BeXchange: Adaptation and Resilience in the Context of Change Coordination Network (ARCC CN)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Environmental Change Institute SoGE
Abstract
The performance of the UK built environment and its infrastructure is critical to national well-being, the growth agenda and economic competitiveness and stability. Yet these increasingly complex and interdependent sectors face serious challenges over the next 10-50 years and beyond if they are to minimise the risk of systematic failures and disruptions and be capable of responding positively to expected demographic, environmental and technological changes.
In order to meet these challenges, decision-makers at the national, regional and local levels need the best available information and evidence from the research community in a format that can be incorporated into policy and practice. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and, more broadly, the Living with Environmental Change partnership, have invested heavily in research to inform this decision-making process. BeXchange aims to maximise and accelerate the impacts and benefits of this research. It will provide a dynamic focussed network that will enable researchers, policymakers and practitioners to work together to ensure timely production of credible research and salient knowledge exchange outputs for use in developing a sustainable built environment.
Building on existing achievements within the Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate Coordination Network (ARCC CN, EP/G036586/1), BeXchange will work with researchers and a wide range of stakeholders to provide:
- access to knowledge, data and practical tools drawing on research outputs from across the academic community;
- opportunities for facilitated knowledge exchange to better inform and focus research, practice and evidence-gathering activities;
- the means (enabling processes and mechanisms) to contribute to the production of targeted outputs such that the resulting knowledge can be integrated into policy and practice.
Experience gained within the ARCC CN has demonstrated that facilitated networking and synthesis of results from academia that engages both researchers and other stakeholders enhances the use and ultimately the impacts of the overall research. Stakeholders benefit from the provision of coherent, timely and targeted evidence and outputs that meet their needs. Researchers benefit from engagement of a broader and informed stakeholder community and opportunities to share knowledge, resources, data and results that enhance their own individual pathways to impacts.
BeXchange will be an open network targeting stakeholders from academia, business, industry, central and local government, professional institutions, voluntary organisations and related networks with an interest in fostering resilience and sustainability in the built environment and infrastructure sectors. These include those stakeholders whose remit is public engagement and international colleagues with interests relevant to the UK.
By providing a focal point for the creation of and access to information and by driving forward coordinated engagement and knowledge exchange activities, BeXchange will become the primary UK source of credible and relevant evidence from research to inform adaptation in the built environment and infrastructure sectors.
In order to meet these challenges, decision-makers at the national, regional and local levels need the best available information and evidence from the research community in a format that can be incorporated into policy and practice. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and, more broadly, the Living with Environmental Change partnership, have invested heavily in research to inform this decision-making process. BeXchange aims to maximise and accelerate the impacts and benefits of this research. It will provide a dynamic focussed network that will enable researchers, policymakers and practitioners to work together to ensure timely production of credible research and salient knowledge exchange outputs for use in developing a sustainable built environment.
Building on existing achievements within the Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate Coordination Network (ARCC CN, EP/G036586/1), BeXchange will work with researchers and a wide range of stakeholders to provide:
- access to knowledge, data and practical tools drawing on research outputs from across the academic community;
- opportunities for facilitated knowledge exchange to better inform and focus research, practice and evidence-gathering activities;
- the means (enabling processes and mechanisms) to contribute to the production of targeted outputs such that the resulting knowledge can be integrated into policy and practice.
Experience gained within the ARCC CN has demonstrated that facilitated networking and synthesis of results from academia that engages both researchers and other stakeholders enhances the use and ultimately the impacts of the overall research. Stakeholders benefit from the provision of coherent, timely and targeted evidence and outputs that meet their needs. Researchers benefit from engagement of a broader and informed stakeholder community and opportunities to share knowledge, resources, data and results that enhance their own individual pathways to impacts.
BeXchange will be an open network targeting stakeholders from academia, business, industry, central and local government, professional institutions, voluntary organisations and related networks with an interest in fostering resilience and sustainability in the built environment and infrastructure sectors. These include those stakeholders whose remit is public engagement and international colleagues with interests relevant to the UK.
By providing a focal point for the creation of and access to information and by driving forward coordinated engagement and knowledge exchange activities, BeXchange will become the primary UK source of credible and relevant evidence from research to inform adaptation in the built environment and infrastructure sectors.
Planned Impact
Enhancing the uptake and impact of research on adaptation and resilience in the built environment and infrastructure sectors within the UK is the primary aim of BeXchange. Potential beneficiaries are diverse and include:
- Central government departments, devolved administrations and their agencies: e.g. Defra, DCLG, DECC, DfT, DH, GLA, Cabinet Office, Treasury (Infrastructure UK), SG, WG, SEPA, NIEA, Environment Agency, Highways Agency as well as the Adaptation Sub-Committee within the Climate Change Committee and NHS Trusts, who will benefit from facilitated dialogue and synthesised research outputs targeted at specific policy requirements.
- Local government: e.g. local authorities, county and city councils, Local Government Association and overarching organisations such as the Core Cities, who will benefit from a better understanding of the specific risks and opportunities at the regional and local level, together with access to data and tools to aid the decision-making process.
- Coordination bodies and other research networks: e.g. ClimateXchange, Climate UK and regional partnerships, Adaptation Scotland, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Sustainable Development Research Network, the Water Security and Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Networks, who will benefit from a single, focussed window onto relevant UK research to inform their own initiatives and opportunities for shared activities to broaden overall understanding and reach of information.
