How to ensure that a research project responds to real-world needs?
One answer is to involve stakeholders from the very beginning.
Since the start of MARCO-BOLO, the project’s Community of Practice (CoP) has brought together researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, NGOs, marine data specialists and other experts with a shared interest in aquatic biodiversity monitoring. Rather than acting as a consultation group at the end of the project, the CoP has been an active part of MARCO-BOLO throughout its four-year journey.
The Community of Practice began with a stakeholder survey designed to better understand the challenges, priorities and needs of different groups involved in biodiversity monitoring.
The survey highlighted a number of barriers faced by stakeholders working with biodiversity data and observations, including challenges related to data access, interoperability and the use of monitoring information for decision-making. These findings helped shape subsequent project activities and informed one of MARCO-BOLO’s policy briefs on biodiversity monitoring data ecosystems.
From the outset, the goal was simple: make sure that the project’s work remained relevant to the people who would ultimately use it.
Co-designing project activities
Throughout the project, stakeholder engagement continued through workshops, consultations and CoP meetings.
These activities provided opportunities for project partners and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging challenges and identify priorities for biodiversity monitoring. They also created a space where feedback could directly influence project activities.
From discussion to practical outputs
The Community of Practice was a forum for discussion and played an important role in supporting the development of practical project outputs.
Stakeholder feedback contributed to the Knowledge Transfer Series of resources produced towards the end of the project, helping identify target audiences, refine key messages and explore how project results could be used beyond the consortium.
By bringing together different perspectives, the CoP helped bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application.
Meeting again in Bruges
Next week, project partners and Core CoP members will come together in Bruges for the final MARCO-BOLO Community of Practice event.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned over the past four years, discuss the project’s final outputs and explore how MARCO-BOLO results can continue supporting biodiversity monitoring and decision-making beyond the project itself.
The event will also take place just before the 7th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, where many MARCO-BOLO partners will continue discussions on the future of marine biodiversity monitoring and monitoring.