How to get involved with the Deep South Engagement Programme

The Deep South Science Challenge Engagement Programme is currently seeking talented people and potential projects that can help turn our vision— “improving New Zealanders’ ability and capacity to make decisions informed by DSC-related research”—into a reality.

This workstream is responsible for organising engagement activities targeted to the general public. It will also have responsibility for media and social-media, internal communications processes, establishing linkages with other partners in climate change engagement, and coordination of the engagement advisory committee and funding processes.

We are currently seeking a part-time coordinator for this workstream. Closing date: February 3rd, 2016.

Please click here for more details about this role.

People who have ideas for projects and engagement activities that would help deliver this workstream can apply for funding support through either an Engagement Expression of Intent (EoI) process or the Contestable Fund.

How to apply for funding for a DSC Engagement Programme funding – EOI process

Four workstreams

The Programme will be channelling its resources into coordination and delivery of four workstreams. Each workstream is connected to realising the overall goal and objectives outlined in the latest Engagement Update.

Budget

The proposed distribution of the Engagement budget by work streams is shown below:

Individuals or groups with ideas for activities that can deliver on any of these work streams are encouraged to consider the two funding opportunities described below. Further details about these work streams and associated coordination opportunities below.

How to apply for funding for a DSC Engagement project

Funding for projects that contribute to the Deep South Challenge (DSC) Engagement Programme goal and objectives is available through either the DSC Engagement Programme Expressions of Intent (EOI) process, or the more general DSC Contestable process.

The Engagement EoI process is appropriate for applications of approximately $2-10k and is assessed quarterly. Please download the below form for more details and submit completed forms to [email protected].

How to apply for funding for a DSC Engagement Programme funding – EOI process

For larger projects (up to $300k), applicants are encouraged to consider the DSC Contestable process, please click here for more details. 

This is an annual funding round. We especially encourage applications that consider how an Engagement component might complement or collaborate with DSC science research that has either been funded, or is being proposed.

Workstreams

Broad and Internal Engagement

This workstream is responsible for organising engagement activities targeted to the general public. It will also have responsibility for media and social-media, internal communications processes, establishing linkages with other partners in climate change engagement, and coordination of the engagement advisory committee and funding processes.

We are currently seeking a part-time coordinator for this workstream. Closing date: February 3rd, 2016.

Please click here for more details about this role.

People who have ideas for projects and engagement activities that would help deliver this workstream can apply for funding support through either an Engagement Expression of Intent (EoI) process or the Contestable Fund.

How to apply for funding for a DSC Engagement Programme funding – EOI process

DSC partner organisations

In order to help profile the breadth and diversity of DSC research occurring around the country, we are also keen to work closely with scientists and media officers from all DSC partner organisations. To help facilitate this, we have created:

• an email list for DSC media partners. Please subscribe on the Deep South Challenge website here.
• a communications protocol for media officers 
• a communications checklist for researchers 

Capacity-building for Engagement

This workstream is responsible for providing training and support to a range of intermediaries and other community and sector leaders to enable them to communicate about climate change more accurately and effectively. It will also facilitate climate change engagement activities across New Zealand. 

During 2016, while we are building up our programme, the DSC is seeking to partner with external organisations that have common interests and goals related to climate change engagement. Please contact us if you are interested in partnering on a capacity-building or training activity that might fit within the Engagement Programme goal and objectives. We are particularly interested in supporting activities that enhance national capacity in climate change engagement, and/or the ability to facilitate activities related to climate change science (especially earth system modeling), impacts and implications, and adaptation. We are open to discussing activities tailored to a specific sector, or a more general audience.

Tailored Engagement

This workstream will work closely with, and be supplemented by, the emerging Impacts & Implications programme to ensure key decision-making groups are informing, and informed by, DSC-related science. During 2016, the Climate Change Impacts and Implications (CCII) programme will share its outcomes and learnings, which include not only biogeophysical impacts and their implications for adaptation, but also identification of key decision-making areas and audiences. An important role of this work stream is to ensure that these outcomes can be upscaled to better support decision-making about climate change in key sectors across New Zealand.

Climate Change Impacts and Implications (CCII) programme

We are currently seeking to open discussions with individuals or groups who might be interested in facilitating this workstream. While we are clear on the scope of work, we are very open to how such a contract might be managed.

The successful individual or group will be responsible for strategic development of mechanisms to support decision-making related to climate risks such as extreme weather events, changes in mean weather, droughts, and sea level rise. Part of the role involves identification of key sectors that can be usefully infomed by DSC research outcomes, will be impacted by these changes and also able to implement and leverage adaptive behaviour.

This will involve identifying and building targeted relationships with key sectors, which may include  regions with a high population density and those providing services to that population (eg, utilities, transport, energy and water); other infrastructure providers (eg, building, property and insurance industries);  finance (banking); local, regional, and central government; Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and active local communities; primary industries (agriculture, forestry, fisheries); and the recreation and tourism industries.

The role will also be responsible for developing and supporting appropriate initiatives and co-creation of engagement activities to ensure DSC research both responds to, and informs, these key sectors in their decision-making related to climate change.

Evaluation and Research

This workstream will ensure that the Engagement Programme is achieving its goal and objectives by continually assessing the effectiveness of engagement activities. The results of which will also inform research on effective engagement on climate change. This workstream is being managed internally within the programme, but we welcome interest from individuals or groups with experience and interest in collaborating on this workstream.

Contact

If you would like more detail on the Engagement Strategy, or to discuss any of the above opportunities, please contact the DSC Engagement Programme Lead, Dr Rhian Salmon, on [email protected]