- Infrastructure Operators: e.g. the utility companies, EA Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum, Energy Networks Association and Transport for London, who will benefit from opportunities to interact with academia to co-produce evidence and knowledge to help reduce risks and costs.
- Professional bodies and institutions: e.g. CIBSE, IMechE, RIBA, ICE CIRIA, who will gain additional synthesised information on relevant issues and opportunities to contribute to focussed activities to inform their members.
- Architects, building designers and developers (including housing associations) who will benefit from additional knowledge and expertise to help provide well-adapted and sustainable buildings to support well-being and productivity in the future.
- Engineering and multi-disciplinary consultants: e.g. Arup, AEA Technology, Atkins, Halcrow, who will benefit from access to the latest models, tools and information to inform their consultancy services both in the UK and internationally, with potential for developing outputs commercially.
BeXchange will work with this wide range of stakeholders recognising that there are varying levels of expertise, requirements and capacity to engage. Pathways to achieving impact will be carefully developed to promote engagement at appropriate levels as required by users, ranging from keeping in touch with developments through to complex co-production of specific outputs.
By building on collaborations, processes and links already established within the ARCC CN and through a carefully designed suite of planned engagement activities, BeXchange is in a strong position to ensure the potential benefits listed above materialise in practice.
- Central government departments, devolved administrations and their agencies: e.g. Defra, DCLG, DECC, DfT, DH, GLA, Cabinet Office, Treasury (Infrastructure UK), SG, WG, SEPA, NIEA, Environment Agency, Highways Agency as well as the Adaptation Sub-Committee within the Climate Change Committee and NHS Trusts, who will benefit from facilitated dialogue and synthesised research outputs targeted at specific policy requirements.
- Local government: e.g. local authorities, county and city councils, Local Government Association and overarching organisations such as the Core Cities, who will benefit from a better understanding of the specific risks and opportunities at the regional and local level, together with access to data and tools to aid the decision-making process.
- Coordination bodies and other research networks: e.g. ClimateXchange, Climate UK and regional partnerships, Adaptation Scotland, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Sustainable Development Research Network, the Water Security and Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Networks, who will benefit from a single, focussed window onto relevant UK research to inform their own initiatives and opportunities for shared activities to broaden overall understanding and reach of information.
- Infrastructure Operators: e.g. the utility companies, EA Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum, Energy Networks Association and Transport for London, who will benefit from opportunities to interact with academia to co-produce evidence and knowledge to help reduce risks and costs.
- Professional bodies and institutions: e.g. CIBSE, IMechE, RIBA, ICE CIRIA, who will gain additional synthesised information on relevant issues and opportunities to contribute to focussed activities to inform their members.
- Architects, building designers and developers (including housing associations) who will benefit from additional knowledge and expertise to help provide well-adapted and sustainable buildings to support well-being and productivity in the future.
- Engineering and multi-disciplinary consultants: e.g. Arup, AEA Technology, Atkins, Halcrow, who will benefit from access to the latest models, tools and information to inform their consultancy services both in the UK and internationally, with potential for developing outputs commercially.
BeXchange will work with this wide range of stakeholders recognising that there are varying levels of expertise, requirements and capacity to engage. Pathways to achieving impact will be carefully developed to promote engagement at appropriate levels as required by users, ranging from keeping in touch with developments through to complex co-production of specific outputs.
By building on collaborations, processes and links already established within the ARCC CN and through a carefully designed suite of planned engagement activities, BeXchange is in a strong position to ensure the potential benefits listed above materialise in practice.
Organisations
- University of Oxford (Lead Research Organisation)
- ECLIPSE RESEARCH CONSULTANTS (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- BMT WBM (Collaboration)
- Department of Transport (Collaboration)
- ClimateXChange (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Adaptation Scotland (Collaboration)
- Catherine Max Consulting (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD (Collaboration)
- Environment Agency (Collaboration)
- London Borough of Hounslow Council (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
Publications
ARCC Network
(2018)
Annual Report 2017
ARCC Network
(2016)
Lessons from coordinating a knowledge exchange network
ARCC Network
(2017)
Ageing & mobility in the built environment
ARCC Network
(2017)
Ageing & mobility in the built environment
ARCC Network And Professor Alan Short And Dr Alistair Fair
(2016)
Avoiding summer overheating whiile saving energy in acute hospitals
ARCC Network With Professor Andy Plater And Dr Jenny Brown
(2016)
Building coastal resilience to sea-level rise and storms in the UK
ARCC Network With Professor Ian Cotton And Dr Ruth Wood
(2016)
How can UK energy systems be made more resilient to the impacts of climate change
ARCC Network With Professor Sarah Curtis, Dr Jonathan Wistow, Professor Dimitri Val
(2016)
Ensuring resilience in care for older people
Briony Turner (ed)
(2016)
Multi-sensory design - creating healthier public spaces
Dr Katie Jenkins
(2017)
Improving climate resilience in the Urban Environment
| Description | The ARCC network (http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/) provided a UK-wide network to develop and exchange knowledge and evidence to inform policy and practice. The focus was on adaptation to change (environmental, social, technological) in the built environment and infrastructure sectors. The performance of these sectors is critical to national well-being, the growth agenda and economic competitiveness. However, they are complex and interdependent and face serious challenges if they are to remain resilient to future changes. EPSRC-funded projects provided the focus of the ARCC network, looking at adaptation and resilience in buildings, urban and suburban environments, cities, transport networks, energy systems and heritage buildings. Through coordinated activities involving both researchers and stakeholders, the network helped maximised and accelerated the benefits of research to support sustainable urban environments and national infrastructure systems. By providing a comprehensive focal point for knowledge exchange, information and engagement opportunities, the ARCC network sought to meet policy and practice requirements for credible and salient evidence from across the research community. The network engaged with researchers from across the UK and a wide range of stakeholders including: Central and local government departments and agencies, Local government, Infrastructure operators, Architects, building designers and developers, Professional bodies and institutions, Other Coordination organisations, and International research programmes. All activities built on EPSRC-funded research to help broaden the uptake, use and impact of outputs beyond that achievable by individual projects. The Network added value by enabling the effective interpretation, integration and sharing of knowledge, skills and potential solutions, maximising the overall benefit from EPSRC investments. |
