The Sat-Comms Game: teaching a complex subject for interdisciplinary audiences

This paper addresses general space education for interdisciplinary audiences. In particular, this paper considers education in the field of Satellite Telecommunications (Sat-Comms). The challenge in presenting the field of sat-comms for effective learning is two-fold. Firstly, this field is interdisciplinary, the disciplines are coupled, and it is complex. Secondly, the typical audiences for this subject often have diverse backgrounds. Hence, a suitable teaching strategy is required, so that all students can learn from a training session. Publicly available sat-comms training is largely engineering focused. This study could not find suitable training for the purpose of interdisciplinary sat-comms education. Hence, to address this absence in available training, the author has created a workshop, which provides sat-comms education to interdisciplinary audiences. The workshop was empirically developed from the author’s experience at Inmarsat and at the International Space University. The workshop uses elements from Constructivist, Behaviourism, Cognitive, Connectivism, and Experiential learning theories. Furthermore, it was designed to be taught in person and online. The Sat-Comms Game was first trialled in an online format in 2021. The workshop worked well in engaging the participants during the session. Additionally, feedback on the workshop was positive. Hence, this trial indicated that the workshop could function logistically and engage people pedagogically. The author intends to conduct further trials and corresponding assessment methods to gauge the pedagogic effectivenes

A function-based typology for Earth’s ecosystems

As the United Nations develops a post-2020 global biodiversity framework for the Convention on Biological Diversity, attention is focusing on how new goals and targets for ecosystem conservation might serve its vision of ‘living in harmony with nature’(1,2). Advancing dual imperatives to conserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services requires reliable and resilient generalizations and predictions about ecosystem responses to environmental change and management(3). Ecosystems vary in their biota(4), service provision(5) and relative exposure to risks(6), yet there is no globally consistent classification of ecosystems that reflects functional responses to change and management. This hampers progress on developing conservation targets and sustainability goals. Here we present the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology, a conceptually robust, scalable, spatially explicit approach for generalizations and predictions about functions, biota, risks and management remedies across the entire biosphere. The outcome of a major cross-disciplinary collaboration, this novel framework places all of Earth’s ecosystems into a unifying theoretical context to guide the transformation of ecosystem policy and management from global to local scales. This new information infrastructure will support knowledge transfer for ecosystem-specific management and restoration, globally standardized ecosystem risk assessments, natural capital accounting and progress on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

Applying community-oriented primary care methods in British general practice: a case study

BACKGROUND: The '75 and over' assessments built into the 1990 contract for general practice have failed to enthuse primary care teams or make a significant impact on the health of older people. Alternative methods for improving the health of older people living at home are being sought. AIM: To test the feasibility of applying community-oriented primary care methodology to a relatively deprived sub-population of older people in a relatively deprived area. DESIGN OF STUDY: A combination of developmental and triangulation approaches to data analysis. SETTING: Four general practices in an inner London borough. METHOD: A community-oriented primary care approach was used to initiate innovative care for older people, supported financially by the health authority and practically by primary care academics. RESULTS: All four practices identified problems needing attention in the older population, developed different projects focused on particular needs among older people, and tested them in practice. Patient and public involvement were central to the design and implementation processes in only one practice. Innovations were sustained in only one practice, but some were adopted by a primary care group and others extended to a wider group of practices by the health authority. CONCLUSION: A modified community-oriented primary care approach can be used in British general practice, and changes can be promoted that are perceived as valuable by planning bodies. However, this methodology may have more impact at primary care trust level than at practice level