Aim and objectives Expected results Work packages WP 1 Building a framework of arguments for the value of biodiversity WP 2 Case studies on the effectiveness of arguments WP 3 The interaction between governance scales WP 4 Relationship between biodiversity, ecosystem services and values WP 5 Synthesis: Arguments for improved biodiversity policy-making and governance WP 6 Dissemination, communication and science-policy dialogue WP 7 Management of the consortium Methodology Partners Project timetable Project organisation

WP 6 Dissemination, communication and science-policy dialogue

Coordinators: Lyubomir Penev (Pensoft) and Jiska van Dijk (NINA)

 

Objectives

The overall aim of WP 6 is to:

• establish a general communication and dissemination strategy for different target groups, including scientists, policy makers, conservationists, and the general public;
• communicate, publish and disseminate the project results to a wide range of users;
• increase public awareness of biodiversity conservation issues;
• enable an efficient science-policy dialogue at relevant levels of governance.

Description of work

Task 6.1: General communication and dissemination strategy

The Strategy will be structured to respond to two main challenges: (1) to go beyond conventional means of dissemination of project results to academic societies and policy makers to reach the widest possible audience among the end users; and (2) to ensure, and strictly adhere to, the principles of open access to publicly funded research. The academic society, and graduate and post-graduate students will be reached through conventional (e.g. publications in academic journals, presentations and posters at workshops and conferences) and non-conventional (e.g. active online dissemination through RSS and email subscription, social networks) methods. Policy makers and administrators will be approached through extensive science-policy dialogue and specialised dissemination channels (e.g. policy briefs, final brochure and the Policy Corner of the BESAFE web platform).

 

Task 6.2: Dissemination

The general communication and dissemination strategy will be implemented to disseminate and exploit the project’s results through active and passive dissemination methods. Passive dissemination will be made more efficient, e.g. through using attractive designs and comprehensive content. The Online Library within the BESAFE dedicated web platform site will serve as the central collection point for the project’s results and also for other documents related to the project’s activities. Dissemination efforts will be increased by providing email, RSS and Twitter subscription services as well as follow-up profiles in Facebook and the academic network Mendeley, so that all interested users can be automatically informed of any news or newly uploaded document. Publication of scientific papers will be in peer-reviewed academic journals that provide affordable open access options; an appropriate venue will be the BioRisk open access journal (www.biorisk-journal.com) established within the FP6 IP ALARM. The project’s contact with the summer schools of ALTER-Net will give further possibilities to disseminate results. In addition, PhD students and Postdocs will use the forum and communication platform established in the project. Sessions with PhD presentations and posters will be organised at BESAFE project meetings to facilitate networking and scientific discussion among PhD students.

 

Task 6.3 Science-Policy dialogue

WP6 will work closely with WP2 to coordinate the mapping and analysis of stakeholders in the different case studies based on input from all partners, existing networks, previous and on-going projects, and advice from external resource persons. This will ensure a diverse set of stakeholders and policy makers will be selected to participate in the project and case study workshops and focus groups. Further science-policy dialogue will be promoted in close collaboration with the KNEU and SPIRAL projects, the PEER network and the BESAFE Associates. The Advisory Board of the project and our network of existing personal and institutional links, such as ALTER-Net, PEER, STEP, SCALES, LTER-Europe and POLICYMIX will be used for disseminating leaflets, brochures and recommendations. WP 6 is responsible for the physical organisation (i.e. venue, bookings of stakeholder flights and hotels) aspects of the stakeholder workshops of BESAFE and will organise these in cooperation with the WP’s responsible for content. These workshops will also be used to present the project’s results to high level scientists and policy makers from several countries around the world.