Alejandro, what is your organization’s role in the FAIR2Adapt (F2A) project?
At SEI Oxford, our team contributes to FAIR2Adapt by applying our expertise in data science, knowledge translation, and stakeholder engagement—with a particular focus on Work Package 6, which deals with case studies and end-user applications. In WP6, we help ensure that real-world adaptation challenges are captured and that the FAIRification framework is validated. Our role includes working closely with SEI, which leads Task 6.1 (stock-taking of adaptation data and knowledge needs), to map current adaptation decision-making processes, establish Case Study Stakeholder Groups, and feed those insights back into the overall project to refine tools and protocols. Additionally, SEI also leads one of the Case Studies of the project, involving the weAdapt platform together with all the microsites that use the structure of weAdapt for specific topics and cases, and the Connectivity Hub, a taxonomy for the Climate Crisis that integrates terminology and stakeholders to map the semantic field and the connections observed across disciplines and stakeholders.
How does F2A relate with you and your team’s background and interests?
SEI as a global network is particularly interested in the practical translation of complex research into actionable insights. At SEI Oxford and for F2A, we use a combination of design thinking and other established methods to map stakeholders, processes, and information needs along data journeys to facilitate information-based decision making. This approach perfectly aligns with F2A’s goal of transforming climate data into practical, evidence-based adaptation strategies. By engaging directly with stakeholders, we ensure that our work – especially within WP6 – translates scientific complexity into formats that decision-makers and end users can readily apply.
How will F2A optimize and contribute to the development of climate change adaptation (CCA) strategies?
FAIR2Adapt optimizes CCA strategies by standardizing data through FAIR principles and creating a seamless exchange of information among diverse stakeholders. In our work on WP6, we conduct a rigorous stock-taking of adaptation data and knowledge needs through Task 6.1. Using literature reviews and direct engagement with adaptation actors, we map ongoing decision-making processes and identify key data and process gaps. This detailed mapping supports the design of targeted pilot processes – such as developing end-to-end frameworks for knowledge translation, assisting decision-makers in drafting theories of change, and measuring the impact of data-driven actions – thus making adaptation strategies more robust and evidence-based. Naturally, this is more a framework and a process more than a standard, in which trial and error and learning from experience is systematized through information-based processes and continuous evaluation. Many stakeholders describe this as a loop, whether we are talking about heatwaves, floods, nuclear incidents, or community-based adaptation processes such as Nature Based Solutions.
Which stakeholder groups can benefit from F2A?
F2A is structured to benefit a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Our case studies in WP6 target diverse groups including local authorities, policymakers, civil society and environmental agencies, who need clear, actionable data to craft adaptation strategies. Additionally, academic researchers, industry players, and community organizations benefit from the interoperable datasets and user-friendly applications developed through our work. By establishing dedicated Case Study Stakeholder Groups, we ensure that the specific needs of these varied audiences – whether related to data accessibility, context-specific knowledge, or actionable insights – are fully addressed.
In your opinion, what do you think the importance of climate change mitigation methods will be like in the future?
Looking ahead, climate change mitigation will be even more critical as the impacts of the climate crisis intensify. However, effective mitigation must be accompanied by robust adaptation strategies. FAIR2Adapt embodies this dual approach by ensuring that scientific data is both accessible and actionable. The transparent, FAIR data practices we promote will lay the groundwork for informed policy-making and enable stakeholders at every level – from local communities to national governments – to implement measures that reduce vulnerability and build long-term resilience. However, one of the biggest challenges is to actually translate information into action, since multiple stakeholders have different timeframes, dynamics, and logics – which often leads to a lack of information-based decision making not due to a lack of interest or available information, but rather to a lack of the necessary conditions and prioritization in busy, traditional systems. In other words, we tend to think of adaptation as a technical challenge, and while it is an important one, the human aspect of using all the available technology in a timely manner is, in my opinion, the most important part of the puzzle. And to be clear, I do not intend to trivialize the technological challenge of gathering information, modelling, validating results in a rapidly changing context, visualizing and communicating risk. What I am saying is that for many of these very challenging steps we have clear, however hard, checklists and steps that we can undergo to produce rigorous outputs. The human component, however, entails an element of uncertainty, in which you cannot guarantee that the same process will yield the same results in two contexts, despite how similar or different they can be in their goals and information needs. The articulation of scientific teams, policy makers, media, civil society, community leaders to generate a consensus that turns information from varied sources into actions and without delays in the rapidly changing context where no single knowledge holds the truth is, in my opinion, the biggest challenge of all: The change of mindset needed in all stakeholders to make this end-to-end process a reality.
Which are the most significant challenges and opportunities related to climate change adaptation in your opinion?
