Broadening scientific engagement and inclusivity in IPCC reports through collaborative technology platforms
Abstract The growing number of scientific publications on climate change has outstripped the capacity of individuals to keep up with the literature, even when confined to selected sub-topics such as chapter sections of IPCC reports. The IPCC would benefit from the assistance of modern technology, th...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-12-01
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| Series: | npj Climate Action |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-023-00072-3 |
| _version_ | 1797376719786606592 |
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| author | Anthony Jude De-Gol Corinne Le Quéré Adam J. P. Smith Marianne Aubin Le Quéré |
| author_facet | Anthony Jude De-Gol Corinne Le Quéré Adam J. P. Smith Marianne Aubin Le Quéré |
| author_sort | Anthony Jude De-Gol |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The growing number of scientific publications on climate change has outstripped the capacity of individuals to keep up with the literature, even when confined to selected sub-topics such as chapter sections of IPCC reports. The IPCC would benefit from the assistance of modern technology, the engagement and insights of a far larger pool of experts, and more frequent updates. Here we describe how technology can be tailored to provide asynchronous and connected platforms that can enhance expert’s collaborations through their potential for scalability and inclusivity, and help keep assessments up-to-date. We detail our experience with the ScienceBrief.org platform, which was developed and used during 2017–2021. We show that the timely release of short scientific briefs (e.g. on wildfires), made possible by the platform, led to broad and accurate coverage of science in mainstream and social media, including policy-oriented websites, and therefore served to broaden public exposure and understanding of science, and counter climate misinformation. While a good visual interface and user flow were necessary, incentives were key for expert’s engagement with the platform, which, while positive, remained low. We suggest that a collaborative technology platform like ScienceBrief, tailored to support a modernised process of elaborating IPCC reports, could greatly enhance IPCC assessments by making them more open and accessible, further increasing transparency. It would also enable the comprehensive inclusion of evidence and facilitate broad and high-quality scientific engagement, including from early careers and scientists from around the world. This could first be tested at the scoping stage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:43:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad409e5999304513a43dae6f479bff66 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2731-9814 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:43:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Climate Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad409e5999304513a43dae6f479bff662023-12-24T12:32:24ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate Action2731-98142023-12-01211910.1038/s44168-023-00072-3Broadening scientific engagement and inclusivity in IPCC reports through collaborative technology platformsAnthony Jude De-Gol0Corinne Le Quéré1Adam J. P. Smith2Marianne Aubin Le Quéré3Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East AngliaTyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East AngliaTyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East AngliaInformation Science, Cornell TechAbstract The growing number of scientific publications on climate change has outstripped the capacity of individuals to keep up with the literature, even when confined to selected sub-topics such as chapter sections of IPCC reports. The IPCC would benefit from the assistance of modern technology, the engagement and insights of a far larger pool of experts, and more frequent updates. Here we describe how technology can be tailored to provide asynchronous and connected platforms that can enhance expert’s collaborations through their potential for scalability and inclusivity, and help keep assessments up-to-date. We detail our experience with the ScienceBrief.org platform, which was developed and used during 2017–2021. We show that the timely release of short scientific briefs (e.g. on wildfires), made possible by the platform, led to broad and accurate coverage of science in mainstream and social media, including policy-oriented websites, and therefore served to broaden public exposure and understanding of science, and counter climate misinformation. While a good visual interface and user flow were necessary, incentives were key for expert’s engagement with the platform, which, while positive, remained low. We suggest that a collaborative technology platform like ScienceBrief, tailored to support a modernised process of elaborating IPCC reports, could greatly enhance IPCC assessments by making them more open and accessible, further increasing transparency. It would also enable the comprehensive inclusion of evidence and facilitate broad and high-quality scientific engagement, including from early careers and scientists from around the world. This could first be tested at the scoping stage.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-023-00072-3 |
| spellingShingle | Anthony Jude De-Gol Corinne Le Quéré Adam J. P. Smith Marianne Aubin Le Quéré Broadening scientific engagement and inclusivity in IPCC reports through collaborative technology platforms npj Climate Action |
| title | Broadening scientific engagement and inclusivity in IPCC reports through collaborative technology platforms |
| title_full | Broadening scientific engagement and inclusivity in IPCC reports through collaborative technology platforms |
| title_fullStr | Broadening scientific engagement and inclusivity in IPCC reports through collaborative technology platforms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Broadening scientific engagement and inclusivity in IPCC reports through collaborative technology platforms |
| title_short | Broadening scientific engagement and inclusivity in IPCC reports through collaborative technology platforms |
| title_sort | broadening scientific engagement and inclusivity in ipcc reports through collaborative technology platforms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-023-00072-3 |
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