In November 2012 the University’s Research Themes awarded funds to five Sussex academics to support the development of new networks over the next two years. 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 four awards were made to:
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. For further information on this network visit the SCSC website.
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.