One of the most significant challenges in CCA is the fragmentation of data across multiple platforms and standards, which often leads to non-reusable and siloed information. We frequently have all the necessary information to mitigate the risks of the climate crisis, yet the process of translating that data into timely, useful insights for decision-makers is hampered by mismatches in timeframes and priorities. In many cases, the problem is not a lack of interest but rather the entrenched routines of “business as usual” that do not prioritize bridging the gap between academia and practice. This challenge presents a tremendous opportunity: by applying FAIR principles, FAIR2Adapt creates an interoperable framework that integrates diverse datasets and transforms them into actionable knowledge. Through WP6 – and especially via Task 6.1 led by SEI in Oxford – we systematically capture the nuances of adaptation decision-making and data needs, enabling tailored, pilot-tested solutions that address these bottlenecks and foster best practices in data sharing and knowledge translation.
Which are your personal expectations for the FAIR2Adapt project?
Personally, I expect FAIR2Adapt to be an important steppingstone in bridging the gap between scientific research and real-world adaptation strategies. At SEI Oxford, I look forward to our team’s contributions in WP6, where our design-thinking approaches and rigorous stakeholder mapping will guide pilots that not only translate complex data into actionable insights but also help decision-makers draft and implement data-driven theories of change. Ultimately, I envision the project as a model for scalable, evidence-based climate adaptation that can be adopted across diverse regions.
How far will the F2A project contribute to the improvement of citizen’s climate literacy?
By translating complex climate data into accessible visualizations, interactive dashboards, and clear narrative summaries, FAIR2Adapt will substantially improve public understanding of climate risks and adaptation strategies. Our work in WP6 ensures that the insights gained from real-world case studies are communicated effectively to all stakeholders, including citizens. This enhanced climate literacy will empower communities to engage in informed debates, support local adaptation efforts, and contribute to a more resilient society. In the end, all stakeholders have the same goal of adaptation. The dialogue needed to harmonize the way in which all stakeholders think about CCA is crucial to articulate efforts to maximize their impact in empowering resilient communities.
Could you briefly describe what the ambitions of your use case study are?
Our use case study within WP6 is ambitious in its dual focus. It seeks to conduct a comprehensive stock-taking of adaptation data and knowledge needs by engaging diverse stakeholders through Task 6.1. Using design thinking, we map not only the technical aspects – such as data fragmentation – but also the human challenges inherent in knowledge translation. By identifying differences in timeframes, logics, and immediate needs among decision-makers and researchers, we aim to design pilot processes that bridge these gaps. Both of our platforms as a Case Study aim to address the issue of knowledge translation, articulating and informing a wide range of stakeholders and ultimately, generating a dialogue that facilitates consensus around key challenges posed by the Climate Crisis. Ultimately, our ambition is to produce or facilitate the space that leads to tailored, actionable solutions that inform evidence-based adaptation strategies and foster a continuous dialogue between academia and practice.
What are the main challenges for policymakers, technologists, environmentalists in terms of CCA?
- Policymakers: They must navigate the twin challenges of fragmented data and misaligned decision-making cycles. While data is increasingly available, the translation into policies is slowed by the differing paces at which research evolves and political decisions are made. Normally they want to use more scientific knowledge but they are so busy with all the implications of being a public servant that they have little time to design theories of change and evaluation methodologies.
- Technologists: Beyond the technical issues of interoperability, technologists face the challenge of designing systems that accommodate diverse user logics and immediate operational needs in near to real time. The gap between sophisticated data infrastructures and the practical requirements of end users is a persistent hurdle.
- Environmentalists: For those on the front lines of environmental management, the challenge lies in translating complex scientific outputs into immediate, actionable strategies that can be implemented in the field. The current disconnect between long-term research and short-term operational needs often results in underutilized data and missed opportunities for effective adaptation.
Which would be your recommendations for policymakers, technologists, environmentalists based on the findings of your case study?
- For Policymakers: Develop integrated data platforms that not only standardize information via FAIR principles but also include tools to bridge the time and logic gaps between research and policy. Capacity building initiatives that enhance data literacy and support the creation of tailored theories of change are essential. For example, meeting regularly with scientific teams who can advise in specialized committees is crucial. Designing hand to hand with these committees, policies and interventions with experimental methods to evaluate these interventions is crucial.
- For Technologists: Focus on creating flexible, interoperable APIs and user-centric tools that address both the technical and human aspects of data translation. Engaging in co-design with end users will help ensure that the systems meet the diverse and immediate needs of stakeholders. For example, focusing more on the knowledge and not on the format. A single slide presentation or situation report can have more impact than a dashboard.
- For Environmentalists: Produce clear, visual, and context-specific knowledge translation products—such as interactive dashboards and infographics—that distill complex data into actionable insights. Enhancing collaboration between researchers and on-the-ground practitioners will help ensure that data is translated into immediate, effective environmental actions.
