The interest for reindeer husbandry and climate change is big. The NKJ funded network Tarandus has grown from 20 to 100 members during the year.
Reindeer health and animal welfare was the focus for the first network meeting, held 23-24 november in Kiruna, Sweden. The two day workshop included several presentations as well as discussions and networking. The organizers hope for an increase in collaborations on the subject across the Nordic countries after the meeting.
The participants are researchers and others who work in various ways with reindeer health and welfare, infectious diseases, supplementary feeding and health of wild reindeer. Some joined physically in Kiruna, others participated digitally.
Next Tarandus workshop, with the theme infectious diseases, will be coordinated by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) with satellite activities and study visit.
Welcome to the 1st TARANDUS workshop 23-24 November in Kiruna, Sweden.
The first lunch to lunch workshop within the TARANDUS network will focus on animal health and welfare, coordinated by the National Veterinary Institute (SVA). The accommodation will be hotel Ripan in Kiruna, Sweden, 23-24 November 2021.
If it’s not possible for you to join us in Kiruna, you will be able to join part of the workshop program digitally. If the covid-19 pandemic will stop us from having a physical meeting in Kiruna, then we will arrange a digital workshop for all participants.
The TARANDUS network gathers reindeer researchers from Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The network will cover many aspects of reindeer health and welfare linked to climate change.
Please, contact Anna Omazic () if you are interested to join the TARANDUS network.
How to approach issues related to data access, reliability and security?
One way to approach this is by putting the questions into a context, making them more concrete. Another is to learn from what others have done, looking at initiatives carried out for example at European level.
In this online meeting you will have the opportunity to listen to speakers with experience as well as take part in discussions and to share with others. Welcome to join!
WHEN: June 3, 10.00-12.00 CET
WHERE: Online via Zoom, link will be sent out a couple of days before the meeting
FOCUS: Highlighting opportunities and best practices, as well as challenges with regard to data management
▪ Reflections from a testbed – Data challenges in practice, Kjersti Balke Hveem, head of NIBIO’s Centre for Precision Agriculture
▪ Keynote lecture – Data management, Suzanne Dumouchel, Head of European Cooperation TGIR Huma-Num (CNRS), Partnerships Coordinator of OPERAS AISBL & Member of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Association Board of Directors
▪ Panel discussion – Critical data management questions, Ohad Graber-Soudry, commercial lawyer (advokat) X-officio, Tomas Klingström (Gigacow testbed), PhD Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Erik Willén (Auto2 testbed), Process Manager at Skogforsk
▪ Interactive session, all participants are invited to discuss predefined questions
Role models for a gender balanced digital bioeconomy
One of the action points suggested in the report Redefining digital bioeconomy to make the digital bioeconomy more gender equal is to increase the number of female role models and thereby diversify the masculine image, creating more inclusiveness. This type of action aims to serve to set an example and encourage women to seek education related to, and employment in, the digital bioeconomy. This alone is not enough considering that the very structures of bioeconomy and tech industries remain masculine, however it is an important stepping stone in increasing the number of females in the sector.
This discussion forum is part of a series aiming to open up for discussions on how the education of young academics can integrate the gender perspective into the meeting between digitalisation and bioeconomy. The discussion forums are initiated and financed by Nordic Forest Research, Nordic Agri Research and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
When:26th of May, 10.00-11.30 CET To solve any technical problems, please log in to the discussion forum no later than 09.55
Where: Online via Zoom Participants will be provided with a link to the discussion forum on Monday 24th of May
RSVP: 19th of May to
Agenda
• Welcome and introduction
• Three inspirational speeches – One teacher, one student and one female role model share their point of view on female role models
• Group discussions on who are the role models for young women – How is one classified as a role model? Do they have to be women? Is it women far ahead in their careers, that have taken the same path as them, that have the same educational background?
• Brainstorming ideas on how role models can take a more active role at universities –
Examples could involve inviting role models to inspirational lectures in courses, ask them to mentor students etc.
