Boundary spanning at the science–policy interface: the practitioners’ perspectives

Cultivating a more dynamic relationship between science and policy is essential for responding to complex social challenges such as sustainability. One approach to doing so is to “span the boundaries” between science and decision making and create a more comprehensive and inclusive knowledge exchange process. The exact definition and role of boundary spanning, however, can be nebulous. Indeed, boundary spanning often gets conflated and confused with other approaches to connecting science and policy, such as science communication, applied science, and advocacy, which can hinder progress in the field of boundary spanning. To help overcome this, in this perspective, we present the outcomes from a recent workshop of boundary-spanning practitioners gathered to (1) articulate a definition of what it means to work at this interface (“boundary spanning”) and the types of activities it encompasses; (2) present a value proposition of these efforts to build better relationships between science and policy; and (3) identify opportunities to more effectively mainstream boundary-spanning activities. Drawing on our collective experiences, we suggest that boundary spanning has the potential to increase the efficiency by which useful research is produced, foster the capacity to absorb new evidence and perspectives into sustainability decision-making, enhance research relevance for societal challenges, and open new policy windows. We provide examples from our work that illustrate this potential. By offering these propositions for the value of boundary spanning, we hope to encourage a more robust discussion of how to achieve evidence-informed decision-making for sustainability

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of the PhoP Regulon in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Versus Typhimurium

Background: S. Typhi, a human-restricted Salmonella enterica serovar, causes a systemic intracellular infection in humans (typhoid fever). In comparison, S. Typhimurium causes gastroenteritis in humans, but causes a systemic typhoidal illness in mice. The PhoP regulon is a well studied two component (PhoP/Q) coordinately regulated network of genes whose expression is required for intracellular survival of S. enterica. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), we examined the protein expression profiles of three sequenced S. enterica strains: S. Typhimurium LT2, S. Typhi CT18, and S. Typhi Ty2 in PhoP-inducing and non-inducing conditions in vitro and compared these results to profiles of $phoP^−/Q^−$ mutants derived from S. Typhimurium LT2 and S. Typhi Ty2. Our analysis identified 53 proteins in S. Typhimurium LT2 and 56 proteins in S. Typhi that were regulated in a PhoP-dependent manner. As expected, many proteins identified in S. Typhi demonstrated concordant differential expression with a homologous protein in S. Typhimurium. However, three proteins (HlyE, STY1499, and CdtB) had no homolog in S. Typhimurium. HlyE is a pore-forming toxin. STY1499 encodes a stably expressed protein of unknown function transcribed in the same operon as HlyE. CdtB is a cytolethal distending toxin associated with DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and cellular distension. Gene expression studies confirmed up-regulation of mRNA of HlyE, STY1499, and CdtB in S. Typhi in PhoP-inducing conditions. Conclusions/Significance: This study is the first protein expression study of the PhoP virulence associated regulon using strains of Salmonella mutant in PhoP, has identified three Typhi-unique proteins (CdtB, HlyE and STY1499) that are not present in the genome of the wide host-range Typhimurium, and includes the first protein expression profiling of a live attenuated bacterial vaccine studied in humans (Ty800)

The Astra Gemini project - A dual-beam petawatt Ti : Sapphire laser system

The current Astra laser facility is capable of Terawatt operation at 10 Hz into one experimental area, and simultaneous 12 TW operation at 1 Hz into a second area. Both of these operational modes deliver a single beam with a pulse duration of 40 fs and a few times diffraction-limited quality. The Astra Gemini project will extend the capabilities of Astra to Petawatt level by providing two 0.5 PW beams in a completely new radiation-shielded interaction area. The new facility will be able to deliver two beams of 15 J in 30 fs at a rate of one shot per minute, and will support a wide range of experimental configurations, opening up many new possibilities for high-intensity laser-matter interaction studies

Adapting transformation and transforming adaptation to climate change using a pathways approach

Human actions have driven earth systems close to irreversible and profound change. The need to shift towards intentional transformative adaptation (ITA) is clear. Using case studies from the Transformative Adaptation Research Alliance (TARA), we explore ITA as a way of thinking and acting that is transformative in concept and objectives, but achieved through a mix of incremental and transformative co-production processes that ultimately lead to the social-ecological system being transformed. Central to ITA are social and political issues of how individuals and collectives address environmental and social change and deal with power imbalances. ITA approaches are claimed to help overcome adaptation challenges, including: 1) re-framing human-nature relationships; 2) dealing with uncertainty; 3) engendering empowerment and agency and 4) addressing conflicting values and interests. However, it is unclear if these approaches work in practice. We examined six adaptation case studies in which participants used processes of: 1) co-producing visions of the future; 2) re-framing values, rules and knowledge to shift decision contexts for adaptation and 3) implementing actions using theories of change and adaptation pathways. We assessed the extent to which participants could use these processes to address their adaptation challenges. We found evidence of many positive achievements towards the implementation of ITA, but also examples where processes were not working, such as communities having difficulties in finding ways to work co-operatively. Different processes will be needed to address these issues, such as promoting pluralism, knowledge contestation, and deliberative re-politicisation of the adaptation agenda to shift power imbalances and enable change

Geochemistry and Rb-Sr geochronology of the alkaline-peralkaline Narraburra Complex, central southern New South Wales; tectonic significance of Late Devonian granitic magmatism in the Lachlan Fold Belt

Three suites of alkaline granite can be recognised in the Narraburra Complex at the triple junction of the Tumut, Giralambone-Goonumbla and Wagga Zones, central southern New South Wales. On the basis of K2O/Na2O ratios, biotite and hornblende-biotite potassic I-type granites have been assigned to the Gilmore Hill (K2O/Na2O 1.00) and Barmedman Suites (K2O/Na2O > 1.2). These are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous suites that crystallised from high-temperature,reduced magmas with the least fractionated members of each suite having high Ba and low Rb abundances compared to other Lachlan Fold Belt granites. Fractionated members of these suites have high abundances of high-field-strength elements, similar to those observed in A-type granites. Arfvedsonite and aegirine-arfvedsonite granites have been assigned to the peralkaline Narraburra Suite. Granites from this suite have chemistry consistent with them being the intrusive equivalents of comendites and they are also similar in some respects to A-type granites: they have, for example, particularly high abundances of Zr. The A-type signature is, however, at least in part the result of strong fractionation. Total-rock Rb-Sr isotopic analyses from both I-type suites plot on the same isochron, giving an age of 365 ± 4 Ma (Srl = 0.70388 ± 53). A total-rock isochron for the peralkaline Narraburra Suite gives a less well-defined age of 358 ± 9 Ma (Srl = 0.7013 ± 80). The Late Devonian Rb-Sr ages may be emplacement ages or a result of resetting during fluid-rock interaction. Although granites of the Narraburra Complex have geochemical affinities with alkaline granites formed late in orogenic cycles, they post-date arc magmatism by at least 75 million years and they formed in a within-plate setting. Magmatism was related to localised reactivation of major faults (Gilmore Fault and the Parkes Thrust) in the region, and to partial melting involving both enriched mantle and Ordovician shoshonitic crustal components. Emplacement of the Narraburra Complex was contemporaneous with magmatism in the Central Victorian Magmatic Province and A-type magmatism in eastern New South Wales. Collectively, all these magmatic events were related to extension post-dating amalgamation of the western and central/eastern subprovinces of the Lachlan Fold Belt