About INYS 2008
International Networking for Young Scientists (INYS) is an initiative that supports the Council's purpose of 'nurturing mutually beneficial relationships with other countries', by encouraging and facilitating the mobility of, and direct contact between, young researchers. It supports face-to-face meetings between young scientists and engineers from the UK and other countries, for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information and the building of international connections that assist the innovation process.
The INYS workshop is scheduled in February 2008 in Exeter (UK). The main theme of the workshop is “Modelling Climate Variability and Change”. The event area includes observations, climate modelling, detection and attribution, and feedback processes. Approximately 10 Chinese and a similar number of British young scientists are expected to attend the workshop. The Chinese participants will come from Chinese Academy of Sciences, research centres of China Meteorology Administration, and various universities. The whole activity will last 5 days, including a 3-day workshop and 2-day field trip. This workshop aims to promote the collaborations of young scientists from UK and China in climate change studies. During the workshop, the UK and Chinese scientists will report their achievements in climate change research.
This will open the possibility of research collaborations between the UK and Chinese participants that could lead to international research projects and peer reviewed publications. It is expected that participants will exchange information on funding opportunities for bilateral collaboration projects.
The climate change issue is part of the large challenge of sustainable development. The Earth’s climate system has demonstrably changed on both global and regional scales since the pre-industrial era, with some of these changes attributable to human activities. Human activities have increased the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols. An increasing body of observations gives a collective picture of a warming world. Observed changes in regional climate have affected many physical and biological systems, and there are preliminary indications that social and economic systems have been affected. The impacts of climate change will fall disproportionately upon developing countries. Populations in developing countries are generally exposed to relatively high risks of adverse impacts from climate change. Climate policies can be more effective when consistently embedded within broader strategies designed to make national and regional development paths more sustainable.
Policy making needs solid scientific supports.
In recent years, China has become more and more active in climate change sciences. The Major State Basic Research Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology has supported several projects related to climate change, with the total amount spent exceeding RMB200 million. Each year, the total global change research funding from Earth Science Department of NSFC is about RMB50 million. Chinese scientists have been actively involved in many international joint research projects.
Britain has long been reputed in the field of climate change studies. As one of the leading centres in climate sciences, the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, together with numerous climate centres in University of Reading, Oxford university and many more, has contributed to the development of climate sciences. With the financial supports from British government and social trusts, UK will definitely extend its reputation in the future.