The Challenge
Effective policy and world-class science are both needed to prevent catastrophic environmental degradation on a global scale, yet science and policy often operate in different worlds and to different timelines.
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Environment
We need to act now to address biodiversity loss, climate change and poverty, interlinked challenges that are undermining human health and wellbeing around the globe.
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Policy
The social and environmental challenges we face are solvable, but rapid responses are needed. Policymakers and scientists need to work together to develop effective, solution-focused policies to get results.
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Research
To encourage researchers to work across disciplines and engage in policy work and outreach, we need to ensure that this essential work is valued and rewarded in academic career paths.
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Collaboration
Policymakers and researchers often work at different speeds and can be driven by different incentives. Effective policy needs these communities to be aligned and work together.
The Solution
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Fast-paced research ‘Sprints’
These will mobilise the best interdisciplinary research teams from across the University of Oxford and beyond to deliver solutions-focused science that provides the information decision makers need, when they need it. Sprints will be undertaken in close collaboration with government at all levels, industry partners, NGOs and local communities. They will build a new model for academia to work with stakeholders and catalyse a culture change around how interdisciplinary research and policy engagement is funded and delivered.
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Delivering solutions-focused science through co-production with policymakers and feeding into the policy cycle in real-time.How does it work? Can I get involved?
Explore sprints
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How do we account for biodiversity?
This Sprint will support an integrated approach to renewing and restoring nature in a socially just way.
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Can we turn waste into fertiliser?
The UK’s urban centres create high volumes of food and garden waste. Consumers are increasingly segregating this out for separate collection, which local authorities then use in anaerobic digesters and other systems before disposal.
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How can Brazil reach Net Zero emissions?
Designing a country-specific credible Net Zero pathway for Brazil that also supports biodiversity, wildlife conservation, human quality of life and food security.
News
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Going with the Flow: Opportunities in Leicestershire’s nutrient streams
The Sprint held an initial consultative meeting on 5th July 2022 with attendees from across Leicestershire County’s ‘nutrient space’ to determine priority nutrient flows, examine the current waste management situation, and discuss opportunities .
18 August 2022 -
£10mn backing for fast-paced research on environmental policy questions
The Agile Initiative at the Oxford Martin School has been established with funding from the Natural Environment Research Council to provide rapid solutions to critical environmental issues.
5 April 2022
Get Involved with the Agile Initiative
We are building our network of interested researchers from Oxford and beyond, as well as potential policy partners. Register your interest and we will get in touch when we have more relevant information or opportunities for you.
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