Collaborative Research Teams

Producing science, integrating results

To implement our projects, we typically form a Collaborative Research Team to produce the science needed and integrate the results into decision-making processes.

Teams can vary in size and formation, but all include a range of research professionals and experts, as well as key practitioners and policymakers. This ensures that the research and synthesis produced is relevant within decision-making contexts. Teams are guided by a project leadership group, which typically includes an academic leader, civil society leader (most often within WWF), Luc Hoffmann Institute staff member and Luc Hoffmann Institute fellow. Teams typically meet over a two-year period, conducting three to five working group meetings in locations relevant for the work required.

The first meeting is used to scope the project, identify issues and audiences, plan work and clarify the collaborative process, which includes project planning (led by the research lead). The first meeting also introduces several lines of Luc Hoffmann Institute support, including:

  • Project integration with conservation programmes;
  • Science communications;
  • The Luc Hoffmann Institute fellow;
  • Data science.

Collaborative Research Teams deliver a range of products, reflecting the multiple perspectives and needs of conservation science, policy and practice. These products include publications for general and specialised audiences, datasets, tools, methodologies and implementation strategies.

Project leadership group

The project leadership group ensures the project stays focused, relevant and timely.

  • The academic research lead is typically the science lead for the project. If a Luc Hoffmann Institute fellow is also a part of the project they typically host the fellow. They help to develop the project concept, oversee the work of the fellow and in many cases conduct part of the research.
  • The civil society lead (typically within WWF) works with the team to ensure the research process meets the needs of the priority conservation projects that will use the results. They also work to ensure that early results are broadly disseminated, so that feedback from policy and practice experts can be used to refine the research products. If a Luc Hoffmann Institute fellow is a part of the project the civil society lead is the first contact for the fellow for access to resources within civil society. These resources include people, data, tools and partners.
  • The Luc Hoffmann Institute research lead works closely with the academic and civil society leads. They provide leadership on research methods, design and content to ensure that our projects are both scientifically rigorous and relevant to target audience. For core projects they are also actively involved in project management and coordination.
  • The Luc Hoffmann Institute fellow is typically at the centre of the research process, implementing the research and synthesis with close collaboration and mentoring from the other project leadership members.
  • A communication lead is provided by the Luc Hoffmann Institute or relevant WWF or project partner.

Figure 1. Collaborative Research Team for the LIVES research project.

Main image: Photo © Claude Garcia

Luc Hoffmann InstituteCollaborative Research Teams