The Agile Initiative is all about experimenting with new ways of producing the research that policymakers need in a timely way. Throughout the programme we are constantly adapting and iterating our approach. This page shares what we are learning.
The Sprint model
Teams of researchers based at Oxford University come together with policymakers and stakeholders to produce environmental research rapidly in response to an urgent policy challenge or opportunity. Teams are interdisciplinary and solutions-focused, delivering the research and results within one year.
Using a flexible fund awarded as part of the grant from NERC, the Agile Initiative opens Calls for Sprint proposals once or twice a year, inviting researchers to submit proposals that are co-created with policymakers and stakeholders. In Agile, ‘policy’ is not limited to government policy, nor are we just interested in policy change. We are equally concerned with strategies, policies and their application in practice by public, private and charitable bodies in local, regional, national and international contexts.
Sprints have to meet five criteria:
- Policy pull and science need: Clear policy and/or practice environmental challenge to which interdisciplinary scientific research could provide a solution, framed as a research question.
- Timeliness: An identified policy or practice need and opportunity for use within a defined period, and clear plans for outcomes and impact during the Sprint.
- Co-creation: Inclusive and accessible approach to co-creation with stakeholders and external partners, with collaboration from conceptualisation through to impact
- Interdisciplinarity: Interdisciplinary team of academics and practitioners, as appropriate to the question, to tackle the research
- Commitment to inclusion and positive equality impact: Evaluation of potential positive and negative effects and unintended consequences of proposed research, engagement activities and impact for different groups, as well as mitigation measures
