From 25-27 January 2016, the Urbanising Deltas of the World (UDW) research programme organised an international conference on research uptake with over 50 participants in Ho Chi Min City, Viet Nam. The objective of the meeting was to strengthen the linkages of the UDW researchers and research with a wider community of practice in the professional field of urbanizing deltas, as this will increase academic quality, societal impact and sustainability of the UDW research.

Key elements in the three day programme where exchange and networking, skill development for research uptake, and active creation of linkages. Prof Isa Baud, Chair of the Steering Committee of NWO/UDW introduced the meeting and introduced aspects of inter-, multi- and transdisciplinary research after which representatives of all 7 projects introduced their projects and project teams. Farah Ahmed presented tools for research uptake and highlighted the research uptake strategy of IWMI, while Michele Leone explained how IDRC addresses this issue. Martijn van de Groep briefed the audience on the complex process and impressive achievements of Vietnam in the Mekong Delta Plan, while Catharien Terwisscha van Scheltinga briefed on the Bangladesh Delta Plan. Dr William Putuhena introduced the plans for dealing with sea level rise in Jakarta, Indonesia, while Janio Langa indicated from a management perspective how important it is to indicate the added value of research. As a result, participants got a better insight of the wider context in which their research takes place. This assisted in further defining research uptake activities. The new contacts with both the other UDW as well as DA experts enhanced the networking related to research and research uptake activities.

Read further and download the presentations from the NWO webpage.