date: Wed Oct 15 12:23:33 2008
from: Keith Briffa <k.briffa@uea.ac.uk>
subject: RE: UNcertainty
to: "Alastair Grant" <A.Grant@uea.ac.uk>, "'Tim Jickells'" <t.jickells@uea.ac.uk>, "'J Andrews'" <J.Andrews@uea.ac.uk>, "'Burgess Jacquelin Prof \(ENV\)'" <Jacquie.Burgess@uea.ac.uk>, "'Andrew Watkinson'" <a.watkinson@uea.ac.uk>, "'Turner Kerry Prof \(ENV\)'" <R.K.Turner@uea.ac.uk>

   We in CRU (Phil, Tim and myself) , think this encapsulates the concept that might fire the
   potential funders. Some general examples as Alastair says , would give it more substance.
    For us an emphasis linking science to impacts (especially water) could fit the bill. This
   plays to a lot of ENV and CRU strengths   -  in the observational data, access to model
   output (and UKCIP08) and the use
    of both in impacts models. We in CRU have some experience in the latter,perhaps
    more than others in ENV.  One key aspect is being at the start of
    impact projects, so we can inform the sector of what is possible observationally
    and what the models can and can't do.
   We have discussed the potential links between CRU and ENV and have identified a number of
   individual. I will contact them and discuss a possible meeting to take this forward.
   cheers
   Keith et al.
   At 11:07 15/10/2008, Alastair Grant wrote:

     This is a great vision.  Would it be helpful to supplement it with some concrete
     examples to show that we can root this down in reality?

     For example, it would be straightforward to write a few sentences linking together the
     brief for biodiversity and agricultural transitions pillars of ELSA with Carlos forests
     and stronger links to ENVs climate science.  The outline bid to Leverhulme on Earth
     System Science could provide another example.  Im sure that others could propose
     examples in their areas.

     Yours,
     Alastair
     _______________________________________________
     Alastair Grant
     Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (CEEC)
     Deputy Head of School,
     School of Environmental Sciences,
     University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
     Phone 01603 592 537  Fax 01603 591327
      Mobile/Voicemail 07941579036
     Home page:                   [1]http://www.uea.ac.uk/~e130
     CEEC web page:           [2]http://www.uea.ac.uk/ceec
     MSc programme in Applied Ecology and Conservation:
     [3]http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/sci/bio/courses/postgraduates/Taught%2BCourses/
     aec

     -----Original Message-----
     From: Tim Jickells [[4]mailto:t.jickells@uea.ac.uk]
     Sent: 26 September 2008 12:34
     To: k.briffa@uea.ac.uk; 'J Andrews'; 'Alastair Grant'; 'Burgess Jacquelin Prof (ENV)';
     'Andrew Watkinson'; 'Turner Kerry Prof (ENV)'
     Subject: UNcertainty

     I attach an attempt at trying to write up the discussion we had on Wednesday about a big
     idea for the VC for ENV. I have called it Uncertainty but given the possible resultant
     strap line of we dont know what were doing I think we need a better title!. I have tried
     to imagine something that could stretch across much of ENV and in the process I have
     strayed into areas so far beyond my knowledge that there are heresies in here of
     considerable scale I suspect. I beg your indulgence and invite you to correct these and
     also consider if you still think this idea has merit in the cold light of day. I have
     aimed to keep this short and of course the devil is in the detail, but any pitch for the
     funding will initially deal with the idea not the detail. If there is a consensus to
     move this forward then well need to think how to do that.
     Tim

     Professor Tim Jickells
     School of Environmental Sciences
     University of East Anglia
     Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
     tel 01603593117, fax 01603 591327


   --
   Professor Keith Briffa,
   Climatic Research Unit
   University of East Anglia
   Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K.

   Phone: +44-1603-593909
   Fax: +44-1603-507784
   [5]http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/people/briffa/