| Exploitation Route | A wide range of outputs from across the EPSRC research portfolio provided evidence to inform the development of policy and practice in the UK infrastructure and built environment sectors to ensure the country remains well-adapted and resilient in a changing climate. |
| Sectors | Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Transport |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/ |
| Description | The ARCC network (http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/) provided a dynamic knowledge exchange network environment that enabled researchers, policymakers and practitioners working on adaptation in the built environment and infrastructure sectors to expand and accelerate the exchange of evidence and knowledge. The aim was to inform decision-making and innovation, and to address both current needs and emerging challenges. Over four years, the network worked across the EPSRC-funded research portfolio to synthesise and communicate evidence from research across a very wide range of diverse topics driven by policy and practice requirements. These included, for example, infrastructure interdependencies, green infrastructure, improving air quality, ageing and mobility in the built environment, resilient cities, flooding and business, and design to create healthier public spaces. Training for early career researchers was provided through a very successful series of knowledge exchange skills development workshops. Co-production of outputs was enhanced through funding for joint working opportunities between researchers and those looking to use academic outputs. 6 projects were supported, enabling researchers to work with central and local policymakers, with software developers and with adaptation boundary organisations to further the impact of research. And the integrated approach to information-sharing and dissemination included a central website providing up-to-date information on evidence, events and funding opportunities, which was complemented by a monthly e-newsletter, a popular Twitter feed, a series of blogs and the innovative 'So what, now what?' guides promoting the rapid implications of new research findings. Overall, by providing a comprehensive focal point, the network: A. Built community cohesion to develop in-depth understanding and synergies across the network by: • stimulating the engagement of academics and other stakeholders in the co-development, co-generation and dissemination of evidence and knowledge • identifying and promoting links to deliver research and outputs that address policy and practice priorities • extending the reach of the network and its stakeholders through targeting communication activities. B. Provided integrated knowledge to help ensure policy and practice decisions are based on the best available evidence by: • synthesising evidence from across the UK knowledge base • drawing on relevant international research and knowledge to support the further enhancement of these syntheses. C. Enhanced accessibility and impact focussing on meeting the varied needs of stakeholders by: • facilitating the communication, dissemination and exchange of evidence in a timely manner • facilitating two-way access to information and data from research, policy and practice • enabling knowledge motivation and integration to enhance uptake and use of network and research outputs • providing a centralised hub and first point of contact for information. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | ARCC network - contribution to the RAE Dowling Review call for evidence on collaboration between research and businesses |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/network-in-action/influencing-policy-practice/ |
| Description | ARCC network. Expert input to Resilience Outcome of the EPSRC Engineering for a Prosperous Nation Call |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Adaptation in the energy sector - policy briefing |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | drawing on the latest research evidence and knowledge to inform central policy on potential strategies and possible benefits of sustainable and resilient energy sector infrastructure into the future |
| Description | Expert input to EPSRC research proposal reviews and interviews |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Expert advice, guidance and input to a range of EPSRC Research Calls, including input to strategic scoping, review of proposals, tender review panels and interviews for fellowships. Building on knowledge of evidence gaps and knowledge requirements emerging from the ARCC network, and on experience of promoting stakeholder engagement and communicating outcomes. Helping to ensure new research is better focussed on meeting the evidence needs of policy and practice. |
| Description | Expert input to the NERC Environmental Risks to Infrastructure Innovation programme |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Lookin to use expereuince and expertise gained from the ARCC network to promote stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange across the 5-year NERC ERIIP programme. Helping to influence the direction of new research to better meet policy and practice requirements. |
| Description | Informing the Cross-governmental group on overheating, on the latest research findings on indoor air quality |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Description | Inpuit to the EPSRC Balancing Capability call for evidence (in the built environment) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Response to the National Infrastructure Commission discussion paper on environment and climate change |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Impact | The UK National Infrastructure Commission recently published a discussion paper, The Impact of the Environment and Climate Change on Future Infrastructure Supply and Demand, as part of a series looking at the drivers of future infrastructure supply and demand in the UK. The conclusions will aid the Commission in putting together plausible scenarios out to 2050 for use in the National Infrastructure Assessment. In its response to the request for comment, the ARCC network sought to enhance the robustness of the paper in areas such as interdependencies, the implications of international action and the value of adaptive management approaches. |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/enhancing-impact/ |
| Description | Supporting the government's strategy for the Adaptation Reporting Power process |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/enhancing-impact/adaptation-reporting-power-process/ |
| Description | EPSRC Impact Accelerator Award (Oxford University). Improving climate resilience in the urban environment |
| Amount | £20,284 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | Adaptation Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | BMT WBM |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | Catherine Max Consulting |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | ClimateXChange |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | Department of Transport |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | Environment Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | Environment Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | London Borough of Hounslow Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering (IEDE) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC - joint working opportunities for researchers with policy and practice |
| Organisation | University of Salford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The ARCC network supports short placements or secondments for researchers, particularly early career researchers, wishing to work more closely with the policy and practice community. This enhanced understanding of research and its implications helps to ensure the widest possible benefits from outputs. Six placements have been funded with researchers from different research projects partnered with a variety of policy and practice organisations. Subjects being tackled include urban heat vulnerability mapping, financing of local infrastructure projects, adapting to climate change for older people, developing comprehensive flood risk models and informing central government transport policy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners in policy and practice contribute expertise, information/data and knowledge of the decision-making processes to these placements allowing a better overall understanding of how evidence and knowledge from research can be tailored to better meet the needs of practitioners. |
