Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: Environmental Science Exchange with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

白头山研究中心（MPRC）是一个国际合作伙伴关系，旨在促进朝鲜民主主义人民共和国（DPRK，朝鲜的正式名称）的地球科学和环境研究。据我们所知，这是迄今为止唯一一个长期有效的伙伴关系，并在朝鲜半岛政治最动荡的时期之一得以维持。它表明，有了共同的科学目标和相互信任，持久和富有成效的伙伴关系是可能的。我们的工作表明，环境项目，特别是那些影响超出朝鲜边境的项目，如白头山火山爆发或气候变化的影响，可以在这些动荡的政治气候中持续下去。这使得许多人认为，环境项目是与朝鲜和其他处于类似政治局势的国家建立科学外交接触的绝佳工具，有助于在政治紧张时期发展关系和信任。我计划在这些成功的基础上，与英国政府和朝鲜组织密切合作，在平壤建立一个名为白头山的MPRC办事处科学交流。这将是朝鲜第一个国际科学办公室。这种影响将是广泛的，并持续超过奖学金的长度。它将主要作为一个工具，使朝鲜和国际科学家围绕共同开发的环境科学主题聚集在一起。其职权范围将包括：（i）制定新的研究计划，重点是共同开发的环境主题（例如，目前的讨论包括应对气候变化的影响、减少灾害风险和努力实现可持续发展目标），通过年度专题研讨会得以实现;（ii）促进国际科学家、在该国工作的非政府组织、国际外交官和当地组织之间的联网（确定合作伙伴，就遵守制裁提供咨询意见，协助正式程序）;以及（iv）分享在朝鲜建立持久有效合作的知识和经验。

The Mount Paektu Research Centre (MPRC) is an international partnership that promotes collaborative geoscience and environmental research in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, the formal name for North Korea). To our knowledge, it is the only long lived partnership of its kind active today and has been sustained during one of the most politically turbulent periods on the Korean Peninsula. It shows that with shared scientific goals and mutual trust, durable and productive partnerships are possible. Our work has shown that environmental projects, particularly those with impacts beyond the borders of DPRK, such as an eruption of Paektu Volcano or impacts of climate change can be sustained through these turbulent political climes. This has led many to suggest that environmental projects are excellent vehicles to build science diplomacy engagement with DPRK and other countries in a similar political situation and help develop relationships and trust during times of political strain.In this NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship, I plan to build on these successes to work closely with the UK Government and DPRK organisations to establish a MPRC office in Pyongyang called the Mount Paektu Science Exchange. This would be the first international science office within the DPRK. The impacts of this will be wide reaching and last beyond the length of the fellowship. It will primarily act as a vehicle to bring together DPRK and international scientists around co-developed environmental science themes. Its remit will include (i) development of new research programmes focussed on co-developed environmental themes (e.g., current discussions include responding to the impacts of climate change, disaster risk reduction and working towards the sustainability development goals), enabled through an annual topical workshop; (ii) Facilitate networking between international scientists, NGOs working in country, international diplomats and local organisations (iii) facilitation of projects at pre-award and funded stages (identifying partners, advising on sanctions compliance, assisting with formal procedures); and (iv) sharing knowledge and experience of what it takes to build lasting and effective collaboration in DPRK.