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MRI Europe
The European Program of the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI Europe) was established in 2007 in response to the research priorities described in the „Global Change and Mountain Regions” (GLOCHAMORE) Research Strategy. The MRI-EUrope network aims at initiating, coordinating and enhancing activities on the priority topics of this Strategy in mountain regions of Europe.
In 2011, the network connects more than 2’400 mountain researchers and includes the Science for the Carpathians (S4C) initiative and the South Eastern European Mountain Research Network (SEEmore).
Objectives
• Refine and implement the GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy in European mountains
• Advocate for mountain research and influence funding instruments at the European level
• Promote inter- and transdisciplinary research
• Support the formation of new research partnerships and development of project proposals
• Facilitate the development of peer-reviewed papers and synthesis articles
• Serve as an information and communication platform on global change in European mountain regions
Tools
• MRI Europe facilitates and supports interdisciplinary and international meetings aiming at a funded project, a synthesis paper or network development (see Key Contact Workshops).
• The MRI Europe website, the MRI Europe Newsflash and the MRI Newsletter provide access to the European network members and to 7’000 global change scientists around the world.
• The MRI experts database stores comprehensive information on the scientific activities of individuals. The complementing Who’s Who List is a search tool for project partners interested in international research collaboration.
• The MountainTRIP Discussion Groups allow the interaction between network members sharing similar expertise or research interests.
• MRI-Europe Twitter provides instant information on relevant news. (http://twitter.com/#!/mri_europe)
Funding
In 2011, MRI Europe has been funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research, Berne, Switzerland (www.sbf.admin.ch/) and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (http://www.oeaw.ac.at/english/).
Contact
Dr. Astrid Björnsen Gurung
Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) Europe Programme Manager
Mountain Research Initiative
c/o University of Berne
Institute of Geography
Erlachstr. 9a, Trakt 3
3012 Berne
Switzerland
phone: +41-31-631 51 41 (Berne office), +41-52-316 43 06 (Home office)
fax: +41-31-631 51 44
skype: astridbjoernsen
eMail: astrid.bjoernsen@giub.unibe.ch
History
In 2006, following the conclusion of the GLOCHAMORE Project, the MRI undertook a first attempt to initiate a Global Change research network in Europe using place rather than discipline as an organizing paradigm. It invited scientists and managers associated with the European mountain biosphere reserves that had participated in the GLOCHAMORE project to attend a 1st meeting in Zurich, to translate the GLOCHAMORE strategy into a program appropriate for Europe. However, the hoped-for launch of the network did not ensue from this meeting.
In 2007, MRI took another approach focusing on scientists regardless of their affiliation with place and funding. The 2nd meeting (Zurich, February 2007) made no assumptions about an ideal structure for implementation but asked researchers how they wished to proceed. With almost 100 participants from 21 countries, this meeting ultimately launched the "global change research network for Europe" subsequently renamed MRI-Europe. MRI-Europe was defined as an interdisciplinary, purpose-driven network aiming at the implementation of the GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy in European mountains by capitalizing on the research capacity and resources in Europe.
The same year, MRI-Europe organized a 3rd meeting in Innsbruck focusing on interdisciplinarity in international research collaborations and potential EU funding instruments. Applying tools like the “research market” and “coffee table discussions” based on the open space method, the work approach of these early networking meetings clearly differed from normal science workshops.
In 2008, MRI Europe received an impetus when the MRI and the Institute for Mountain Research: Man and Environment (IGF) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences started a joint implementation program for MRI-Europe. This step not only enhanced the cooperation between the two institutions, but also generated added value for the larger mountain science community through joint initiatives such as, for instance, the MountainTRIP project (2009-11).
The same year, the MRI-Europe started network development at the regional scale. Requested by a group of scientists mandated by the Interim Secretariat for the Carpathian Convention (ISCC), UNEP-Vienna, MRI-Europe supported the launch of the 'Science for the Carpathians' (S4C) initiative during the 1st S4C Workshop on 27-28 May in Krakow, Poland (LINK). The need to downscale and refine the GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy to the regional scale became obvious, as even European mountain ranges differ in their biophysical, ecological, economic and sociocultural characteristics. Since its launch, S4C emerged as one of the most active research communities within the MRI-Europe Program, generating peer-reviews papers (LINK to S4C publications), the Research Agenda for the Carpathians (PDF) and the bi-annual Forum Carpaticum.
In 2009, stimulated by the S4C initiative, the Southeastern European Mountain Research network (SEEmore) was established during an international conference on 24-26 April in Borovets, Bulgaria (LINK to EVENT, info provided later). To identify research priorities for the Balkan Peninsula, sound knowledge on ongoing activities and active global change researchers in the Balkan region had to be generated first. The SEEmore Conference in Timisoara, Romania (August 2010 LINK) represented a crucial departure point for the identification of research priorities (LINK), strategic planning (Roadmap) and networking (LINK to Research Catalogue).In May 2011, a Bulgarian SEEmore workshop 'Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions: Science and Practice' was organized at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia, to foster the dialogue between science and governmental institutions.Addressing one of the key thematic fields identified during the 2nd SEEmore Conference in Timisoara, a workshop 'Climate Change in the Carpathian-Balkan Region during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene' was organized by the University of Suceava, Romania (9-12 June 2011 LINK) to discuss and promote opportunities for collaboration.The 3rd SEEmore Conference takes place 5-6 July 2012 at the Ankara University, Ankara (LINK to EVENTS).
Apart from the regional activities in the Balkan and Carpathian mountains, the MRI-Europe Program engaged in the development of research proposals (LINK), advocated for mountain research at the EU-level, lead large-scale synthesis processes, and facilitated communication within the European mountain research community.
View the Annual Activity Spreadsheets (LINK) to gain an overview on MRI-Europe activities between 2007 and 2011 or browse through the list of events (LINK MRI-Europe EVENTS... details to be provided).
Read more:
Björnsen Gurung, A., Bokwa A., Chełmicki W., Elbakidze M., Hirschmugl M., Hostert P., Ibisch P., Kozak J. , Kuemmerle T., Matei E., Ostapowicz K., Pociask-Karteczka J., Schmidt L., van der Linden S., and Zebisch M. (2009). Global Change Research in the Carpathian Mountain Region. Mountain Research and Development 28(3):282-288. (LINK)
Björnsen Gurung, A. (2010). Alpine Knowledge Gardening: Research Network for the advancement of science and development. In: Borsdorf, A., G. Grabherr, K. Heinrich, B. Scott and J. Stötter (eds.): Challenges for Mountain Regions – Tackling Complexity. Vienna: Böhlau. (PDF)
Björnsen Gurung, A. (2011). Science Networks for Global Change in Mountain Regions: The Mountain Research Initiative. In: Georgi Zhelezov (ed.), Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions: Southeastern Europe. Springer, Dordrecht, 281-287. ISBN: 978-94-007-0130-4 (LINK)
Kozak J. and Björnsen Gurung A. (eds) (2011). Research Agenda for the Carpathians Krakow. (LINK to S4C website/Resources and PDF)