| Impact | A better practical understanding of how research outputs can be tailored to inform policy and practice processes |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | ARCC network: Capturing the value of a knowledge exchange network |
| Organisation | Eclipse Research Consultants |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Aim: To provide expert input to help capture, develop and share the good practices which have enhanced the impact and value of the ARCC network Objectives: • To identify good practice and expertise developed in knowledge exchange, in stakeholder engagement and in the coordination of interdisciplinary and stakeholder-led research projects as developed within the ARCC network team over the past 6 years. • To capture and make available this learning to ensure it remains accessible and useful in the future. By sharing learning, this will contribute to the latest thinking on, for example, knowledge exchange and evaluation processes to inform good practice and to contribute to academic knowledge in this area.' • To identify those aspects of good practice where greatest value can be achieved as a focus for future activities, both within the ARCC network and the wider community. • To consider transferable messages of relevance for other EPSRC-funded networks, taking forward learning obtained from the built environment and infrastructure sectors |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expert knowledge of evaluating research and impact |
| Impact | Capturing the value of a knowledge exchange network. EPSRC challenged us to capture an understanding of what makes an effective network, and to share this learning with other coordinated programmes and funding agencies. Working with Eclipse Research Consultants, findings from workshops and interviews highlighted the complex range of network members' needs and requirements, and identified the skills, strategies and approaches that the ARCC network team have adopted to manage this complexity. The lessons learnt have been published, and the benefits of an effective knowledge exchange network are emphasised in a recent blog by Ian Cooper of Eclipse Research Consultants: http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/what-exactly-is-the-benefit-of-a-knowledge-exchange-network/ |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | ARCC CN newsletters |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Network newsletters bring together information on adaptation and resilience to climate change in the built environment and infrastructure sectors to share between researchers, other end users and stakeholders, with research project updates and policy news. http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/publications/. Informing a broader audience of both researchers and users of research than would otherwise be possible. Increased understanding of the role of the ARCC network and its participating research projects and their outputs. Greater engagement and participation in network and project activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/publications/ |
| Description | ARCC Knowledge exchange skills development for early career researchers - series of webinars |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A series of webinars designed to inform early career researchers, to help improve knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement and to provide further insight into how research and evidence can be used in decision-making. The first two webinars involved speakers from The Alliance for Useful Evidence and the Cabinet Office. Workshops helped to improve the professional skills of early career researchers by providing insights and advice on how better to communicate their research work and to engage with policymakers. Will feed into future research proposals and projects and help develop the research leaders of the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/early-career-researchers/ |
| Description | ARCC Knowledge exchange skills development workshop for early career researchers - Oct 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Attended by 20 early career researchers, the workshop explored various approaches to stakeholder engagement, including identifying key players, considering the initial approach and the co-development and use of final outputs. Discussions and practical challenges allowed participants to build on their own expertise and to put the concepts being explored into practice |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/enhancing-impact/ecrs/ |
| Description | ARCC Knowledge exchange skills development workshop for early career researchers - 1, March 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This first workshop in a series of events brought together early career researchers in the built environment and infrastructure sectors to enhance their professional skills and develop their expertise in maximising the impact of their research. The first workshop focussed on strengthening knowledge exchange skills and provided an opportunity for networking with fellow scientists working in similar areas. Enhanced knowledge exchange skills to enable early career researchers to better communicate the outputs of their research to a range of audiences. Networking for young researchers with colleagues working in the same sector. Working towards developing the research leaders of the future |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/early-career-researchers/ |
| Description | ARCC Knowledge exchange skills development workshop for early career researchers - 2, October 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Focussing on improving stakeholder engagement, this workshop explored various approaches from identifying key players and considering the initial approach through to the communication and use of final research outputs. Workshop sessions and discussions aimed to improve the skills of early career researchers with respect to stakeholder engagement and enhancing the utility of evidence, knowledge and outputs from the research. Networking opportunities for young researchers working in similar areas, with the possibility of future research proposals Helping developing the research leaders of the future |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/early-career-researchers/ |
| Description | ARCC Knowledge exchange skills development workshop for early career researchers - 20 Jan 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The fourth workshop in a series of skills development workshops. This one focussed on effective Pathways to Impacts. 22 early career researchers explored various approaches to achieving impact in their research and how to present this in research proposals. Event included both formal and informal networking opportunities, and engagement with experts and funding agency representatives |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/early-career-researchers/ |
| Description | ARCC Knowledge exchange skills development workshop for early career researchers - Stakeholder engagement, Nov 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 28 early career researchers attended workshop which helped strengthen the skills needed to initiate and develop effective dialogue with stakeholders throughout a research programme, from the initial approach through to co-delivery of results. The overall aim was consider how to promote understanding, uptake and use of research outputs through focused engagement with stakeholders across policy, practice and academic communities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/enhancing-impact/ecrs/ |
