University of Liverpool: Cross-disciplinary research for Discovery Science
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Research Support Office
Abstract
This award will be used to fund activities which will help the academic community to develop an understanding of different cross-disciplinary research perspectives and methodologies that could be used to enable discoveries and bring about new knowledge in environmental sciences.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Anthony Hollander (Principal Investigator) |
| Title | Display at the World Museum (Liverpool) |
| Description | A new display at the World Museum (Liverpool) about the use of museum specimens in ecological research |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Unknown |
| URL | https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/world-museum |
| Description | The award funded eight projects across the University of Liverpool: • a shadowing experience and workshop bringing together ecological and veterinary scientists to establish a holistic understanding of the drivers of fencing in savannah systems and consequences for wildlife population viability and One Health, integrating both veterinary and conservation perspectives • a five-day, lab-based workshop bringing together researchers in volcanology, glaciology and geothermal systems to explore how techniques involved in laser imaging of scaled analogue experiments of magma propagation could be applied to ice sheets and geothermal energy • a project exploring a museum collection of animal skins, involving the study of changes in the ecological landscape of the Malaysian peninsula during the colonial period and the historical ecological networks of animal-host and ectoparasites • a workshop to shape a new coastal science community of experts in physical, social and data science, characterising spatial and temporal changes in hydrodynamics and morphology and identifying trends in user behaviour to support planning and implementation of climate mitigation and resilience strategies • a field visit, meetings and workshop bringing together researchers from environmental, archaeological and social sciences to develop an interdisciplinary framework for evaluating the environmental and cultural role of cattle in the (palaeo)Anthropocene past, to inform future sustainable landscape stewardship • a project to develop a real-time method to detect marine invasive species, based on video surveys, citizen science and artificial intelligence, with potential applications in seabird, tropical forest, and coral reef ecology • a workshop bringing together researchers with interests including biogeochemistry, entomology, botany, hydrology, engineering, economics and archaeology to develop what had hitherto been only a nascent network in ditch science, including classification, mapping, management policy and restoration • a project combining environmental science and engineering to explore the variability in nutrient concentrations in solutions used in hydroponic vertical farming and means to extend the longevity of growing media, to reduce discard volumes and their impact on the environment Examples of outcomes and future activities catalysed include: • A ranked list of the thirty top research priorities to inform conservation management in northern Botswana across a range of ecological systems. There are now ongoing discussions about prospective research projects and associated funding applications. • The identification of potential changes to lab materials to allow laser imaging and scaled analogue models to be transferred from one scenario to another, alongside prototype programming scripts to allow rapid modelling of new materials and their suitability to different natural problems. A blog post details the team's experiences and findings, and a follow-up meeting in Durham is now planned as a reciprocal visit. • Increased expertise in use of molecular methods for studying animal taxonomy, a new display at the World Museum (Liverpool) about the use of museum specimens in ecological research, and research plans to study the impact of anthropogenic activities on small mammal speciation and the link to infectious diseases, including through an application to NEOF. • A new programme of activities developed between the University and Sefton Council to utilise coastal monitoring data, and discussions with Morecambe Bay Partnership to apply for future UKRI funding • Ongoing online communications of a new network formed through this award, with plans to develop a perspectives paper for publication and a collaborative project on cattle populations • Development of techniques for the collection of video data for imaging species on the UK Marine Non-Indigenous Species list, with initial analysis now underway. The researchers hope to submit a journal paper by the end of 2023 and two MSc students have been recruited to further the research. • The coming together of researchers working on ditches, canals and artificial channels, catalysing plans for a review paper (which is now being written), alongside development of a proposal to run a session at AGU 2023 • New experimental design and sample analysis and the establishment of a working group to develop best practice in nutrient use and disposal standard for UK indoor/vertical farming New interdisciplinary links include: • New relationships between research scientists working in ecology, sociology and veterinary science, to adopt a more holistic approach to conservation • Stronger relationships between volcanology, glaciology and geothermal energy researchers in Liverpool, alongside new relationships with Durham glaciologists, engineers and mathematicians. • New relationships developed with researchers at museums including the Natural History Museum and museums associated with the University of Glasgow • Connections made between physical, social and computer scientists to better understand coastal environments and optimise coastal management decisions • The establishment of a network of researchers in environmental, archaeological and social sciences, most members of which were hitherto unknown to one another • Links made between researchers in environmental and computer sciences via a workshop and follow-up communications • The coming together of environmental scientists (biogeochemists, hydrologists and ecologists) with physical scientists (engineers) and humanities researchers (historians and sociologists) to define ditch research and enhance its profile • A new collaboration between a marine biogeochemist and mechanical and materials engineer |
| Exploitation Route | There are too many sub-projects funded via this award to speculate on each one. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment |
| Description | Most impacts are detailed elsewhere in this return, so will not be repeated here. One impact not captured elsewhere in this return is "Significant impact within academia, for example the nucleation of a new research area". One of the eight projects funded under this award brought together environmental scientists (biogeochemists, hydrologists and ecologists) with physical scientists (engineers) and humanities researchers (historians and sociologists) alongside practitioners to define "ditch research" and enhance its profile. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Creative Economy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Cultural Policy & public services |
| Description | Research priorities in northern Botswana |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Blog post: "From Magma to Ice and Energy" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The blog post details how researchers from geology and geography gathered in the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Ecological Sciences (Liverpool) to explore new cross-disciplinary applications of cutting-edge lab facilities in the department. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://geohubliverpool.org.uk/from-magma-to-ice-and-energy/ |
| Description | North West Coastal Data Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The North West Coastal Exchange workshop, hosted by the University of Liverpool on 3 March 2023 aimed to explore the availability of coastal data in the Northwest region and how to build skills, knowledge, in the area to better understand coastal environments and optimize coastal management decisions. The workshop included sessions on coastal science and national policy, regional needs and development, and discussions on training, knowledge, data, and the future of regional coastal collaboration. These sessions provided a platform for experts and participants to share insights and ideas. 38 attendees from 20 different organisations in the region were present. Keynote speakers included representatives from the National Trust, Wyre Council and Sefton Council. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Sustainable landscape stewardship and rewilding |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This sub-project brought together a network of archaeologists, social and cultural geographers, and environmental scientists and modellers to facilitate the exchange of knowledge on long-term cattle presence and management in the landscape, and the resulting social and environmental significance for defining the (palaeo)Anthropocene. It involved an in-person visit to the Knepp Wildland Project (West Sussex) including workshop to see cattle in a rewilding scheme, followed by an in-person workshop in Liverpool. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |