Research Themes fund five new Kick Start Networks at Sussex
The University’s Research Themes have awarded funds to five Sussex academics to support the development of new networks over the next two years.
The Network on Adaption in Humanitarianism (NOAH), which will be established by Prof Dominic Kniveton, will build on connections with humanitarian agencies and funders. Photo: Sudan Envoy
The grants are funded by the 'Kick Start Network' scheme, a new University fund to connect Sussex academics with non-academic research users. This is part of the University’s knowledge exchange activities, and is supported by the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF).
The first round of the Kick Start network scheme received eight applications and five awards were made to:
Dr Sergio Catignani, Lecturer in Strategic & Security Studies within the Department of International Relations in order to set up a new policy research network on Security Sector Reform thinking and policy called Security, Development and the Rule of Law. Dr Catignani’s network will bring to the University of Sussex, through biannual workshops over the period of two years, members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), NATO, the European External Action Service as well as members of several European-based Foreign Ministries and NGOs.
Dr Daniel Hough, Director of the Sussex Centre for the Study of Corruption (SCSC) was awarded funds to develop a series of anti-corruption workshops with Transparency International. The grant will enable the SCSC to continue to build links with the global anti-corruption community, starting with the first round of anti-corruption workshops that are scheduled for June 2013.
Professor Dominic Kniveton, Professor of Climate Science and Society will establish a Network on Adaption in Humanitarianism (NOAH). The network will focus on developing an action research agenda and profile to promote adaptation and change in humanitarian actions. NOAH will build on connections with humanitarian agencies and funders developed through the Global Transformations Theme’s New Humanitarian Agendas workshop. The network will host an annual Research Hotel which will provide Sussex academics with a chance to interact, learn from, and collaborate with, some of the leading researchers in their fields, and forge new connections with operational agencies and funders of consultancy work.
Dr Sevasti-Melissa Nolas, Professor Rachel Thomson and Dr Janet Boddy were awarded funds to develop a network on New Publics: Innovating Children and Young People’s Communities. The network, housed in the Centre for Innovation and Research in Childhood and Youth Studies, will focus on defining and engaging with emergent practice issues in child and youth development in the local area with a view to generating innovative ideas and strategies for new research and practice development. It will bring together Sussex academics, local practitioners, children, young people and their families through a series of knowledge transfer and exchange workshops.
Dr Jorn Scharlemann, Reader in Ecology and Conservation will receive funding for a Planet Use Network that will develop methods to identify and quantify multiple dimensions and uncertainties of the impact on the planet of human activities – environmental, social and economic. It is hoped that the mutual exchange of ideas and needs between researchers and policy experts will enable advice to be given to decision makers in governments, NGOs and businesses to ensure better environmental decisions for a sustainable planet.
For more information on any of these networks, please contact researchthemes@sussex.ac.uk.