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Call for mountain synthesis workshop proposals, deadline 31 May

21.05.2021

As part of its mission, the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) provides funding contributions for synthesis workshops that bring together global change researchers to address specific topics of interest to the mountain research, policy and practitioner communities. The deadline for proposals for this year’s call is 31 May 2021.

The MRI synthesis workshops are community-led activities that bring people together for collaboration, and generate outcomes and outputs that connect and synthesize existing data, information, publications, and/or other forms of knowledge and that have the potential to provide new insights on the state of mountains in a global context, thereby supporting MRI’s mission. Synthesis activities that support and/or contribute to the work of the MRI Working Groups or the Group on Earth Observations - Global Network on Observations and Information in Mountain Environments (GEO Mountains), are particularly encouraged.

This year’s call invites the MRI community to submit proposals under an open thematic category. Proponents may also consider workshops that take a “horizon scanning” foresight approach to anticipate and address key questions that respond to knowledge needs or that have explicit policy and/or societal relevance.

Outputs can include, but are not limited to, systematic reviews, synthesis articles or perspective/research agenda pieces for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and/or compilation of relevant/existing data into publishable datasets or databases that can facilitate further research activities; or contribute to the work of MRI Working Groups and/or GEO Mountains. Workshops and related activities and outcomes/outputs should aim at inter-relating or comparing at least two or more different mountain locations or regions, and demonstrate the relevance of the topic/regions being investigated in a global context.

Given the ongoing challenging conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and given the many restrictions still in place for regional and international travel and limited prospects for face-to-face meetings, proponents are encouraged to also include and demonstrate innovative means for collaboration and exchange, including virtual or hybrid meetings and activities to support the planned synthesis work. For this reason, and pending a successful application, the suggested period in which to plan and schedule proposed activities under this call is from September 2021 to June 2022.

The MRI expects to be able to contribute to two synthesis workshops. A total contribution from the MRI of up to CHF 8 000 per workshop is the current budget under consideration, depending on the location and scope of the proposed activities. MRI's financial support for synthesis workshops awarded in 2021 is made available thanks to the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Download, read and refer to the call document and the General Eligibility and Funding Conditions for MRI Synthesis Workshops before filling out the online submission form. The deadline for proposals is Monday, 31 May 2021 at midnight CEST. Successful applications will be notified by 9 July 2021.

For questions, please contact the MRI Coordination Office: [email protected]

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