Thinking outside the box by connecting the dots

As the corporate relations manager for Wetlands International, I recently participated (along with Pieter van Eijk) in a science workshop with scientists from Shell and their environmental partners.

We came together for an intensive two-day workshop in the inspiring setting on the Frisian Isle of Texel in the Netherlands. The aim was to bring together the various thinking of scientists within Shell, Wetlands International, IUCN, Earthwatch, The Nature Conservancy and Wageningen University around the challenges faced by each of us in our fields, solutions we apply and connecting these dots to find common interests. We also sought innovative ideas for a collaborative project.

It was stimulating to experience how, under the guidance of the Gamechanger team from Shell, connecting the challenges and solutions with six pairs of Shell-NGO scientists led to some interesting and implementable ideas on topics that are important for all of us, including ecosystem valuation and hybrid engineering solutions. The scientists will now further develop these ideas.

All in all, the workshop was a very productive event, resulting in the basis for a few new projects and invaluable new contacts. A few days well spent!