Networks and mentorship programs to empower young professionals in the digital bioeconomy
Two of the action points suggested in the report Redefining digital bioeconomy to make the digital bioeconomy more gender equal are mentorship programs and networks. Mentorship programs can empower young female graduates to pursue careers in the digital bioeconomy. Setting up mentorship programs is however associated with challenges and in need of reflective thinking. It important to remember is that the aim is not change women to be “better” or “more like men”, but rather for men and women to be equals. Furthermore, networks for young professionals and students in the bioeconomy are valuable for strengthening connections, facilitating discussions, and increasing inclusive involvement for students and workers. Peer support is important in succeeding in male dominated industries, where the peer support can come from both men and women.
This discussion forum is part of a series of aiming to open up for discussions on how the education of young academics can integrate the gender perspective into the meeting between digitalisation and bioeconomy. The discussion forums are initiated and financed by Nordic Forest Research, Nordic Agri Research and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
When:2th of June, 10.00-11.30 CET To solve any technical problems, please log in to the discussion forum no later than 09.55
Where: Online via Zoom Participants will be provided with a link to the discussion forum on Monday 31st of May
RSVP: 26th of May to
Agenda
• Welcome and introduction
• Three inspirational speeches – One teacher, one student and one network member share their point of view on networks and mentorship programs
• Group discussions on what role existing networks and mentorship programs have – How do employer female networks work and how do they differ from third party networks? What do mentorship programs
• Brainstorming ideas on how networks and mentorship programs can take a more active role at universities
To start a new cooperation could possibly be surprising and fruitful. The first network meeting in Bridge Builders was, it revealed a wide range of research and topics that have a lot of impact.
Text: Sari Ranta
The first workshop of the project was held in March. The theme was “let’s learn from each other”.
The studies presented dealt with a targeted innovative rehabilitating meals-on-wheels service for old people, findings of the Breakfast Club study, that involves residents in nursing homes in food related activities and Creating caring spaces, a study that has focus on mealtime interventions in nursing homes. Also results of the Meal Aspects 2.0 study – 20 years later, and Agefood 2.0 study (elderly persons food services in changing environments) were covered. In addition food and nutrition science at LNU and Stavanger’s Cognitive Lab at UiS and also Finnish Food recommendations for older adults were presented.
Presentations rise vivid conversations and produced ideas on which put the accent in future. Understanding Nordic perspective acquires attention; remote areas, best practices supporting healthy eating, participation and socializing are of primary concern. Supporting joint curriculum development and sharing already available materials were also emphasized. Based on what was learned it is interesting to head towards the project’s second workshop this fall.
“Bridge builders – Building sustainable nutritional bridges between research and health and wellbeing services for elderly” consists of expertise in food and nutrition research (healthy food, alternative proteins, mealtime interventions, aging) as well as in service applications and good practices (dietary habits and environments, training of social and health professionals). Participants represent Denmark (University College Copenhagen), Finland (South-Eastern University of Applied Sciences), Norway (University of Stavanger) and Sweden (Linnaeus University).
A successful workshop by Culture Meat Network was arranged 12-13 April 2021 online.
Who should take part in the production of cultured meat and what is the input required for success? How can we enlighten and inform the Nordic industry so they can see and define their role? How can we make this type of technology an opportunity for the Nordic countries, and not a threat? How do we interact with consumers and society regarding cultured meat?
These were questions discussed and possibly answered by the participants in the second network meeting and workshop arranged by the NKJ funded network Cultured Meat.
The background to asking these questions is that the global food production must increase, and cultured meat R&D is expected to increase to meet this demand.
One of the main issues of cultured meat is the lack of dissemination. That is why the network did organized a 2-day workshop to gain more understanding of and dissemination of the concept among different stakeholders aligned with the network’s aims, e.g. ingredient and equipment suppliers, producers, consumers and politicians, amongst others. The 2-day workshop covered subjects such as technology, regulation, LCA, consumers and the political perspective.
Each day there were around 100 persons participating, the majority from the Nordic region but also from other countries.
The Nordic Working Group on Agriculture and Drought will work to coordinate Nordic knowledge and projects for increased crisis preparedness across national borders.