| Description | ARCC event: Breathe easy - engineering air quality solutions, October 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Working with the IET and CIBSE, this event focused on air quality. Pollution and poor air quality, particularly in urban areas, is an increasing concern for local authorities, health and public services, and the public alike. The event highlighted the problems and practical built environment, engineering and policy solutions required to address UK air quality challenges. The emphasis was on practical advice, recent case studies, and signposting to information resources and solutions, and brought together people from across sectors to encourage inter-disciplinary exchange. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/health-wellbeing/breathe-easy-engineering-air-quality-solutions/ |
| Description | ARCC knowledge exchange skills development workshop for early career researchers - April 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | focussing on how to develop effective research proposals, particularly fellowship proposals to EPSRC increased number of ECRs looking to develop their own proposals for further funding |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/early-career-researchers/ |
| Description | ARCC network 'so what, now what' series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A series of 'so what, now what' summaries designed to capture the latest research findings across a range of themes and explain their implications for policy and practice. greater knowledge exchange to capture the latest research activities to inform decision making |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/list/so-what/ |
| Description | ARCC network Assembly, June 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A knowledge exchange conference brought together 120 academics, policymakers and practitioners working on adaptation in the built environment and infrastructure ''Urban areas as systems: adapting for the future'. Focussing on key topics, the aim was to: • explore policy and practice issues and challenges in the context of using research and contributing to outputs; • showcase recent scientific advances from across EPSRC-funded research on adaptation and resilience in the built environment and infrastructure areas; • allow extensive networking opportunities, including time to identify future research directions and new science/policy and practice collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/network-in-action/arcc-assembly/ |
| Description | ARCC network Knowledge Exchange Conference, 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A knowledge exchange conference brought together academics, policymakers and practitioners working on adaptation in the built environment and infrastructure ''Urban areas as systems: adapting for the future'. Focussing on key topics, the aim was to: • explore policy and practice issues and challenges in the context of using research and contributing to outputs; • showcase recent scientific advances from across EPSRC-funded research on adaptation and resilience in the built environment and infrastructure areas; • allow extensive networking opportunities, including time to identify future research directions and new science/policy and practice collaborations. Increased awareness and understanding of evidence and outputs from across the portfolio of research projects, how they can be used within policy and practice and the implications for the decision-making process. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/arcc-assembly/ |
| Description | ARCC network blog series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Designed to expand on key current research/stakeholder issues of relevance to the ARCC network. Regular blog articles by the ARCC team and invited expert contributors potentially initiated discussions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/list/blog/ |
| Description | ARCC network knowledge exchange skills development workshop for early career researchers: Showcasing research, Nov 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 15 early career researchers attended this skills development workshop on showcasing research; delivering results to non-academic audiences beyond, and papers published in journals. This workshops explored and demonstrated different approaches to showcasing research, and how this links in with impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/enhancing-impact/ecrs/ |
| Description | ARCC network, Impacts of Damp and Moisture in Heritage Buildings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As our climate changes, the effects of damp and moisture on heritage buildings are becoming increasingly important. This workshop explored the exchange of information between heritage building professionals and the research community by considering the latest evidence on, for example: • the impacts of rainwater penetration • whether changes in rainfall patterns may be pushing historic buildings materials and methods beyond their ability to cope • the impact of changing damp and moisture levels on health and wellbeing. To enhance the level and quality of knowledge exchange between heritage professionals and the research community, 30 researchers and practitioners contributed ideas and experience to: identify the key research areas and questions from the heritage sector that can be addressed by environmental research, identify where knowledge needs can be met from existing or new knowledge derived from research, explore opportunities to enhance collaboration between heritage stakeholders and academia, ensure that findings from existing research collaborations are rapidly shared across the community, and consider how best to develop research ideas for projects related to damp & moisture in the heritage environment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/adaptive-places/heritage-buildings/ |
| Description | ARCC network. Adaptation in The Energy Sector, workshop and briefing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Two events for stakeholders were held summarising outputs from a suite of research projects looking at adaptation to change in the energy sector. - A workshop for technical specialists (Oct 2015) to share research outputs and to explore the implications for industry operations. - A briefing for policymakers in government and industry (Nov 2015) to discuss the key messges arising from the latest research and how these can be used to inform policy and practice. Outputs will be used in the Government's Climate Change Risk Assesment, 2016 A key regulator, OFGEM, will now use the research in their Adaptation Reporting Power report |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/delivering-energy-in-a-changing-climate-policy-briefing/ |
| Description | ARCC network: Contaminated land and extreme weather conditions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Joint event with CIRIA to review how recent extreme weather conditions, in particular flooding, have affected the design and delivery of contaminated land projects in the UK. The event explored the impact of extreme weather events on the mobility of contaminants, the effectiveness of remediation processes and risk management, and how to make contaminated land remediation projects more 'flood-proof' in the future. Workshop sessions brought together researchers and stakeholders to explore the challenges and our knowledge gaps for: • impact on land contamination by rising ground water • impact on the effectiveness of the chosen remediation process (including previous projects) • practical issues eg impact on project programme and site health and safety promoted and informed cross-disciplinary discussions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/contaminated-land-and-extreme-weather-conditions/ |
