Perspectives of Climate Change Adaptation in Organizations …
327
2.4 Climate Change Adaptation as Subject for Applied
Research
The close cooperation of universities with stakeholders in society can be summarized under the term “applied research”. In such projects, scientists collaborate with
administrations, organizations, and/or enterprises to develop problem solutions that
concern different levels. Climate change adaptation can occur in a multifaceted way
in such projects. For example, universities can offer scientific expertise through
information about their latest findings. They can also play a role as coordinator or
moderator of teams that involve different partners. This can be done, for instance,
in the form of living labs. Such labs are “A kind of giant sandbox in which there
is the freedom to explore—creatively and collaboratively—the technological, environmental, economic and societal aspects of sustainability” (UBC 2018). In such a
sense, a living lab is an ideal environment to discuss, develop and implement climate
change adaptation measures under comprehensive consideration of the goals and
needs of different societal stakeholders.
3 The University as Scientific Partner in Real-Life Planning
Procedures Which Aim at Climate Change Adaptation
3.1 Project Background: The University as Coordinator
and Facilitator
Within the framework of the “BebeR-project”, a pilot project to develop and assess the
vulnerability of a specific mountainous area with regard to erosion, various partners
collaborated to discuss problems that might arise from a variety of climate change
scenarios. The area that was investigated for the development of vulnerability assessment methods is the administrative district of Mansfeld-Südharz, situated in the south
of the German federal state Saxony-Anhalt. The area is dominated by agriculture and
forestry dotted with some small towns and villages.
3.1.1 Setting up a Transdisciplinary Geographical Database
Within “BebeR”, the set-up of a comprehensive spatial database was a crucial step
to enable scientists and various administrative partners to use the data from not
only one, but all relevant sectors. The database was established using Geographical
Information Services. They enable users to pile a great variety of spatial data layers
upon each other. These data come from all kinds of sources, e.g. agriculture, forestry,
water management, weather services, and more. Using the data, it was e.g. possible
to integrate data in such a way that areas vulnerable to soil erosion were identified.
327
2.4 Climate Change Adaptation as Subject for Applied
Research
The close cooperation of universities with stakeholders in society can be summarized under the term “applied research”. In such projects, scientists collaborate with
administrations, organizations, and/or enterprises to develop problem solutions that
concern different levels. Climate change adaptation can occur in a multifaceted way
in such projects. For example, universities can offer scientific expertise through
information about their latest findings. They can also play a role as coordinator or
moderator of teams that involve different partners. This can be done, for instance,
in the form of living labs. Such labs are “A kind of giant sandbox in which there
is the freedom to explore—creatively and collaboratively—the technological, environmental, economic and societal aspects of sustainability” (UBC 2018). In such a
sense, a living lab is an ideal environment to discuss, develop and implement climate
change adaptation measures under comprehensive consideration of the goals and
needs of different societal stakeholders.
3 The University as Scientific Partner in Real-Life Planning
Procedures Which Aim at Climate Change Adaptation
3.1 Project Background: The University as Coordinator
and Facilitator
Within the framework of the “BebeR-project”, a pilot project to develop and assess the
vulnerability of a specific mountainous area with regard to erosion, various partners
collaborated to discuss problems that might arise from a variety of climate change
scenarios. The area that was investigated for the development of vulnerability assessment methods is the administrative district of Mansfeld-Südharz, situated in the south
of the German federal state Saxony-Anhalt. The area is dominated by agriculture and
forestry dotted with some small towns and villages.
3.1.1 Setting up a Transdisciplinary Geographical Database
Within “BebeR”, the set-up of a comprehensive spatial database was a crucial step
to enable scientists and various administrative partners to use the data from not
only one, but all relevant sectors. The database was established using Geographical
Information Services. They enable users to pile a great variety of spatial data layers
upon each other. These data come from all kinds of sources, e.g. agriculture, forestry,
water management, weather services, and more. Using the data, it was e.g. possible
to integrate data in such a way that areas vulnerable to soil erosion were identified.