Knowledge Exchange for the Fluvial Flooding projects of the FREE Programme (FRUITFUL)

This project involves the participation of FREE project partners, CEH's established KE intermediaries, and end users including various associations. The work to be undertaken is described below. The objective of all of these different actions is to speed up the process of FREE research into effective use within identified operational methods and tools, or in policy, and as soon as is feasibly possible. All actions with will take place within existing arrangements for IPR licensing and exploitation. 1. KE Facilitator and Project Coordination A part time Project Facilitator will support the delivery of the overall KE project. The facilitator will oversee the delivery of the individual components, ensure coherence of the different activities, and strengthening of floods researcher - user networks. In addition, the Facilitator will be responsible for maximising delivery of FREE research outputs into application-ready formats and drafting an impact assessment review of the project. The Project Facilitator will be assisted by senior staff from CEH and partner organisations, providing advice and back-up. Together they will address problematic issues as they arise, and develop options to maximize progress towards economic benefits. 2. Mapping FREE Research Outputs An initial action will be to map, in detail, the research outputs of relevant FREE projects. This action will involve project PI's in identifying key programme outputs, and then agreeing the optimum approach to maximising impacts from those outputs. Some of these outputs will require considerably more research before they are ready for use in applications tools, or as reliable science support to policy. Other outputs are expected to relate to communications and KE actions which are beyond the scope of this proposed project. Where outputs clearly have the potential feed into the identified routes to application or policy, a development plan will be prepared to describe those actions required to speed up transition from outputs to practice or policy. These results will be discussed at a 'kick-off' workshop. 3. Research to policy and practice workshops Four other workshops will be organised in conjunction with project partners having the objectives of facilitating dialogue between FREE researchers and stakeholders/end users. They will be held at partner premises and be used to : a. Discuss mapping results, the implications of FREE policy-relevant research to key policymakers, and obtain their feedback of to aid drafting policy briefs. b. Scope development plans by which FREE outputs will be prepared for use in established flood estimation, forecasting, and flood risk assessment tools. c. Scoping future research priorities through science and policy foresight. d. Strengthening the integration of target end-users into research networks e. Improving dialogue / network building with the wider floods community through contributions to the Annual EA-DEFRA Floods conference 4. Network Building The network building activities will focus upon strengthening existing, and building new linkages between the floods research community and key target end user groups. These include organisations responsible for flood defence, critical infrastructure (water, electricity, transport); emergency services and local government; insurance and flood protection organisations. Most of the activities in this KE project will contribute in some way to network building. However, the main drivers will be the Facilitator, the workshops, the presentation of FREE outputs at the EA-DEFRA Floods Conference and via web communications including podcasts. 5. Code Writing This KE project will fund a small amount (20 days) of software programming where appropriate. 6. Training Courses FREE research outputs will be integrated into and used to update existing training programmes for FEH, flood risk and forecasting, including the revision of training material and re-training of trainers.