| Description | ARCC network: Feeling Good in Public Spaces dialogue. Six events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Partnering with the Feeling Good Foundation. A major seminar series on Feeling Good in Public Spaces explored how people's senses are affected by the design of public spaces and buildings. Six evening events throughout the year focused on the different senses and encouraged reflection on the consequences of design on health and wellbeing as the climate changes. The events featured presentations on research evidence and provoked discussion amongst those involved in the place-making disciplines of planning, architecture and engineering on the impact of building design on city dwellers' physical, emotional and psychological well-being as our climate changes. Successful in informing and promoting discussion across a wide range of stakeholders - members of the public, interior designers, architects, energy managers, engineering consultants. The evidence (and plain language) used by the presenters gives practitioners an opportunity to change architectural and urban design practice to better fit human need, and to provide the weight of science and evidence necessary to get better practice implemented. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/health-wellbeing/feeling-good-in-public-spaces/ |
| Description | ARCC network: Flooding and Business - what does research tell us? (workshops and online resource) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This research synthesis workshop was the first part of a programme to enhance the accessibility and uptake of research outputs to meet the needs of a diverse stakeholder community in a timely manner. As part of its research synthesis programme, the ARCC network has been mapping the current UK-funded research relevant to business. The workshop forms part of this programme, with researchers from across the relevant Research Councils providing their input on what business need to know to improve their flood resilience. The ARCC network intends to support the significant efforts of existing players in this field through the coordination of the latest research, and in making it more easily available to those organisations already working to deliver this information to businesses across the UK. Our online resource is designed to support business, and those working with business, identify research to support their projects and decision-making in preparing for and responding to flood events. It includes current and completed UK Research Council-funded research from the past decade, as well as new projects to watch for results in the coming years. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/extremes/flooding/flooding-business-what-does-research-tell-us/ |
| Description | ARCC network: Infrastructure Resilience in an Interdependent World, July 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A joint event with CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association) This knowledge exchange event provided an opportunity for infrastructure owners, operators and regulators: •to hear about and influence three major research programme investments; •to consider how best to engage with research and apply the knowledge and tools being developed; •to ensure future research responds to industry's challenges and needs. Presentations and workshop promoted discussion on cross-cuting themes. Informed on-going research project work programmes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/infrastructure-resilience-in-an-interdependent-world/ |
| Description | ARCC network: Infrastructure interpendencies, working with the Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum (IOAF) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | ARCC network leads Working Group 5 of the Environment Agency's Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum. WG5 has been making progress on developing a tool to help identify and assess infrastructure dependencies and interdependencies. There is now agreement within the WG that the proposed matrix-based approach could provide a practical means of identifying and mapping interdependencies, and of capturing supporting evidence. This workshop looked to explore the potential utility of this approach more widely within the IOAF, and to consider options for developing the matrix further to better meet organisational requirements. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/infrastructure/ioaf/ |
| Description | ARCC network: International refurbishment symposium, September 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Curated a summary of related research displayed in the Research Zone |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | ARCC network: Overheating and Indoor Air Quality in new homes workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Joint event with the Homes and Communities Agency. Brought together 79 industry and academic experts for an overheating and indoor air quality in new homes workshop. Technical presentations and discussion summaries are particularly relevant for: •Social housing providers - development & asset management directors & managers, design managers, technical managers, directors of housing •Technical specialists - house builders & contractors, architects, building & services engineers, etc. •Local housing authorities - stock owning authorities, particularly those with new-build programmes; housing & environmental health departments on-going input to policy initiatives e.g. DCLG Call to involve landlords and researchers in indoor air quality research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/overheating-and-indoor-air-quality-in-new-homes-workshop/ |
| Description | ARCC nework: European Climate Change Adaptation conference, 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Contributing to the European conference on adaptation to climate change. Leading speaker and workshop sessions on 'effective knowledge exchange to support adaptation action' and 'Learning from failures in communication: sharing lessons from research and practice'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://ecca2017.eu/conference/ |
| Description | ARCC/EPSRC workshop: Mapping further evidence needs and capacity building requirements in the Built Environment, September 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A major task during 2016 was identifying critical areas of research required in the built environment sector, to inform the wider strategic research agenda. Together with EPSRC, the network facilitated a workshop for over 60 academics and invited stakeholders to identify short- and long-term research needs and capabilities - see the report: The future of built environment research in the light of societal challenges (pdf, 1.5 MB). This work with the research community continues as themes from the workshop are further developed and explored through an online Provocation Series. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/wp-content/pdfs/ARCC-BE-reportV2.pdf |
| Description | ARCCnews (e-newsletter) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Network newsletters bring together information on adaptation and resilience to climate change in the built environment and infrastructure sectors to share between researchers, other end users and stakeholders, with research project updates and policy news. http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/publications/. Increased understanding and awareness across the community of researchers and practitioners to enhance uptake, use and impact of evidence and knowledge from academia |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/enhancing-impact/enews/ |
| Description | Adaptation Futures conference session 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Session SP8.7: Resilient risk management strategies for critical infrastructure within cities: Focussing on critical infrastructure in cities, this session provided an opportunity to explore and discuss experiences, challenges and lessons learned on moving from risk assessment to adaptation planning when the processes are government-centred, stakeholder-centred, or industry or market-centred. The three presentations and reactions to them provided the basis for the further discussions with policymakers and practitioners and led to the recognition of the value of a balanced approach with elements of all three identified approaches. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.adaptationfutures2016.org/gfx_content/documents/SP%208.7%20meeting%20report.pdf |
