Boomerang

Well, the boomerang of traveling the last couple of weeks, the airplanes, doing too many things in combination with not enough sleep hit me this week: I got sick. My throat got sore and swollen, my ears cloggy, my nose stuffy, my head aching, and my bronchi producing a painful cough. My energy levels dropped to basically zero and my appetite sort of stagnated. It was a clear sign saying: “Roos, you got to rest and recover”. So that’s what I did this week, I slept as much as I could, tried to do as least as possible, and drank plenty of tea and hot ginger lemon honey. And took as many painkillers as the prescription text on the package allowed :-)  Whilst being sick this week, I also noticed a certain impatience, a certain urge to get back to work and to start doing things again. But I also know it’s wiser to accept it and sit it through. I do hope to be able to do some things again after the weekend. 

Workshop in Berlin 5-6 Dec 2013

On 5 and 6 December, I attended a meeting in Berlin – hosted by the Ecologic Institute and prepared by Mikael Hilden from SYKE in Finland and (my own supervisor) Duncan Russel from University of Exeter – on policymaking for climate change adaptation. I met even more participants from the BASE project; all different people than from the meeting 27 and 28 November in Delft. And again, the participants included a nice mixture of backgrounds, nationalities, ages and gender. We discussed possible topics and outlines for papers with analyses of policymaking at national level for climate change adaption. And we exchanged ideas and experiences with policymaking for climate change adaptation from different countries, such as Denmark, the UK, the Netherlands, and Italy. Here some pictures taken during the meeting:

Although it was a very brief visit to Berlin (only two nights), I did enjoy it very much. One of the things I love doing in Berlin is to wander around and just see what you'll encounter. But time was too short for that this visit. Yet every time I visit the city, I get a sense of feeling at-home. And the thought comes to mind ‘I could live here’. Hopefully, next time the visit will be longer (and Anna, if you happen to read this, the visit was unfortunately too short for a cup of coffee, next time I’ll fit in at least a cup of coffee).    

Adaptation Pathways and Economic Evaluation

On 27 and 28 November 2013, I attended two workshops organized by the BASE project, at Deltares in Delft, the Netherlands. The workshop 27/11 focused on adaptation pathways and was hosted by Marjolein Haasnoot (from Deltares), the workshop 28/11 focused on economic evaluation and was hosted by Volker Meyer and Oliver Gebhardt (both from UFZ, Leipzig). Both workshops included a morning session with introducing approaches, and an afternoon session with presenting and discussing case studies in relation to these approaches. It was very interesting to be introduced to the other case studies in the BASE project. Other cases include for example dealing with flood risk management in Copenhagen, Prague and Venice, and in an area Midwest in Finland. Here some pictures taken during the workshop on adaptation pathways; where we had been practising with applying the adaptation pathways approach (as developed by Marjolein Haasnoot) to our own case studies:

These workshops were my first encounter with other participants in the BASE project. And it was very interesting to see who some of the other colleagues are in the BASE project! To get some faces and voices behind the names which pass by on the emails. There was a nice mixture of nationalities, backgrounds, ages and gender, and a friendly atmosphere and interest in each others’ work. At the same time, I was also surprised by the high number of laptops that were opened and used during the various meetings – meaning most of them were not used for taking notes J Is multitasking with open laptops the new standard at professional meetings?

Visit to South Devon Coast and National Park upland moors (i.e. Dartmoor and Exmoor)

On Tuesday 19 November, my supervisor (Duncan Russel) and me made a long tour through Devon, which is in the south west of England, to visit possible sites which we will study as cases for the BASE project (i.e. the South Devon Coast and National Park upland moors). We first visited the South Devon Coast, and passed along Dawlish and Teignmouth. The coast here suffers from erosion, and the sandy beaches are nearly gone. There is a railway along the coast, which provides a double function being an infrastructure connection as well as a sea wall protecting the inhabitants behind it against flooding. Due to rising sea levels, and coastal erosion, the railway has become increasingly under pressure. The question rises what to do next? If the railway would be relocated more land inwards, there might be less incentive to maintain and preserve the sea wall; how will the houses be protected in future? Who decides about possible relocation of the railway? Which impacts may be expected if the railway stays or if it would be relocated? The sandy beaches along the South Devon Coast have typically attracted a lot of tourism. As the sandy beaches are eroding, there is also a question how tourism will respond to that. And subsequently, how the villages and towns which used to profit from beach tourism will respond. In our study, we will look into these kinds of issues. Here a photo of the coast at Dawlish (photos by Duncan Russel).

Flood risks for the villages and towns at South Devon Coast are also under influence of peak run-off from the stream upwards situated upland moors. The peat layer in the upland moors (i.e. Dartmoor National Park and Exmoor National Park) absorbs and then slowly releases water from precipitation; functioning as a sponge and naturally protecting the downstream areas from peak run-offs. This peat layer provides a habitat for specific flora and fauna. The landscape of the upland moors of Dartmoor and Exmoor is typically highly appreciated for its recreational value. Under influence of increasing temperature and intensive grazing regimes (by sheep, cattle and ponies), the peat layer of the upland moors is expected to decompose and shrink. When this peat layer becomes thinner it will be less able to hold water. As a consequence - together with events of peak precipitation - chances of flash floods are likely to increase. The peat layer may also decompose when agricultural uses increase in the National Parks of Dartmoor and Exmoor. Who are in charge of the management of this peat layer in the upland moors? Which adaptations or interventions may be developed to address the influence of climate changes (such as changes in temperature and precipitation)? Who would decide about these possible interventions and their implementation? Here a photo of Dartmoor National Park (with the view in the direction of Teignmouth) and of Exmoor National Park (nearby Lynton) (photos by Duncan Russel).

Getting started

A week and two days ago, I physically arrived in Exeter (Devon, UK) to start working here on the postdoc project. The first couple of days were mainly filled with practicalities and arranging all sorts of administrative things – which actually went quite smooth, thanks to the fantastic helpfulness and friendliness of everyone here! The Exeterians have certainly made a good impression in making me feel welcome as a an employee, and as a new habitant of their city! 

Here a picture of me behind my new desk (the upper picture), and a picture of my new office mate, Hannah Chiswell (in lower picture, who also took this pictures): 

After the first few days, my attention started to shift to the content of my tasks for the BASE project. The first task will be oriented towards preparing for a workshop in Delft (the Netherlands), 27 and 28 November. This preparation means rapidly informing myself on two cases in Devon; one being about the South Devon Coast (mostly Dawlish and Dartmouth), and one being about ecosystem services in Exmoor National Park. Coming Tuesday, the 19^th, my supervisor Duncan Russel will show me the two case study sites. (Duncan is a senior lecturer here in Exeter in politics of climate change and sustainable futures.) I have not visited these sites before, and am very much looking forward to it.

On Thursday, I was able to attend the weekly lunch seminar session on Environment & Sustainability, from the group of Neil Adger (who is a professor in human geography and environmental social sciences, also here in Exeter). I was hoping and looking forward to attending some lectures, presentations or discussions sessions here in Exeter; but it feels so nice to have found a weekly seminar series in my research field so soon and even in the same building.