Delivery of Sandpit: Advanced Technology for Addressing Challenges in Water Runoff from Agricultural Land in the UK
Lead Research Organisation:
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Department Name: Soils and Land Use (Lancaster)
Abstract
Water runoff from fields is a large, global economic and environmental challenge. It can lead to soil loss, pollution of surface waters, treatment costs to downstream users, maintenance costs for water courses and floods. The UK is at the forefront of research seeking to tackle such impacts via technical and policy measures delivered by research, regulatory and third sector organisations (e.g. NFU, and the farming community). Despite these efforts and some examples of progress, the issues and impacts remain largely unresolved.
STFC has recognised that significant potential may exist in bringing its expertise, technology and facilities to the challenge of tackling runoff from fields by working with a range of other disciplines, including those more traditionally associated with the management of runoff. The anticipation is that STFC expertise and capabilities can bring about a step-change in resolving the issue. In order to explore the potential of STFC and other disciplines to evaluate the nature of the challenges and solutions afresh, STFC is planning to run a two day sandpit event to build multidisciplinary collaborations involving STFC-funded researchers. Based on the outcomes of the sandpit event, a number of small projects will be funded with the aim to deliver advanced technology solutions to water runoff.
CEH will support the STFC by delivering the workshop and initial funding call, on the basis of CEH's respected position as an honest broker, our experience in the organisation and running of stakeholder engagement events, and technical authority on hydrology, flooding land-use and pollution; understanding of each being critical to addressing the challenge.
STFC has recognised that significant potential may exist in bringing its expertise, technology and facilities to the challenge of tackling runoff from fields by working with a range of other disciplines, including those more traditionally associated with the management of runoff. The anticipation is that STFC expertise and capabilities can bring about a step-change in resolving the issue. In order to explore the potential of STFC and other disciplines to evaluate the nature of the challenges and solutions afresh, STFC is planning to run a two day sandpit event to build multidisciplinary collaborations involving STFC-funded researchers. Based on the outcomes of the sandpit event, a number of small projects will be funded with the aim to deliver advanced technology solutions to water runoff.
CEH will support the STFC by delivering the workshop and initial funding call, on the basis of CEH's respected position as an honest broker, our experience in the organisation and running of stakeholder engagement events, and technical authority on hydrology, flooding land-use and pollution; understanding of each being critical to addressing the challenge.
Planned Impact
Impact Activities:
User Engagement: WP1 will map and engage stakeholders to ensure that all relevant parties are involved in the event. A web survey will be sent to a wide range of stakeholders to raise awareness of the funding call and derive the challenges for the sandpit. Key stakeholders will be invited to the sandpit and sent the prospectus, e.g.: Defra, EA, SEPA, NE, NRW, UKWIR, NFU, the Rivers Trusts, Drinking Water Inspectorate, and OFWAT. The survey will link to an online website to register for the event, draw other interested parties and allow direct advertising. With the appropriate permissions being sought, the website will be used to maintain a list of attendee emails, so that regular updates, e.g. newsletters, can be sent to them throughout the course of the funding programme.
The two day sandpit (WP4) will bring the stakeholders together. The sandpit will be designed to use the challenges and needs identified by project beneficiaries to focus the design of possible solutions. The sandpit will therefore be a crucial mechanism for knowledge exchange and ensure that the proposed scoping studies factor in end-user requirements right from the start.
After the sandpit, WP5 will review the input and a call for scoping projects will be made. WP6 will showcase the scoping projects to funders and stakeholders, a key part of the impact activities to disseminate the results of the research, but also get feedback on the technologies developed and their scope for scaling up. Reports will be disseminated to stakeholders and their involvement and investment in a potential second funding round will be solicited.
Communication: The role played by communications will be twofold: (i) to support understanding of the scoping phase of the programme and (ii) to interact with stakeholders in the industry, regulatory, and academic communities. This will be achieved via a digital first approach and the development of a Programme website with digital channels (e.g. e-newsletters, social media, and links to the web survey). CEH will promote the programme through the communications infrastructure of existing networks (e.g. STFC Water Network and Food Security Network). The website will be developed as a mini-website linked to the CEH website, with links to the STFC website. Attractive document templates will be provided to ensure that all project outputs (reports, newsletters) are consistent and of a high graphical standard. A usage guide will be developed to ensure (i) correct use of logos and templates and (ii) that funder support for the programme is correctly acknowledged on all subsequent outputs. A Twitter account will be set up to publicise the web survey, sandpit, scoping projects selected and results. Support for the sandpit and showcase meeting including event design, promotion, and administration will be provided by the Team's Communication member. Dr Scholefield will also draw upon the expertise of the CEH Business Development, Communication & Engagement Functions for advice on social media, events and workshops, public relations, data licensing, media activities and science writing.
User Engagement: WP1 will map and engage stakeholders to ensure that all relevant parties are involved in the event. A web survey will be sent to a wide range of stakeholders to raise awareness of the funding call and derive the challenges for the sandpit. Key stakeholders will be invited to the sandpit and sent the prospectus, e.g.: Defra, EA, SEPA, NE, NRW, UKWIR, NFU, the Rivers Trusts, Drinking Water Inspectorate, and OFWAT. The survey will link to an online website to register for the event, draw other interested parties and allow direct advertising. With the appropriate permissions being sought, the website will be used to maintain a list of attendee emails, so that regular updates, e.g. newsletters, can be sent to them throughout the course of the funding programme.
The two day sandpit (WP4) will bring the stakeholders together. The sandpit will be designed to use the challenges and needs identified by project beneficiaries to focus the design of possible solutions. The sandpit will therefore be a crucial mechanism for knowledge exchange and ensure that the proposed scoping studies factor in end-user requirements right from the start.
After the sandpit, WP5 will review the input and a call for scoping projects will be made. WP6 will showcase the scoping projects to funders and stakeholders, a key part of the impact activities to disseminate the results of the research, but also get feedback on the technologies developed and their scope for scaling up. Reports will be disseminated to stakeholders and their involvement and investment in a potential second funding round will be solicited.
Communication: The role played by communications will be twofold: (i) to support understanding of the scoping phase of the programme and (ii) to interact with stakeholders in the industry, regulatory, and academic communities. This will be achieved via a digital first approach and the development of a Programme website with digital channels (e.g. e-newsletters, social media, and links to the web survey). CEH will promote the programme through the communications infrastructure of existing networks (e.g. STFC Water Network and Food Security Network). The website will be developed as a mini-website linked to the CEH website, with links to the STFC website. Attractive document templates will be provided to ensure that all project outputs (reports, newsletters) are consistent and of a high graphical standard. A usage guide will be developed to ensure (i) correct use of logos and templates and (ii) that funder support for the programme is correctly acknowledged on all subsequent outputs. A Twitter account will be set up to publicise the web survey, sandpit, scoping projects selected and results. Support for the sandpit and showcase meeting including event design, promotion, and administration will be provided by the Team's Communication member. Dr Scholefield will also draw upon the expertise of the CEH Business Development, Communication & Engagement Functions for advice on social media, events and workshops, public relations, data licensing, media activities and science writing.