Mountain Research Initiative - Seed funding for Synthesis Workshops 2020

As part of its mission, the MRI provides funding contributions for synthesis workshops that bring together global change researchers to address specific topics of interest to the mountain research, policy and practitioner communities. The deadline for proposals for this year’s call is 3 July 2020.

Background

The MRI synthesis workshops are community-led activities that bring people together for collaboration, and generate outcomes and outputs that connect and synthesise existing data, information, publications, and/or other forms of knowledge and that have the potential to provide new insights on the state of mountains in a global context, thereby supporting MRI’s mission. Synthesis activities that support and/or contribute to the work of the MRI Working Groups or the Group on Earth Observations - Global Network on Observations and Information in Mountain Environments (GEO-GNOME), are particularly encouraged.

Since 2012, MRI has funded and supported eight synthesis workshops, covering a multitude of topics and synthesis of knowledge that are relevant as key inputs to address the challenges and opportunities of global change in mountain social-ecological systems. Explore and learn more about previous MRI Synthesis Workshops here.

Call for MRI Synthesis Workshops 2020

This call invites the MRI community to submit proposals under either of the following two categories:

• Open thematic category: under the thematically open category, synthesis workshops and related activities are defined by the proponents and fall within the general scope of synthesis of global change research in mountains regions, covering topics that require an analysis of biophysical and/or socio-economic processes of global change.
   
• Science in support of global policy processes and UN conventions: Under this category, synthesis workshops explore and provide a mountains-specific ‘state of the art’ review and offer a critical scientific perspective on monitoring and reporting of evidence in support of global policy processes (e.g. on targets or indicators). Relevant global policy processes and UN conventions can include the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); the UNDRR Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction; the UNFCCC Paris Agreement and the Global Stocktake; the UN New Urban Agenda; the UNCCD framework for Land Degradation Neutrality; or the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); among others.
  • Under this category, we especially invite proposals that explore a “systems” approach to monitor and/or assess systemic risks in mountains (hazards, exposure, and vulnerability), including risk perception, which are key themes under consideration for the upcoming UNDRR Global Assessment Report (GAR) in 2022. Proposals that align with this theme, as a joint contribution with the MRI to the GAR process, are especially welcome.

In both categories, output products can include, but are not limited to, systematic reviews or synthesis articles for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and/or compilation of relevant/existing data into publishable datasets or databases that can facilitate further research activities, or contribute to the work of MRI Working Groups and/or GEO-GNOME. Workshops and related activities and outcomes/outputs should aim at inter-relating or comparing at least two or more different mountain locations or regions, and demonstrate the relevance of the topic/region investigated in a global context.

Given the especially challenging conditions in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and given the many restrictions still in place for regional and international travel and limited prospects for face-to-face meetings, proponents are encouraged to also include and demonstrate innovative means for collaboration and exchange, including virtual meetings and activities to support the planned synthesis work. For this reason, and pending a successful grant application, the suggested period in which to plan and schedule proposed activities under this call is from October 2020 to June 2021.

Depending on the scientific merit and calibre of the proposals received, we expect to be able to contribute to two synthesis workshops in 2020. Under this call, a total contribution from MRI of up to 8’000 CHF per workshop is the current budget under consideration, depending on the location and scope of the proposed activities.

* Please download, read. and refer to the call document, and the General Eligibility and Funding Conditions for MRI Synthesis Workshops therein, before filling out the online submission form *

Application Process, Key Dates, and Milestones

Proposals must adhere to the General Eligibility and Funding Conditions for MRI Synthesis Workshops, and be submitted via this online submission form. Please ensure you provide all the requested information. Deadline: Friday 3 July 2020, midnight CEST.

Key dates and milestones

• Call for MRI Synthesis Workshops 2020 opens: 1 May 2020
• Deadline for proposals: 3 July 2020
• Confirmation of successful applications: By 17 July 2020
• Suggested period to conduct workshops and/or activities: October 2020 - June 2021

For questions, please contact the MRI Coordination Office.

Supported By

MRI's financial support for synthesis workshops awarded in 2020 is made available thanks to the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein.