Diverse Group Of Stakeholders Research Articles

Application of the Delphi method to the development of common data elements for social drivers of health: A systematic scoping review.

Collaborative data science requires standardized, harmonized, interoperable, and ethically sourced data. Developing an agreed-upon set of elements requires capturing different perspectives on the importance and feasibility of the data elements through a consensus development approach. This study reports on the systematic scoping review of literature that examined the inclusion of diverse stakeholder groups and sources of social drivers of health variables in consensus-based common data element (CDE) sets. This systematic scoping review included sources from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, WoS MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases. Extracted data included the stakeholder groups engaged in the Delphi process, sources of CDE sets, and inclusion of social drivers data across 11 individual and 6 social domains. Of the 384 studies matching the search string, 22 were included in the final review. All studies involved experts with healthcare expertise directly relevant to the developed CDE set, and only six (27%) studies engaged health consumers. Literature reviews and expert input were the most frequent sources of CDE sets. Seven studies (32%) did not report the inclusion of any demographic variables in the CDE sets, and each demographic SDoH domain was included in at least one study with age and sex assigned at birth included in all studies, and social driver domains included only in four studies (18%). The Delphi technique engages diverse expert groups around the development of SDoH data elements. Future studies can benefit by involving health consumers as experts.

Evaluating conflict in collaborative environmental governance: A study of environmental justice councils

AbstractThe formal engagement of diverse stakeholder groups in environmental policy design and implementation is increasingly common. While engaging diverse stakeholders in common fora can help address complex environmental dilemmas, insofar as different stakeholders have varying perspectives and resources to contribute, this same variance can lead to intractable conflicts. While policy scholars have developed various conceptual approaches to understanding conflict in the policy process, few scholars have applied conceptual approaches to understand how policy conflicts are reflected in interpersonal communications among diverse stakeholders. In this article, we draw on environmental justice council meeting minutes and use qualitative, computational, and statistical methods to analyze, over time: (i) the extent and severity of policy conflict observed among council actors; (ii) the association between actor‐level attributes and conflict, as conveyed in two‐way communication between actors; (iii) the association between actor's sector and change in conflict; and (iv) variation in conflict across council activities. By exploring the overtime association between policy conflict and attributes of policy actors (e.g., sectoral affiliation and interpersonal attributes), our analysis addresses not only the influence of the number of interactions for an actor at the meeting but also how they are interacting at the meeting by leveraging their position in the meeting communication network. Our article contributes to the study of the public policy process and collaborative governance, drawing attention to how conflict materializes in a collaborative forum engaged in policy making.

Participatory development of Shared Socioeconomic Pathways for Austria’s agriculture and food systems

Agriculture and food systems are central to managing biodiversity loss and climate change. Future changes in agriculture and food systems are highly uncertain and depend on underlying socio-economic developments. Scenarios allow scientists, policy and industry decision-makers to consider such uncertainties and describe a spectrum of plausible futures. The Shared Socioeconomic Pathways for European agriculture and food systems (Eur-Agri-SSPs) semi-quantitatively describe pathways along future challenges for climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, additional or adapted drivers (i.e. scenario elements), like national policies or adaptations of European policies, are relevant to frame plausible future developments at national scales. We aim to set the standard for developing country and sector-specific SSPs in a participatory process by developing and applying an eleven-step protocol and engaging a diverse group of stakeholders throughout the whole research process. By downscaling the Eu-Agri-SSPs to a national level, we contribute to improve their usability in academia, governments and industry. This is achieved by matching qualitative pathways with the needs of integrated land use models (used to simulate land use scenarios), and by quantifying selected drivers for future developments together with stakeholders. In particular, we estimate 20-year trends (2000–2019) and apply fuzzy set theory to quantify ten scenario elements, which are typically required in integrated land use models. The final scenarios describe the semi-quantitative development for 79 scenario elements along the five topics “Population and urbanization”, “Economy”, “Policy and institutions”, “Technology”, and “Environment and natural resources” for the five AT-Agri-SSPs. Exemplary results reveal that stakeholders expect payments for agri-environment-climate measures to increase to 1200 million € in AT-Agri-SSP1 or to decline to 267 million € in AT-Agri-SSP3, 4 and 5. For direct payments, a complete phase-out was specified for AT-Agri-SSP1 and an increase to 711 million € in AT-Agri-SSP3. We discuss 14 lessons learnt and recommendations for future scenario processes and participatory quantification. Recommendations include: tailoring the assignment of scenario elements for quantification to stakeholders’ expertise, keeping survey complexity low, providing historical and relevant SSP data, and encouraging stakeholders to jointly quantify interdependent elements. The AT-Agri-SSPs can inform policy-making, decision-making in industry, and research on the agriculture and food systems.

From little things big things grow: enhancement of an acoustic telemetry network to monitor broad-scale movements of marine species along Australia’s east coast

BackgroundAcoustic telemetry has become a fundamental tool to monitor the movement of aquatic species. Advances in technology, in particular the development of batteries with lives of > 10 years, have increased our ability to track the long-term movement patterns of many species. However, logistics and financial constraints often dictate the locations and deployment duration of acoustic receivers. Consequently, there is often a compromise between optimal array design and affordability. Such constraints can hinder the ability to track marine animals over large spatial and temporal scales. Continental-scale receiver networks have increased the ability to study large-scale movements, but significant gaps in coverage often remain.MethodsSince 2007, the Integrated Marine Observing System’s Animal Tracking Facility (IMOS ATF) has maintained permanent receiver installations on the eastern Australian seaboard. In this study, we present the recent enhancement of the IMOS ATF acoustic tracking infrastructure in Queensland to collect data on large-scale movements of marine species in the northeast extent of the national array. Securing a relatively small initial investment for expanding receiver deployment and tagging activities in Queensland served as a catalyst, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders (research institutes, universities, government departments, port corporations, industries, Indigenous ranger groups and tourism operators) to create an extensive collaborative network that could sustain the extended receiver coverage into the future. To fill gaps between existing installations and maximise the monitoring footprint, the new initiative has an atypical design, deploying many single receivers spread across 2,100 km of Queensland waters.ResultsThe approach revealed previously unknown broad-scale movements for some species and highlights that clusters of receivers are not always required to enhance data collection. However, array designs using predominantly single receiver deployments are more vulnerable to data gaps when receivers are lost or fail, and therefore “redundancy” is a critical consideration when designing this type of array.ConclusionInitial results suggest that our array enhancement, if sustained over many years, will uncover a range of previously unknown movements that will assist in addressing ecological, fisheries, and conservation questions for multiple species.

Community integration, quality of life, thriving, and mental health among refugees and asylum seekers. A London service provider perspective.

This article explores how systemic injustices and social inequalities affect refugee and asylum seeker integration, thriving, and mental health in London. This is pertinent as the United Kingdom currently operates a 'broken' asylum system with unfair policies and a 'tough' immigration rhetoric which makes it extraordinarily difficult for asylum seekers and refugees to achieve community integration, have a good quality of life, be able to thrive, and have good health including mental health. Paradoxically, the United Kingdom Home Office also features an Indicators for Integration Framework to provide practical ways to design more effective strategies, monitor services and evaluated integration interventions. This study employed a qualitative research design including semi-structured interviews with 19 mental health and psychosocial support service providers working in third-sector organizations in London. The study results show that the current asylum system severely undermines efforts to support asylum seekers and refugees with their integration. All participants highlighted that asylum seekers and refugees lacked experienced poor quality of life and faced structural challenges to build meaningful social connections; to have access education, fair employment and good work; to achieve good mental health and wellbeing; and to be able to thrive. To improve community integration, quality of life, thriving, and mental health for asylum seekers and refugees in London and, beyond, the United Kingdom, four recommendations are made on structural and service-levels: (1) reform of the current asylum system by centering human rights; (2) implement and carry out needs assessments among asylum seekers and refugees focussing on key social determinants; (3) ensure asylum seekers and refugees benefit from the NHS Inclusion Health framework; and (4) extend the NHS Patient and Carer Race Equality framework beyond England. To be effective, all four initiatives need to be grounded in a participatory approach that meaningfully involves diverse groups of stakeholders including asylum seekers and refugees.

Bringing clarity and transparency to the consultative process underpinning the implementation of an ethics framework for AI-based healthcare applications: a qualitative study

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) has been applied in healthcare to address various aspects of the COVID-19 crisis including early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and population monitoring. Despite the urgency to develop AI solutions for COVID-19 problems, considering the ethical implications of those solutions remains critical. Implementing ethics frameworks in AI-based healthcare applications is a wicked issue that calls for an inclusive, and transparent participatory process. In this qualitative study, we set up a participatory process to explore assumptions and expectations about ethical issues associated with development of a COVID-19 monitoring AI-based app from a diverse group of stakeholders including patients, physicians, and technology developers. We also sought to understand the influence the consultative process had on the participants’ understanding of the issues. Eighteen participants were presented with a fictitious AI-based app whose features included individual self-monitoring of potential infection, physicians’ remote monitoring of symptoms for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and tracking of infection clusters by health agencies. We found that implementing an ethics framework is systemic by nature, and that ethics principles and stakeholders need to be considered in relation to one another. We also found that the AI app introduced a novel channel for knowledge between the stakeholders. Mapping the flow of knowledge has the potential to illuminate ethical issues in a holistic way.

Optimising decision support tools for the agricultural sector

AbstractSeveral challenges threaten the viability of agriculture in the Mediterranean region, for instance, climate change and variability, land degradation and desertification, environmental and social pressures in rural areas, and the arrangement and extent of properties. These challenges require the attention of farm managers and effective decision-making that can safeguard the natural resource base, enhance resilience and food security, and promote sustainable production landscapes. Decision Support Tools (DSTs) offer valuable assistance in addressing these challenges by improving the decision-making process for both farmers and advisors. They enable data-informed decisions that can enhance the sustainability performance of agricultural businesses in the region. A crucial component of designing a proficient DST is the prompt involvement of stakeholders using a participatory approach to define the needs and requirements of end users. In this study, we engaged twenty-nine stakeholders, including farmers, advisors, extension officers, policy makers, and industry representatives from the Argolida regional unit and the Greek National Ministry of Rural Development and Food. This engagement was aimed at conducting a comprehensive analysis of user needs. To achieve this, we employed the Q-methodology approach to gain a thorough comprehension of the viewpoints and requirements of these diverse stakeholder groups. The results illustrated factors such as the need for user-friendly interfaces, the importance of data accuracy and reliability, the benefit of flexibility and adaptability, and the need for appropriate training and support. These findings can aid the effective development of DSTs so that emerging challenges can be framed in a manner that will facilitate solutions.

Enabling Effective Implementation of Occupational Safety and Health Interventions

BackgroundThe design, implementation, and evaluation are three important stages of occupational safety and health (OSH) interventions. Historically, there has been a tendency to prioritize implementation, often neglecting detailed design and rigorous outcome evaluation. Currently, much has changed, and contemporary approaches recognize the interdependence of these stages, considering them integral to the success of any intervention. This work presents a comprehensive procedure for implementing interventions, not only to ensure short-term effectiveness but also their long-term sustainability through continuous monitoring. The focus is on a national OSH project introducing a near-miss management system (NMS) in Italy. MethodsInitial meetings were convened among project partners, complemented by interviews with diverse stakeholders, to plan implementation steps and test the NMS. Tailored questionnaires were designed for diverse stakeholder groups – initial promoters, company managers and employers, and employees – facilitating targeted implementation, and three case studies were started in Italian regions to assess the structured implementation, involving intervention promoters and collaborating companies. ResultsThe primary outcome is the development of practical tools, specifically three questionnaires, which are considered valuable for establishing an effective human-centered implementation strategy, meticulously designed to facilitate ongoing monitoring of processes and continual enhancement of instruments intended for NMS integration within companies. ConclusionsThis work lays the foundation for successful NMS implementation in Italy and, although the outlined procedure had specific objectives, it also provides valuable insights applicable in enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions across diverse contexts. It underscores the importance of comprehensive planning, stakeholder engagement, and continuous evaluation in achieving lasting OSH interventions.

Innovation and deadlock in governing disasters and climate change collaboratively - Lessons from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia

Both scholars and global policy point to the need for, and effectiveness of, locally-led and collaborative disaster and climate change practices. However, there is a need for analysing how these collaborative approaches are developed and used in practice in different contexts. This paper outlines the use of collaborative approaches by a climate change and disaster community of practice across seven local government areas in the Northern Rivers region, New South Wales, Australia. The region has experienced multiple large-scale flood and bushfire disasters since 2017. This ethnographic study uses established collaborative governance and adaptive governance theoretical frameworks to draw findings from: lived experiences of researchers, 22 interviews with diverse stakeholder groups, in-person and online events and the first author's research diary. The findings indicate that collaborative practice in response to disasters and climate change has resulted in both effective outcomes and multi-dimensional challenges, which have lasting implications for communities across the Northern Rivers region. Three critical leverage points for enhanced collaboration and effectiveness were identified. First, improved use and flow of information such as climate projections and place- and needs-based information. Second, mindset shifts that value community knowledge and contributions, and improved practice through enhancing skills in community development and community-led recovery in disaster and climate change practitioners. Lastly, collectively moving from reactive to proactive responses to climate change and disasters. These insights provide an opportunity for improving the design of community-based risk reduction programs and multi-stakeholder governance arrangements into the future, in the state of New South Wales and beyond.

Exploring interconnections: A comprehensive multi-country analysis of climate change, energy demand, long-term care, and health of older adults

Challenges faced by many countries are energy insecurity, climate change, and the health and long-term care of growing numbers of older people. These challenges are increasingly intersecting with rising energy prices, aging populations, and an increased frequency and intensity of extreme climate events. This paper gives a deeper understanding of the current and predicted interconnections among these challenges through narrative-driven content and thematic analysis from workshops with a diverse group of international stakeholders from the Global North and Global South. Narratives emerged highlighting a complex nexus of interconnections and presenting critical action areas. Targeted local and global policies and interventions are needed to alleviate stress on health systems, encourage the integrated uptake of clean energy sources, and uphold social justice across all economies. Professionals can use this work to inform the design and implementation of effective interventions and increase the resilience of older adults by better preparing for systemic risks.

Assessing Drivers of Sustained Engagement in Collaborative Governance Arrangements

Abstract The formal engagement of diverse stakeholder groups in policy design and implementation has become a mainstay governance strategy. While much has been learned about collaborative governance arrangements in terms of their structure, processes, and participant dynamics, one particularly salient dynamic has been relatively underexplored: the factors contributing to sustained participation in collaborative venues. Public administration and policy have developed a variety of conceptual theories which draw attention to interpersonal interactions and the ability of stakeholders to garner political wins as important contributing factors to sustained participation. In this paper, we test four theoretically rooted hypotheses to investigate stakeholder attendance in the collaborative governance case of an environmental justice council. We analyze council meeting minute data using computational text analysis tools and a Stochastic Actor-Oriented Model to assess: (i) conflict and concord, measured in terms of repeated (dis)agreement with others; and (ii) interest advancement, or the extent to which a stakeholder makes positive, neutral, and negative comments towards topics which become the council’s annual objectives in relation to an individual’s attendance. Our interpersonal interaction results show increased positive relationships are associated with increased attendance, and increased negative relationships are associated with decreased attendance, but, for both cases, only when interactions are repeated and not one-off. Our interest advancement results show: (1) an increase in supported annual objectives is associated with decreases in attendance for an individual stakeholder, but (2) increased oppositional and neutral annual topics are associated with a greater likelihood of attendance. This paper contributes to existing scholarship on collaborative governance by offering additional insights into individual factors associated with sustained engagement in the collaborative venue. Furthermore, the paper offers a generalizable methodological approach for analyzing these dynamics drawing on computational text analysis of meeting minute data.

