Newsletter No 2:11 December 2011
Welcome to the second issue of the Mistra-SWECIA Newsletter 2011!
This year marks the end of the first programme phase. Thus, this newsletter is the very last one ahead of the second Mistra-SWECIA phase. The next four years will give rise to many more news, and we look forward to sharing them. In addition to new research findings, there will be a growing emphasis on the usefulness and use of the generated new knowledge. Indeed, there are rather good examples of this already in the present newsletter.The articles contained describe new results on frost risks (forests) in a changing climate, findings on social learning among practitioners on the area of climate change adaptation and exploration of the use of advanced visualization for communicating complex scientific issues to potential practical users of the information. In a way, although the three articles are quite different in scope, they do illustrate different related aspects of knowledge production, ranging from scientific research to user perspectives to communication experiences. It is a bit of a mantra for us in the Mistra-SWECIA programme that scientific results become truly useful when and to the degree which they can be used. This can be debated, but the basic principle is rather irrefutable: a research result, however wonderful, does not automatically come to use. Rather, it needs to be communicated, investigated and discussed.
Do you agree?
Enjoy the Newsletter!
Markku Rummukainen
Mistra-SWECIA Programme Director
Impact modelling and applications
A warmer climate may result in a longer growing season and higher productivity of forest ecosystems. However, as Anna Maria Jönsson and Lars Bärring explain, an earlier onset of the vegetation processes in spring may also increase the risk for frost damage due to sudden temperature backlashes. Species and provenance specific adaptations are of importance when considering the overall effect. Presenting research with innovative forms of communication, such as advanced visualization, can be a way of enhancing communication of complex scientific knowledge. Jonas Olsson, Elin Löwendahl and Pelle Boberg describe the production of the film "Urban Water Vision", intended for display on a cupola-shaped screen in an inflatable dome. The film visualizes impacts of climate change on urban hydrology, with the Stockholm region as a specific example, based on the research carried out within the Mistra-SWECIA Stockholm case study.The process of adaptation to climate change
Gregor Vulturius discusses observations on users' learning on climate change adaptation within the participatory process in the Mistra-SWECIA forestry case study. The process seems indeed to have increased interest in the issues among the participating practitioners. However, noting that they also have concerns on the credibility and applicability of scientific knowledge, it would seem that future studies should be designed to be even more sensitive to the needs of the practitioners. Notices
Programnytt (a summary of the newsletter in Swedish)
