RESEARCH FOCAL AREAS

A common criticism of Research Strategies or Science Plans is that they often try to do too much and therefore lack focus. This is confirmed by the large number of relatively small research initiatives in many areas, and a short-term approach to research (with short funding cycles for key research projects, and a high turnover in projects). The Global Change Science Plan presented here will seek to correct these shortcomings through:

• a commitment to remain active within these research domains for enough time to build national capability and capacity within them.

Overall Science Plan framework

Research under the National Global Change Science Plan for the following ten years will focus on two areas within the complex regional system and its various components (Figure 2):

Focal Area 1: Understanding a complex regional system:

Here the emphasis will be on understanding the processes and drivers of change in both the biophysical and social domains. Understanding system resilience will be a major area of interest within this Focal Area.

Focal Area 2: Adaptive responses within a complex regional system:

The effective application of existing and new knowledge to meet societal needs and to build resilience of the interconnected system (including institutional) in support of societal benefits will form the core of this research focal area.

COMPLEX REGIONAL SYSTEM 

Figure 2: The Science Plan focuses on the complex regional system

Explanation and motivation for the choice of each of the Focal Areas

Focal Area 1: Explanation

The region is inherently characterized by complex, dynamic internal links and interactions, subject to feedbacks and both internal and external forcing (both bio-physical and socio-economic).

Focal Area 1: Motivation

1.       The links between the ocean, land and atmosphere are poorly understood, and of both regional and global relevance.

2.       The uncertain inter-dependencies and associated risks between social and biophysical systems are critical to support a sustained future livelihood.

3.       The geographical location and socio-economic context is unique in the global system, and provides an exceptional advantage for advancing the understanding of the linkages between the earth and social system for societal benefit.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Focal Area 2: Explanation

Adaptive responses within the unique regional context are dependent on effective application of existing and new knowledge, to ensure the resilience of the interconnected system for societal benefit.

Focal Area 2: Motivation

1.      To enable relevant linkages between the human outcomes and the science

2.     To contribute to the development and deployment of innovative technologies

3.      To fulfill our inherent responsibility to the global community to achieve sustainable development

4.      It is requisite in order to capitalize on the emerging opportunities within the changing global community.