Facilitating knowledge exchange to manage Bovine Tuberculosis at the regional level

该项目的主要目标是什么？该项目的目标是增加科学家、政府和更广泛的养殖业社区之间的知识流动，以便为区域一级的牛结核病管理提供信息。我们的目标是促进这些群体之间的双向知识交流，以便向农业社区提供他们所需的科学信息和建议，同时也确保研究和政策满足最终用户的需求并产生实际影响。为什么是牛结核病？牛结核病是牛的一种慢性疾病，这是英国牛和养殖业面临的最大挑战之一，特别是在英格兰西南部。这种疾病在最近几十年里迅速增加，给个人农民和政府带来了高昂的成本。为什么我们需要科学家和农业社区之间更紧密的联系？到目前为止，牛结核病的管理基本上是在国家层面上进行的，政府机构和学术机构进行的研究为我们提供了信息。最近，对疾病管理采取区域办法，并强调农业内部的个人决策，出现了一种转变。科学界对牛结核病进行了深入的研究，政府和其他机构收集了大量数据，可以用来为此类决策提供信息。然而，从历史上看，从科学家到政府再到受这种疾病影响的利益相关者之间的知识流动一直存在障碍。非科学受众并不总是容易获得信息，研究也不总是以实际应用为重点。因此，农业社区不得不依赖其他信息来源(媒体和他们自己的经验)，而这些信息来源与科学证据基础脱节。该项目旨在弥合这一差距，以便将科学信息和进步转化为真正实用的解决方案，并使农业社区获得管理这种疾病所需的信息。该项目将涉及什么？这一项目的关键是知识的交流和科学家、政府和其他利益相关者之间的合作关系。我们将利用根除结核病小组作为一个论坛，与直接受该疾病影响的关键利益攸关群体(农民/兽医/农业从业者)进行接触。通过密切听取这些小组的意见并定期参加会议，我们的目标是找出知识差距和未来调查和研究的途径。通过与科学家和政府的联系，我们将与这些利益攸关方团体合作，回答这些问题，填补这些知识空白。至关重要的是，利益攸关方将以真正合作的方式参与这一进程，以确保提供适合其需要和情况的科学信息和建议。与埃克塞特大学和动植物卫生局合作，我将汇集广泛的科学专业知识和数据。我将作为一名环境分析员，共同创造结核病根除小组需要审议结核病控制方法的证据。确切的研究领域将取决于利益相关者的需求和要求，但可能侧重于獾生态/管理和牛结核病风险的环境相关性。通过开发数据、提供量身定制的信息和调查以农业社区需求为重点的研究问题，该奖学金旨在增加科学的可用性和“影响”，以改善牛结核病的管理。

What is the main project aim?The aim of the project is to increase the flow of knowledge between scientists, government and the wider farming community in order to inform the management of bovine TB at a regional level. We aim to facilitate knowledge exchange in both directions between these groups, such that the farming community is given the scientific information and advice they need, while also ensuring that research and policy meet the needs of end users and has real impact. Why bovine TB?Bovine TB is a chronic disease in cattle which is one of the greatest challenges facing the cattle and farming industry in the UK, particularly in South-west England. The disease has rapidly increased in recent decades and has a high cost to individual farmers and to the government.Why do we need stronger links between scientists and the farming community?To date the management of bovine tb has largely been undertaken at a national level and has been informed by research undertaken by government agencies and academic institutions. More recently there has been a shift towards a regional approach to disease management and to an emphasis on individual decisions within the farming industry. Bovine TB has been intensively studied by the scientific community and a wealth of data is collected by government and other institutions which could be used to inform such decisions. However, historically there has been a barrier to knowledge flow from scientists to government to stakeholders affected by this disease. Information is not always readily available to a non-scientific audience and research is not always undertaken with a focus on practical applications. As a consequence, the farming community have had to rely on other information sources (media and their own experiences), which are disconnected from scientific evidence base. This project aims to bridge the gap, such that scientific information and advances can be turned into real practical solutions, and so that the farming community is equipped with the information they need to manage this disease. What will the project involve?They key to this project is communication of knowledge and the creation of collaborative relationship between scientist, government and other stakeholders. We will use the TB eradication groups as a forum to engage with key stakeholder groups (farmers / vets/ those in the farming industry) who are directly affected by the disease. By listening closely to these groups and engaging in regular meetings, we aim to identify knowledge gaps and avenues for future investigation and research. Through links with scientists and government we will then work with these stakeholder groups towards answering these questions and filling these knowledge gaps. Crucially, stakeholders will be involved in this process in a truly collaborative way, which ensures the production of scientific information and advice which is tailored to their needs and situation. Working with the University of Exeter and also within the Animal and Plant Health Agency, I will draw together a broad range of scientific expertise and data. I will act as an as an environmental analyst, co-creating the evidence that the TB eradication groups require to deliberate upon bTB control methods. Exact research areas will depend on stakeholder needs and requirements, but will likely focus on badger ecology/management and environmental correlates of bovine TB risk. By developing data, producing tailored information and investigating research questions which are focused on the needs of the farming community, this fellowship aims to increase the availability and 'impact' of science to improve the management bovine TB.