The failure of micro-hydro technology: A case study of the Banyubiru project in Central Java, Indonesia

This article explores the potential convergence between the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework and failure studies in the context of the alternative energy program in the Global South. It focuses on a single case study, namely the failure of micro-hydro technology in Banyubiru (the Banyubiru project). Using qualitative research methods, this article examines the construction of the Banyubiru project and its failure to integrate with the power grid of the Indonesia State Electricity Company (PLN), despite substantial investments, installations, and considerable interest in renewable energy from diverse stakeholder groups at local, national, and international levels. In a hybrid (online and in-person) format, semi-structured interviews were employed to obtain data. The data collection procedure also includes site visits, observations, and document analysis. The finding indicates that technology development follows a more complicated path than a straight one from interpretative flexibility to closure. It illustrates a progression from closure to interpretive flexibility, wherein social groupings initially establish formal agreements but afterwards encounter conflicting interpretations. In conclusion, the article illustrates the potential for failure studies to provide insights into the limitations of SCOT in the analysis of energy technology failures.

System Thinking for Sustainable Water Management: The Use of System Tools in Sustainability Transitions

AbstractManaging water resources to meet current social, economic, and environmental needs without compromising the ability to meet those needs in the future, requires water managers to look beyond jurisdictional boundaries and their immediate supply operations, protect shared water and marine environments, resources and ecosystems from pollution and over-abstraction and deliver structural changes and resilient solutions to make the provision of water services sustainable. With a plethora of system tools increasingly available to support the sustainability transformation of water systems, sorting through their breadth and diversity to determine what is useful and what is not can be challenging. From a selection of 40 popular system tools grouped in terms of how they function, we review those most commonly used in water management through 35 water-related studies from the literature. Findings demonstrate that system tools are not a substitute for systems thinking and applying them alone does not qualify the development of systemic solutions. Systems thinking offers a powerful approach to first improving collective understanding of sustainability challenges related to water and then, in collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders and the public, defining desired goals for water management and working together to make them a reality. System tools in that context can play an important role in facilitating the process and here we propose an overarching framework of how to select and apply available tools to facilitate a holistic, integrated, and interdisciplinary systems approach for water management and wider urban sustainability transitions.

Circular Economy in the Building Sector: Investigating Awareness, Attitudes, Barriers, and Enablers through a Case Study in Saudi Arabia

The adoption of circular economy (CE) holds significant potential to mitigate the challenges posed by the conventional linear economic model. The building sector in Saudi Arabia continues experiencing rapid growth, often marked by a consistent annual rise in the number of projects. The incorporation of CE principles into this expansion presents opportunities to optimize resource utilization, minimize waste generation, and enhance overall environmental sustainability. This study explores the current levels of awareness, perception, and implementation of CE principles among local building sector stakeholders and assesses the potential for CE expansion in the region. Additionally, it seeks to rank the identified barriers and enablers while exploring the interconnected relationships between such barriers. A literature review was conducted to explore the CE barriers and enablers. This was followed by an online survey which was conducted amongst 139 respondents from diverse stakeholder groups. A relative importance index (RII) was employed to rank the barriers and enablers, and the findings were subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The outcomes of this study highlight a significant lack of awareness regarding CE principles among stakeholders, with a very low implementation rate. To break this inertia and encourage the adoption of CE practices, this study suggests the need for CE- supportive policy and legislation, and the provision of financial incentives.

