TIAS and RESCUE

Survey on improving research methods and data for an integrated response to global change

The survey is closed now.

TIAS is collaborating with the multi-disciplinary project: Responses to Environmental and Societal Challenges for our Unstable Earth (

RESCUE). The project, which is funded by the European Science Foundation and European Cooperation in Science and Technology (

COST), attempts to develop an integrated response to global environmental change from natural, social and human sciences. The synergy between these sciences needs improvement in order to respond efficiently to societal and policy-relevant needs. New scientific issues of relevance to global change, particularly those of a transdisciplinary nature need to be articulated. New approaches to interdisciplinary science are being explored, and the project will contribute to the 'revolution' in education and capacity building that is required for the introduction of these new approaches.

TIAS is contributing specifically to the working group on Requirements for Research Methods and Data (co-chaired by Claudia Pahl-Wostl (University of Osnabrück) and Theo Toonen (Delft Technical University), and including questions such as:

How might Earth system modelling be reconceptualised in the context of global change?

How does interdisciplinarity translate into coupling/integrating the models and optimise their application in different disciplines and for long-term scenarios?

How can we improve the representation of the human dimension in integrated models and modelling processes?

How can we make use of scientific information for policy makers (i.e., indicators, factors, risks, options)?

How can we develop a global database on multi-level resource and environmental governance regimes and protocols for analysis to improve our understanding complex governance regimes?

TIAS is running a online survey that includes these and other questions. TIAS members and other interested individuals are encouraged to respond to this survey (it takes 20 mins to complete, or less if not all questions can be answered). Results will be placed on the website by the beginning of April. Your contribution is potentially valuable to strengthening the science-policy link through improved modeling efforts and data sharing for more effective responses to global environmental change. For more information, contact Caroline van Bers cvbers[at]usf.uos.de