scientists, press officers and journalists in this process. This is not to suggest that the public don't play an equally important role, and several articles in this issue raise questions about public engagement, but to explore the dynamics at play in one specific arena: that of news production. In this editorial I explore the increasing reliance of science journalists on public relations sources and consider what questions this raises for science communication.

scholarly journals Protection and Management of Intangible Assets of Scientific Research Institutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-189
Author(s):  
Wei Gao
Keyword(s):  
Property Rights ◽  
Management System ◽  
Intangible Assets ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Management Mechanism ◽  
Assets Management

In view of the scientific protection and management of intangible assets of scientific research institutions, the importance of protection and management is expounded, and the significance of intangible assets to scientific research institutions is understood. In view of the problems existing in the management of intangible assets, the paper puts forward suggestions on three aspects: paying attention to the management of intangible assets property rights, optimizing the management mechanism of intangible assets and improving the specialty of intangible assets management. The purpose is to change the ideology of all managers, realize the value of intangible assets, and improve the protection and management system of intangible assets.

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