Patient-centered research in pediatric transplant: Engaging families and recipients

Pediatric liver transplant (LT) recipients navigate a lifelong journey that includes constant monitoring and challenges. Research priorities and questions in LT have traditionally been provider-driven. This project was a novel partnership between a learning health system dedicated to pediatric LT (Starzl Network for Excellence in Pediatric Transplantation) and a parent-led advocacy group (Transplant Families) that aimed to prepare families and providers for collaborative patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR). We developed 5 virtual modules to (1) teach participants about PCOR, and (2) elicit ideas for PCOR priorities and processes in pediatric LT. Parents and providers participated via self-guided online modules or focus groups. Participants included 240 patient partners and 133 pediatric LT providers from 16 centers over 2 years. We held 20 focus groups, including 5 to amplify underrepresented voices: young adults, Spanish speakers, and African Americans. Feedback was summarized to create a PCOR Roadmap, a guide for future PCOR in the Starzl Network, which was disseminated back to participants online and via webinars. Feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders allowed us to develop PCOR priorities and processes for the pediatric LT community. Our engagement strategies could be adapted by other transplant communities to facilitate patient and provider research partnerships.

A scoping review of K–12 health education in Canada: understanding school stakeholders’ perceptions

ABSTRACT A scoping review was conducted, analyzing peer-reviewed literature published between 1995 and 2022, focusing on school stakeholders' perceptions of K-12 health education (HE) in Canada. The results included 37 studies, with articles focused on the perceptions of students, in-service and pre-service teachers, parents, undergraduate students, and health partners/ educational professionals. Using reflexive thematic analysis, three main themes were identified: (a) HE is perceived as a valuable school subject; (b) teachers are not prepared to teach HE; and (c) HE courses are not meeting the needs of students. The outcomes of the review underscore the importance and value of HE as perceived by school stakeholders and highlight the necessity for heightened advocacy efforts to enhance HE at all school levels. The review emphasizes the need for broader consultation and research involving diverse school stakeholder groups in order to promote the advancement of HE in Canadian schools.

Artificial Intelligence in Project Management: A Study of The Role of Ai-Powered Chatbots in Project Stakeholder Engagement

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a cornerstone in the evolution of project management. Its capabilities extend beyond simple automation, fostering improved decision-making processes and enhancing collaborative efforts. Among the various AI tools available, chatbots stand out as particularly transformative for project management. This study delves into the role of AI-powered chatbots in project stakeholder engagement, a critical aspect of successful project management. Chatbots, powered by sophisticated AI algorithms, can provide continuous support and interaction with project stakeholders. This is particularly vital in managing complex projects where continuous communication and prompt responses can significantly influence project success. The study examines how these AI-driven chatbots facilitate stakeholder engagement, focusing on key benefits such as improved communication, increased stakeholder satisfaction, and better overall project outcomes. Through a detailed analysis, we have identified that chatbots enhance communication by offering stakeholders immediate, personalized responses, thereby reducing response times and improving the efficiency of information exchange. This immediacy and personalization contribute to heightened stakeholder satisfaction, as stakeholders feel their concerns and queries are addressed promptly and effectively. Furthermore, our findings suggest that these improvements in stakeholder engagement directly correlate with enhanced project outcomes, including better adherence to timelines, improved project quality, and increased likelihood of meeting project objectives. However, the deployment of chatbots in project management is not without its challenges. One significant hurdle is the need for advanced natural language processing (NLP) capabilities. Effective chatbots must understand and process complex human language nuances to interact effectively with stakeholders. Another challenge observed is the potential for chatbots to become disruptive or annoying. This can occur when chatbots fail to provide relevant or accurate information, or when their interaction style does not align with stakeholder expectations. In conclusion, AI-powered chatbots hold substantial promise for revolutionizing stakeholder engagement in project management. While they present remarkable benefits in improving communication, stakeholder satisfaction, and project outcomes, there are challenges that need to be addressed. These include enhancing NLP capabilities and fine-tuning the interaction style of chatbots to suit diverse stakeholder groups. With these improvements, AI-powered chatbots could significantly contribute to the success of various projects, marking a new era in project management where AI plays a pivotal role in stakeholder engagement and overall project success.

Engaging Community-Academic Partnerships: A Case Study of the Influence of Social Drivers of Health on Equitable Transitions of Cancer Care in the United States.

