The Challenge

1
The Challenge

• Shortfall of scientists
• Skills, especially in newer approaches
• Isolation from international science community
• Failure to recruit next generation scientists
• Failure to retain scientists
• Lack of research support
• Pressure of competing demands

A Decadal Plan
2
Underlying Principles of STARTs Capacity
Building Programmes

• Human capacity is much more than training
• Confidence Building
• Research-Driven
• Emphasize active participation in long-term
  research initiatives with other scientists and
  international science programmes
• Seek multiplier effect with early/mid career
  scientists

3
Capacity Building Portfolio

• Research networks
• Thematic workshops
• Regional Centres
• Fellowships and Lectureships
• Young Scientists Awards
• Summer Schools
• Project-linked capacity building
• Cross-cutting initiatives (CLIMAG)
• Integration into international programmes
• Packard Institutes
• Regional Assessments
• Regional Syntheses
• Young Scientists Conference

4
REGIONAL INTEGRATED SCIENCE PLANS
REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING
GUEST LECTURER AWARDS
GLOBAL CHANGE INSTITUTES
VISITING SCIENTIST AWARDS
SMALL GRANTS
DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS
DECADAL PLAN ELEMENTS
5
Advanced Institutes on Global Environmental
Change Sponsored by the David Lucille Packard
Foundation
Institute 1 Climatic Variability and Food
Security

• (8-26 July 2002, IRI, Columbia University, New
  York)
• Status Follow-up stage
• 19 Research Projects
• 7 Africa 4 S. America 4 S. Asia 3 S.E. Asia
  1 E. Asia

Institute 2 Urbanization, Emissions and the
Global Carbon Cycle
Institute 3 Assessing Vulnerability to Global
Change and Global Environmental Risks
6
Selected Publications
7
International Young Scientists Global Change
Conference
16-19 November 2003, Trieste, Italy Organized by
START on behalf of ESSP

• 1000 Applications
• 640 Applications chosen for review
• 80 Applications have been selected
• 50 papers
• 30 posters
• Financial support provided by APN, IAI, DGIS,
  ICSU USGCRP

8
Lessons We Have Learned

• Capacity building requires long-term sustained
  effort
• Needs vary flexibility is essential
• Coupling of elements leads to reinforcement
  synergism
• Partnerships are key
• STARTs primary role is research-driven capacity
  building
• Need dominant regional voice in identifying
  needs demand not supply-driven

9
(No Transcript)
10
Capacity Building for Global Change Science
A Decadal Plan

• 100 Doctoral Fellowships
• 360 Small research grants
• 100 Visiting Scientist Awards
• 10 Intensive Training Institutes
• 100 Associate Awards
• 100 Guest Lectureships

11
WG Conclusions

• STARTs capacity building model has been
  multi-focused but primarily research-driven.
  This remains valid for IGBP and ESSP in the
  future
• Research-driven capacity building is analogous to
  learning to ride a bicycle doing it yourself
  with the help and encouragement of those who
  already know how to ride. This remains a valid
  analogy for the future
• A joint objective for START and ESSP is to place
  outstanding young scientists who have benefited
  from capacity building in project-linked and
  cross-cutting research programs

12
WG Conclusions (Continued)

• Capacity building for earth system modeling and
  cross-cutting projects is best initiated at the
  project level in collaboration with the partners
  from the beginning
• The same applies to human dimensions capacity
  building which is recognized as the highest
  priority
• Integrated regional studies are seen as ideal
  vehicles for collaborative capacity building and
  research
• START should continue to catalyze capacity
  building in collaboration with ESSP projects.
  ESSP projects should sustain longer-term capacity
  building needs

13
WG Conclusions (continued)

• Capacity building in least developed countries
  requires special attention
• The lack of access to scientific journals is a
  critical problem for scientists from developing
  countries. ESSP should request ICSU to initiate
  steps to persuade publishers of scientific
  journals to provide free access for them for
  example through password protected mechanisms
• There is a pressing need to increase
  collaboration between individuals, research
  groups and institutions. In this context it is
  worthwhile to explore institution-to-institution
  partnerships

14
WG Conclusions (continued)

• Securing adequate funding resources for global
  change research continues to be an urgent task
  requiring immediate attention. This will require
  new partnerships that include science funding
  agencies, development assistance agencies and
  recipient countries

15
Final Thoughts

• To optimize ESSP capacity building it will be
  necessary to
• build upon past successes and adapt the START
  model to meet new challenges
• accept that research-driven capacity building is
  ideally suited to ESSP endeavours and leads to
  large multiplier effects
• realize, given financial restraints, that it is
  more realistic to attempt enhancing the capacity
  of individuals to contribute to ESSP programmes
  rather than investing in institutions per se
• realize that capacity building without inclusion
  of the recipients in ongoing or new collaborative
  research is most often time and money wasted

16
Final Thoughts (continued)

• Capacity building is inextricably linked to
  achieving success in any Earth System Science
  endeavour. The question is how to optimise
  activities and focus on the most important
  priorities in a situation of chronic
  under-funding
• Despite the considerable achievements during the
  first phase of IBGP, the challenges for the next
  phase are many. START is well placed to continue
  to catalyse collaboration, facilitate
  co-operation and generally contribute to the ESSP
  capacity building that will lead to a successful
  outcome of phase two of the IGBP. This should be
  encouraged and supported
• The START capacity building model is robust and
  adaptable it serves as an example applicable not
  only to the ESSP, but also to the broader ICSU
  family