Swedish below
At our last meeting, the working group agreed on that the most important issue for increased crisis preparedness for Nordic agriculture, is to create open channels between researchers and other stakeholders in the various countries. The existing knowledge and ongoing projects need to be Nordic rather than national, to be utilised effectively. The potential for co-operation between the Nordic countries is great thanks to the similarities in climate and political systems, and we should take advantage of that! Therefore, the network will map relevant projects, and work for increased collaboration between them.
In order to enable enhanced cooperation in future crisis, it will be important to identify and remove any barriers in advance. This was pointed out by the network as an important way forward, to improve the opportunities to handle future crises together effectively.
Den Nordiska arbetsgruppen för jordbruk och torka kommer att arbeta för att samordna Nordisk kunskap och projekt för ökad krisberedskap över landsgränserna.
Vid gruppens senaste möte beslutades att den viktigaste frågan för ökad krisberedskap för Nordiskt jordbruk just nu, är att skapa snabbspår mellan forskare och andra intressenter i de olika länderna. Den kunskap som finns och de projekt som bedrivs, ska vara Nordisk mer än nationell, så att den kan utnyttjas effektivt. Potentialen för samarbete mellan de Nordiska länderna är stor tack vare likheterna i klimat och politiska system, och det bör vi utnyttja! Därför kommer nätverket att kartlägga relevanta projekt och arbeta för ökade kontakter mellan dessa.
För att möjliggöra ett utökat samarbete i händelse av kriser, är det viktigt att i förväg kartlägga och undanröja eventuella gränshinder. Det togs av nätverket upp som en viktig väg framåt för att förbättra möjligheterna att hantera framtida kriser tillsammans på ett effektivt sätt.
According to a study from Stanford University in 2017, 39% of all couples found their partners on the internet, and only 20% “through friends”. What works for people who search for love should also work for those looking for a research collaborator. And in an ongoing pandemic, the internet is more or less the only way of finding that partner. It was therefore natural for SNS and NKJ to make the 2020 Matchmaking Day digital.
Text and photo: Mats Hannerz, Silvinformation
Malin von Essen was facilitating our first matchmaking day online. It all ended really well and was promising for future online events.
Matchmaking Day is a forum where SNS (Nordic Forest Research) and NKJ (Nordic Joint Committee for Agricultural and Food Research) invite researchers and stakeholders from a broad spectrum of disciplines to identify possible partners and ideas for cooperation. The forum, which has been held almost annually since 2015, was switched this year to a digital platform instead of the usual mingling in person.
Focus on reindeer husbandry
The theme of the Matchmaking Day on August 25 was Reindeer husbandry in the arctic bioeconomy. The original intention was to gather potential delegates at a meeting in Inari, Finland in May 2020. But – the corona epidemic made it impossible.
– We talked a lot about a plan B, says SNS’ secretary Mimmi Blomquist, but we soon realised that the pandemic would continue for a long time, so simply postponing the physical meeting was not an option.
Instead, the meeting was held digitally, led by the facilitator Malin von Essen. Altogether 48 people were present for the full-day event.
Digital possibilities
The meeting was conducted using the Zoom platform, one of several online meeting tools. Skype, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other services have seen an explosion in users since the pandemic forced people to work from home and avoid travelling. In just the first week from 11-18 March, Teams attracted 12 million new users, and Zoom use increased by 169% during the first months of the year.
– There are hundreds of thousands of people who are now learning how to use video conferencing services in an effective way. The changes we have been talking about for 20 years have now been implemented at record speed, says Malin von Essen.
A new reality
In her business, she moderates and organises meetings and workshops with the aim of inspiring people and taking the results back to their organisations. The meetings are normally physical, but in 2020 she had to rethink the situation.
– We carried out several digital workshops during the spring, and we have learnt a lot about the technique and how to use the potential of the services to engage participants, she says.
The Matchmaking Day was organised as a traditional meeting with lectures, but also with several shorter workshops in smaller groups. The digital platform Zoom facilitates flexible group meetings. In “break-out rooms”, participants with a common research interest could discuss cooperation in a group size allowing more intimate discussions, and the results could be presented later to the entire audience.