Enduring community-academic partnerships are essential for expediting the successful dissemination and implementation of promising interventions and programs, particularly for complex public health issues such as cancer prevention and control. The purpose of this case study was to understand the combined voices of a diverse group of stakeholders to outline the essential factors needed to translate research into sustainable cancer care within communities. System dynamics group model building was used to develop system maps of the factors impacting equitable access to cancer care services among three stakeholder groups (Group A: survivors and family members, n = 20; Group B: providers and administrators in community agencies/organizations, n = 40; Group C: administrators from a cancer institute, academic universities, foundations, and healthcare facilities that coordinate care, n = 25) in central Texas, USA. The lead researcher identified factors involved in transitions of care and their linkages with each other. The analysis of this work displays these connections visually. These models represent the ripple effect of factors influencing the transition of care for stakeholders who are invested in cancer care outcomes. All three groups identified medical mistrust, a culturally sensitive and diverse provider workforce, and care coordination as three essential factors (i.e., themes). Group A also identified caregiver navigation. The groups varied in their emphasis on upstream vs. downstream social drivers of health, with Group B emphasizing the former and Group C emphasizing the latter. To achieve cancer care equity, all stakeholder groups agreed on the importance of addressing the impact of social drivers as critical gaps. Eliminating or reducing these impacts allows each stakeholder group to work more efficiently and effectively to improve cancer care for patients.

Beyond the basics: a perspective on barriers and opportunities for scaling up biochar production from forest slash

AbstractBiochar production from woody biomass generated during forest management (slash) offers significant benefits for soil health and carbon emissions, yet its adoption remains limited in the western United States (U.S.). To address this challenge, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station organized two workshops focused on forest management-centric biochar production. These workshops convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including investors, land management practitioners, industry professionals, and research scientists, each with unique roles in slash-based biochar production. This article presents a synthesis of the insights and perspectives gathered from these workshops, aiming to identify barriers and propose viable pathways for overcoming them. The barriers encompass governance issues such as policy and permitting, economic challenges related to costs, funding, and market stability, technological hurdles concerning methods and equipment, and a need for further research and improved science dissemination. In response to these challenges, workshop attendees collaboratively outlined specific strategies to reduce these barriers. These strategies emphasize the expansion of operational initiatives, the development of proactive policies, the stabilization of biochar markets, and the generation of additional case studies showcasing the effects of biochar amendments across various soils and environments. Collectively, the insights gleaned from this workshop series provide a comprehensive roadmap outlining both the struggles and the necessary actions and investments required to enhance the scale of slash-based biochar production and application in the western U.S. Graphical Abstract

A Visionary Approach to Advancing Sea Level Rise Adaptation in an Urban Coastal Community, Waikīkī, Hawai‘i

In Hawai‘i, a $19 billion loss is anticipated due to the 3.2 feet (1 meter) of global sea level rise (SLR) predicted earlier this century to occur by 2100, while, in fact, 3 to 4 feet (.9 to 1.2 meters) of SLR by 2100 are now estimated as a mid-range scenario (HSCC, 2022). In Waikīkī, the economic hub of Hawai‘i’s tourism industry, future flooding caused by SLR, groundwater inundation, king tides, rainfall, and storm surge are projected to become a chronic disruption by mid-century (Habel et al., 2017, 2020). In contrast to retreat, one approach to managing SLR in dense urban areas, such as Waikīkī, is to consider an “in-place” flood adaptation or accommodation strategy. An interdisciplinary team of faculty and students at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa are merging science with design to create conceptual urban and architectural design renderings in order to visualize SLR adaptation strategies over time for buildings, utilities, transportation, and open space. Through iterative, structured public outreach, this research provides designers, planners, and policymakers with valuable insights into a diverse group of stakeholders’ preferences and their comments on each adaptation strategy. It supports the resilient planning goals outlined by the state, the City and County of Honolulu, and also the Waikīkī Special District Guidelines (DPP, 2021). In addition, through coursework and employment, students are learning how they might address SLR in their future careers.