We serve society with research-based advice to the authorities
Professor Jørgen Eriksen from JORNÆR described how our knowledge is put to use by the public sector with real-life examples from his area of research
How does the research carried out in AGRO affect society? Our research results not only provide applicable answers and solutions for farmers and advisers; they also help politicians and officials in the political and legislative process by giving them research-based advice and information.
How this works was described by Professor Jørgen Eriksen from JORNÆR at the Junior VIP meeting in Foulum on 21 September 2015 (read more about the junior VIP meeting here.)
Aarhus University has a contract with the Ministry of the Environment and Food. This contract provides us with an important source of funding and obligates us to carry our research and provide policy support within 13 pre-defined thematic areas (read more about the contract and the thematic areas here). The contract is administered by DCA – Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture.
Based on cases that he has been involved in, Jørgen described the three types of assignments that we have:
- Running or continuous (such as providing facts for legislation regarding fertilization or nutrient balances)
- Long-term (such as modeling exercises, literature reviews, cataloging nitrogen measures)
- Short-term (such as answering acute questions from the ministry regarding how early winter wheat must be sown and in which quantities to replace catch crops).
Jørgen pointed out that our quick answer to the last of the cases mentioned above resulted in early sowing of one third of the winter wheat area in Denmark the same year, so we do make a difference. Apart from the satisfaction of feeling that you have served society by being able to apply your research, working with research-based policy advice is relevant for young scientists in other ways, too:
- It can supplement your research work.
- It makes your research come alive.
- It can provide you with perspective and focus.
- You collaborate with other sections and department, which builds up your network.
- Funding/co-funding supports the department.
Judging by the comments and reactions from the postdocs and PhD students present at the junior VIP meeting, working with research-based policy advice is an area that holds great interest.