Speaker
Description
In 2023, our research group stepped out of the academic comfort zone and became a key partner in the European Topic Centre Biodiversity and Ecosystems (ETC BE), which advises and assists the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission (EC) in devising and implementing biodiversity-related policy.
The contracted term for the ETC BE ends this year and the wider European Topic Centre model will be reshaped. This presents an ideal moment to reflect on our experiences, and, crucially, the lessons that can be learned from them.
Our participation had numerous benefits. For example, it allowed us to use our expertise to help shape policy and promote its implementation, thus having a tangible impact on European biodiversity conservation. Our participation also allowed us to gain deeper insights into procedures and attitudes across policy levels and to build important working relationships. However, different priorities and mindsets between us as researchers and the EEA or EC staff were apparent. Scientists had a tendency to want to add novel aspects and strive for ideal outcomes. Conversely, EEA and EC staff were more likely to be pragmatic about what can be done given Member State’s attitudes and previous legal precedents, tending towards using established procedures. Deadlines were sometimes unrealistic and needed changing. Administrative requirements and a model where the scope and extent of tasks and funding were negotiated yearly, were an ill fit to academic practices and made it risky to hire staff intended to work predominantly on this project. Politics delayed the start of the work on the Nature Restoration Regulation and affected other tasks in various ways. Overall, the experience was positive, though often demanding.
| Status Group | Postdoctoral Researcher |
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