– Since we have chat functions and can also assemble suggestions using the menti.com tool, everyone can make their voice heard. And afterwards, other people can look at the recorded presentations and the results of the discussions, all being posted on the SNS’ website.
Content with the outcome
Mimmi Blomquist at SNS was impressed with how well the meeting worked out.
– Of course, we need to meet in person, but this is definitely an option that our research networks could use for many of their workshops. SNS and NKJ provide financial support to research networks with partners from all the Nordic countries, and also neighbouring countries. So, partners are often located thousands of kilometres apart, and we can save lots of travel costs and reduce climate impact by using these digital services, she says.
Advices for your coming digital meetings
It is easy to start a video conference, and most researchers and business people are already used to them, but to make the meetings effective, Malin von Essen has some advice:
Be clear about your aim and goal – why is the meeting needed and what output do you expect? Then start to think of the content.
Before the meeting is live, become familiar with all the functions in the digital platform. Conduct a test meeting with some friends.
Ensure that the meeting will function technically. Not all participants are equally comfortable, encourage them to test the technique in advance. Tell the participants to use a headset and web camera, and to avoid distracting surroundings or strong backlight.
Schedule breaks in the programme. It is better to have several short breaks than one long one.
Nordic funding opportunities in reindeer research:
The Nordic Committee for Agricultural and Food Research (NKJ) and Nordic Forest Research (SNS) is calling for networks that will strengthen co-operation in reindeer husbandry research in the Nordic region. The applicant must be a researcher or communicator at a research institution. The network must include researchers from at least three Nordic countries.
SNS is calling for networks exploring forests and forestry in relation to reindeer husbandry. The application deadline is September 21, 2020. Apply for SNS networks here!
NKJ prioritises networks focusing on reindeer husbandry in relation to climate change and land-use change, but networks that focus on other aspects of reindeer husbandry are also encouraged to apply. The application deadline is November 20, 2020. Apply NKJ networks here!
SEE THE PRESENTATIONS:
Morten Tryland, professor in veterinary medicine, infection biology at UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø
After a period of clinical veterinary practice, he transitioned to research and has spent most of his research career investigating infectious diseases in arctic wildlife and semi-domesticated reindeer, in close cooperation with Fennoscandian research groups and reindeer herders.
Morten told us about reindeer health and supplementary feeding, which is a quite complex issue.
NKJ and SNS jointly invite researchers and stakeholders interested in reindeer husbandry to a matchmaking day online, August 25, 2020.
We have invited prominent people to share their knowledge and resent research in reindeer husbandry. All participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and add information, for an interesting time together online.
We will also discuss challenging issues and future research needs. Workshops will be carried out in smaller groups and we hope the chat will be a dynamic area during the day. We have designed the program with the hope that all participants will gain new contacts and find people in their own area of interest.
We will give you tips how to successfully apply for funding from NKJ and SNS for future networking activities. By this matchmaking day we envision increased cooperation in reindeer husbandry research in the Nordic region!
When
August 25, 10.00-15.30 CET
Connection and remote coffee from 9.45, lunch 11-12
Where
Online via Zoom, link will be sent out in advance of the meeting
Focus
Matchmaking including sharing the latest research related to Nordic reindeer husbandry, discussing possible future research and funding opportunities
AGENDA
Workshops
Networking with the participants in focus
Invited speakers
Future reindeer husbandry (Åsa Larsson-Blind, Svenska samernas riksförbund)
Reindeer herding, forestry and land use (Jouko Kumpula, LUKE)
Reindeer herding and climate change (Sirpa Rasmus, University of Lapland)
Reindeer health and supplemental feeding (Morten Tryland, The Arctic University of Norway)
Information
How to apply for our funding from NKJ and SNS, tips and tricks
Reindeer health and animal welfare was the focus for the first network meeting, held 23-24 november in Kiruna, Sweden. The two day workshop included several presentations as well as discussions and networking. The organizers hope for an increase in collaborations on the subject across the Nordic countries after the meeting.
