OPAL: Encouraging and supporting collaboration

Linda Davies, OPAL DirectorImperial College London

OPAL Concept

• Major environmental challenges facing society today:o Convention on Biological Diversityo Convention on Climate Change o Agenda 21

• Governments alone cannot resolve the problems;• Everyone has a role to play;• What is that role?• OPAL set out to provide more opportunities for people to make a real contribution to environmental protection;• OPAL designed and delivered a research and education programme for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds;• Invited participants to share their findings with others• Collectively such local knowledge is very powerful

Partnership

Research Centres Soil: ImperialAir: ImperialWater: University College LondonBiodiversity: Natural History MuseumOpen UniversityClimate: UK Meteorological Office

Associates: Environment Agency, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Support ServicesNatural History MuseumField Studies CouncilRoyal ParksNational Biodiversity Network

University of Nottingham Heathlands

University of HertfordshireOrchards

Imperial College London Urban Heat Island

Imperial College London (Silwood Park) Road pollution and vegetation

University of Plymouth Moors

University of Central LancashireSocial science

University of BirminghamUrban ecology

Newcastle UniversityIndustrial pollution and plants

University of YorkMammals & insects

Strong leadership, clear management structure, firm budgetary controlsVision, confidence, flexibility, room for innovation, trust

Multi-disciplinary team

1. Clearly defined expectations: Aims and Objectives of the programmeDeliverables with timelines and performance criteria per partnerBeneficiary targets : web, media, general public (organisations,

schools)Milestones: achievements

2. Regular contact - sharing best practice, identifying issues, developing national programme

4 partners meetings per annum (rotated)9 staff meetings per annumtraining and other events partners website, newsletter

3. Strong central support systems (management, comms, branding, website)4. National programme to unite all partners and maintain momentum

Launch of a new product every six monthsTraining and support Experts working in the communityFeedback to participants

OPAL Networking

LOCAL LEVELCommunity scientist and local education and research projects:

•directly with local people•existing local voluntary groups: wildlife trust, BTCV, Girl Guides, W.I.•local authorities: park rangers•Local charities or local branches of national charities (NAS)

REGIONAL LEVEL Lead academic :

•Regional committee: local authorities, government agencies, voluntary and community group leadersNATIONAL LEVELCo-ordinator: national programme: developing the resources, training the regions, distributing materials, managing enquiries, data entry.Web team: website manager and software engineer and database managerCommunications officer: proactive and reactive media strategySchools officer: national schools programmeAdvisory Board: LWEC, Defra, Environment Agency, Community representativesOPAL Management: Direction and management to time, performance and budget

Good practice and lessons learned

Staff: Time to build trust

Commitment and enthusiasmResilience to changeFlexibility and willingness to adapt to local need

Organisations: work with existing organisations at the local levelsupport their events adapt programmes to meet their needsdesign exciting activities – live animals, games respect different needs and cultures manage expectations

Programme: fun, bite-size, high quality, innovative, hi technot curriculum focusedto appeal to a young teenager or adult new to environmentplain Englishlocal and national support systemsH&S – balanced

Management: maintain close contact with partners and staffmanage issues as they arise – tightening where they do not deliver

OPAL Key findings

• More people are spending time outdoors exploring and recording local nature• Through OPAL communities are becoming more aware of local nature• High quality resources and sound science engender confidence • New knowledge and skills so they can name local wildlife and have a purpose to go out• Enjoy finding out for themselves• Not everyone wants to share their findings

• no computer• didn’t finish the survey• just enjoy being outside• did not think their work was good enough• too busy to enter data• takes too long

• Data from over 25,000 sites has been submitted• More people understand science and the importance of research• People want to make their contribution and to have their contribution recognised• Being part of a national research programme is a key motivating factor• Mutually beneficial to science, government, community• Brings benefits for health, education and the environment