| Description | Adaptations Futures conference session 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation, 'Effective communication to motivate adaptation action - learning from the built environment and infrastructure sectors' sharing knowledge and exp[erience form the ARCC network on issues related to knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Better homes, better air, better health workshop, April 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Partners: Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health & BRE The event brought together 61 professionals from across the research, industry, policy and third sector communities to think about and inform future action on solutions for reducing exposure to air pollution when indoors. Delegates considered: • what solutions can be enacted now? • what solutions do we potentially have, but do not yet know enough about? and • what knowledge gaps do we have that need research and innovation effort? Workshop report is at: http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/wp-content/pdfs/IAQ-action-group-report-Apr2017.pdf Work is now continuing on seeking to develop a multidisciplinary Working Party led by the RCPCH/RCP to produce a evidence informed report with a focus on health and practical solutions. Background: In 2016, both the RCP & RCPCH working party report Every breath we take and The Bonfield Review Each home counts recommended taking action to tackle poor indoor air quality. Later this year, NICE will publish guidance on Outdoor Air Quality and are developing guidelines on Indoor Air Quality. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/health-wellbeing/better-homes-better-air-better-health/ |
| Description | Climate Action narrative |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Serious games are increasingly being used by non-governmental organisations to convey changing risks. Underpinned by this concept, the ARCC network partnered with Goddard Creative to write and test an innovative communications and engagement tool to improve individuals understanding of current climate change challenges facing the urban environment. This communications and engagement project was to be instructive towards positive change in the office environment. It was underpinned by excellent ARCC-affiliated research to deliver an improved understanding of current urban issues including: • impacts of climate change • adapting building stock / retrofit • overheating / energy efficiency • urban flood resilience • opportunities for green infrastructure, green spaces • creating liveable cities • sustainable transport including walking / cycling. This murder / mystery style, character driven game is intended to encourage positive change in the workplace. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.arcc-network.org.uk/arcc-bag-of-tricks/climate-action-narrative/ |
| Description | Climate Adaptation Conference, Australia 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Linking UK contributions and research outputs with infrastructure and built environment activities in Australia |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://climatechangeresearch.network/nccarf/adelaide-to-host-climate-change-adaptation-conference-5... |
| Description | ECOBUILD 2018 exhibit. From the natural to the neural network - research showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | ECOBUILD is the major conference for construction and building professionals in the UK with an audience of over 25,000. The ARCC network delivered an immersive research feature showcasing projects focused on Robotics, as applied in the built environment, and on Inspired by Nature, resulting in green infrastructure and living architecture and engineering projects based on characteristics from nature. Researchers from seven institutions demonstrated their work and outputs looking at future opportunities for built environment professionals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/adaptive-places/natural-to-neural/ |
| Description | European Climate Change Adaptation conference, 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop session in the 'Framing for policy' theme; presentation 'Effective communication to motivate adaptation action - learning from the built environment and infrastructure sectors'. Buildin on practical experiences within the ARCC neywork on the process of stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Green Sky Thinking week |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Green Sky Thinking is a week-long programme for built environment and property professionals, organised by Open-City. In 2016, the ARCC network became a partner, providing academic advice on the programme themes. We led four events in partnership with BuroHappold and CIBSE Intelligent Buildings group which were attended by over 170 practitioners. Together with CIBSE, we launched the first UK green infrastructure (GI) as a building service design challenge and hosted a series of expert speed talks to explore how GI can integrate as a building management service. 4 events: - Green infrastructure as a building service design challenge - Sensing the place - experiences and wayfinding in a changing climate - Improving workplace health & well-being with sensory gardens - Design Challenge Exhibition - presentation of entries, judging (including crowd-favourite) and announcement of awards |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/adaptive-places/green-sky-thinking-week/ |
| Description | Green infrastructure design challenge 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | In a joint venture with CIBSE, the ARCC network ran a third annual GI design challenge in 2018 with a focus in entries highlighting the role of building-level green infrastructure, such as green roofs, living walls, indoor farms and gardens in creating sustainable indoor and outdoor environments. Entries considered what constitutes a healthy, productive and sustainable urban environment from both a building performance perspective, and as an improvement of surrounding public spaces. The objectives of the design challenge were to: • Showcase opportunities to improve the liveability of our cities through GI • Demonstrate how GI can make an area an attractive place to work • Demonstrate how GI can contribute to improved health and wellbeing • Improve energy efficiency and climatic resilience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/adaptive-places/gi-challenge-2018/ |
| Description | OpenARCC data management support website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | OpenARCC provides clear and concise information for researchers in the ARCC Network on how to share and archive the outputs of their research. It also helps policy-makers and practitioners find out what has been created and how to access it. It seeks to engage the ARCC Network of researchers, policy-makers and practitioners in discussions about how to share and archive research outputs so that they can continue to have impact, even after the projects have closed. The information gathered is being used to design a data and information management strategy for the ARCC Network. OpenARCC was launched to the ARCC Network via a poster at the ARCC Assembly in June 2014 and blogs on the arc-network.org.uk. Visitors to the OpenARCC website have mostly gone to pages on the ARCC data list, Articles and reports, Preliminary guide [to sharing data and documents] and List of repositories. - Researchers have reported dataset outputs to OpenARCC for inclusion in the ARCC data list. Policy-makers, practitioners and researchers will then be able to see what data on the built environment and infrastructure has been created by this area of EPSRC funded research. - The information on 'Articles and reports' has been improved in response to researcher feedback. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/openarcc/ |
| Description | Royal Meterological Society annual conference 2017 Weather and climate - from research to application and policy, Workshop on Improving urban resilience |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The implications of climate change are incorrectly perceived by many organisations as only long term and not necessarily relevant to decisions made today. Yet, weather-related events are increasingly causing severe shocks and social and economic disruption. This participatory workshop investigated ways in which research tools focussed on modelling and understanding climate risks to urban systems could be accessed to inform and support policy and planning, using London as a case study. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | SBE 16 Chongqing conference on low-carbon cities and low-carbon buildings, China, November 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The pre-eminent international conference series on sustainable building and construction. Presentation and discussions focused on the UK EPSRC-funded projects and their outputs relevant to China that could be used and applied internationally, and the latest research on creating climate files for the building industry |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://sbe16chongqing.com/ |
| Description | Stand and presentations at ECOBUILD, March 2017: Future materials and processes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Our stands and seminar series at Ecobuild 2017 explored the latest discoveries in future building materials and processes. The themes were low carbon, inspired by nature and processes & manufacturing. The stand included research from the University of Cambridge, University College London, Imperial College London, Coventry University, University of Reading, University of Manchester, and University of Bath. Low carbon Most of the world's man-made carbon emissions are released by burning fossil fuels to create electricity, heat or motion. We can help to reduce these emissions through innovations in the way we design and construct buildings.The products featured will help to build a low carbon future through reducing weight and energy required for production. There are ensuing savings not only within the building footprint but also through transporting lighter materials to site. Some of the products also allow for curved as well as linear-based buildings, so increasing the creative pallet for carbon-neutral architecture. •Self-cleaning, colour-changing (thermochromic) windows that combine nanotechnology with materials innovation to dim during hot weather reducing glare as well as heat transmission •Luminescent solar concentrators with the potential to lead an aesthetic revolution in the integration of solar energy into building design •Glass fibre reinforced concrete for design freedom of durable facades •Lightweight composite sandwich panel facades enabling complex geometries •Thin toughened glass suitable for building facades that can be curved at room temperature •Paving which contains no Portland cement yet retains material durability and other physical characteristics Inspired by nature The move towards a more multidisciplinary approach to environmental design is an opportunity for new materials, technology and living forms to redefine not only building design, but the entire built environment. This theme showcases what is possible when we bring together natural and engineering solutions. for the built environment, including: •Photosynthesising carbon neutral, perhaps even net negative building facades •Innovative eco-building materials inspired by nature that address poor air quality •Building surfaces that grow their own shade •3D bio-printing with hydrogels to produce bio-receptive architectural scaffolds Processes & manufacturing Reducing waste, implementing efficient practices and improving operations are established parts of lean manufacturing ideology. We take this one step further and focus on sustainable practices of the future that could become the norm. Find out more about: •Drones for inspection and repair in smart cities •Testing of new materials at The Hive to understand weather robustness materials and structures, the carbon emissions and environmental impact •Emerging innovations in software that enables building and location bespoke assessment of performance enhancing adaptive facade technologies, bespoke product design to environmental context as well as optimal operational performance assessment •Feathers •Using recycled waste in non-load bearing structures |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/adaptive-places/future-materials-processes/ |
| Description | UK Construction Week, October 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A new approach explored in 2016 was to take research directly to industry via trade fairs. By coordinating a stand and seminars at UK Construction Week, leading UK researchers were able to showcase their latest building research for new and retrofit construction to a potential audience of 20,000 professionals. Focusing on future materials, building performance tools and approaches to building design, outputs from 10 EPSRC-funded research projects and facilities were delivered directly to those responsible for delivering a well-adapted and resilient built environment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/people-making-changes/uk-construction-week/ |
| Description | Urban microclimates, January 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Working with the CIBSE Resilient Cities Group, we brought together 65 policy, industry and academic experts to consider the current state of knowledge and understanding of the various built form-driven effects on urban performance and resilience. We also addressed the practice requirements of tackling the unintended local environmental consequences on urban resilience. Built form effects range from changes in air and surface temperatures, air quality, the wind field, thermal comfort, building energy consumption and daylight availability which are currently outside most microclimate and energy management assessments. Chaired by Professor Gerald Mills, the event provided an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to review and debate our current understanding of the interdependent dynamic relationships between high density urban typologies, urban climate, energy management, use of green infrastructure and the health and well-being of urban dwellers. Leading experts in urban heat islands, pollution/particle dispersion, health and wellbeing, energy, daylighting and facilities management were invited to share their state-of-art knowledge. Attendees then discussed the gaps in knowledge and collective purpose that limit the built environment community's ability to create more integrated, resilient cities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/people-making-changes/urban-micro-climate/ |
| Description | Webinar: Helping reseachers to enhance uptake and use of built environment models |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The webinar focused on enhancing the uptake, utility and value of simulation models and data at the building-, suburban- and city-scale. In many cases, these models and datasets, developed in EPSRC-funded research projects, have limited practical use at present due to difficulties in both accessing and using complex models by academics and non-academics, data management challenges, and integrating outputs with existing stakeholder capabilities, systems and approaches. The webinar highlighted some of the issues, skills gaps and barriers which prevent research outputs from being more industry-ready. Two case studies will provide recommendations and learning points which could be used by research projects. The webinar covered case studies on: • The ARCADIA Impact Model, which supports climate-related risk assessment and appraisal of adaptation options across Greater London, and provides an example of the processes and benefits of making model code and outputs available online. • The DM4T data management tool, MetaMaker, which was developed to add metadata to .csv files of building energy data, to allow users to query across data sources from different institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/enhancing-impact/integrating-built-environment-models-into-geospatial... |