1. ESLTPAn open consultation process with the
Australian ecosystem science community
to develop a cohesive plan for the long-term future

2. Setting the scene
 What do we want from today?
 What is the process so far and where to next?
 How are we going to achieve our overall goals?
 Preview some material being prepared for the open forum
meetings
Overview
By the end of today we should have:
- the first contributions of content for the plan and
- shared understanding of the process for open consultation
- beginnings of change for ecosystem science inAustralia

3. Steering
Committee
Workshop
Planning
Team
Wide
engagement
Expanding the sphere of input
Image: Red Dome Group
We want your ideas on content but also on
shaping the process to achieve what is needed

4. What do we want to achieve today?
• Respect your expertise and willingness
to contribute [listen to each other]
• Productive use of this talented group
[focus and engage]
• Concrete outcomes from today
[progress on process and content]
• Collective actions for us all to implement
[agreed commitment to work together]

5. What do we want to achieve overall?
1. Cohesive vision and collective action
2. To set priorities for addressing themes:
• human talent
• infrastructure
• research
• resourcing into the future
3. To succeed in implementing improved
outcomes for ecosystem science
4. Continuity for the long-term

6. What products are we after?
An enduring process for open consultation
Short printed overview document (~10 pages) [external
communication]
Web site with extensive links to background evidence and
rationale for the agreed directions [discipline communication]
Successful launch of plan with wide support from ecosystem
science community
[one-stop-shop for any policy or funding agency to consult
with]

7. Typical concerns may be…
What is the scope?
How do we want to define ecosystem sciences for this purpose?
Answer: this will emerge by people who engage & contribute
- Input from feedback so far - 86 disciplines listed
Bek will be sharing these with you later today

8. What it is not…
Just another report to gather dust
List of specific research questions that an individual may
want prioritised
‘Business as usual’ for engaging with a complex and broad set of
inter-dependent disciplines comprising ecosystem science

9. Now
• Vigilence
• Diminishing resources
ESLTP
• Collective efforts
• Harmony promoting growth and productivity
Long term
• Decisive collective action
• Respected and trusted discipline
• Continuity of increased resources
The vision for transforming Ecosystem Sciences in Australia

10. How did we get to this point?
National groups coming together to drive the process

11. Where are we in the process?
• Steering committee
• Identify resources (TERN)
• Launch website
• Open call
• Begin on-line survey
Kick-starting
the process
• Refine process
• Provide content
• Commit to collective action
• Identify champions for
roles
Planning
workshop today • Summarise content
• Revise survey
• Plan “Town Halls”
• Update website
Post workshop
Feb-Sept 2013 24 Sept2013 25 Sept 2013

12. • Steering
committee
• Identify resources
(TERN)
• Launch website
• Open call
• Begin on-line
survey
Kick-starting
the process
• Refine process
• Provide content
• Commit to collective action
• Identify champions for roles
Planning
workshop today • Summarise
content
• Revise survey
• Plan “Town
Halls”Post workshop
Consulting
Feb-Sept 2013 24 Sept 2013 25 Sept 2013
Planning

13. Cycle of input from consultation phase
Survey
questions
Summarise
input
Town Hall
meeting
Summary
of content
contributed
Update
ESLTP
status
document

14. Draft plan
Submissions
from
scientific
groups
Town Hall
meeting
contributions
Ongoing
survey input

15. Plan for open consultation
 Planning workshop
 Open call for participation
 Create process for every voice to be heard
 On-line survey with ongoing reporting
 “Town hall” meetings for face-to-face discussions
 Written submissions from scientific groups
 Regular updates of website reflecting on-going input
 Circulate draft long-term plan for peer review
 Revise and distribute final plan by agreed time-line

16. Completing the plan by mid 2014
• Steeringcommittee
• Identifyresources (TERN)
• Launchwebsite
• Open call
• Begin on-line survey
Kick-
starting
• Refineprocess
• Providecontent
• Committo collective action
• Identifychampions
Planning
workshop • Content grows via meetings
• On-going survey input
• “status” ESLTPupdated
• Websiteupdates
• Working groups form
Consulting
cycle
• Writingteams
• Content edited
• Web site updated
• Plancirculated
• Peer review feedback
Draft Plan
•Revisions
•Final plan doc
and process
•Launch
Final Plan
Change
ecosystem
science
Review
outcomes
START
Feb 2013
Steering
Committee
work
Workshop
Sept 2013
EcoTas
Nov
2013
Town Halls
Feb-Mar 2014
Writing
Mar-May
2014
2
months
feedbac
k
Finalise plan
mid 2014

17. How do we earn the support
of a diverse group?
Open transparent engagement

18. Some ideas on how to proceed
 Turn self interest into collective action
 Inclusive, cross-generational engagement
 Relinquish need to control and dictate process and content
 Listen and respond to constructive feedback
 Provide clear leadership and direction but do not
exert top-down control
 Evaluate risks for each stage of the process and prepare
alternate avenues to proceed

19. Groups involved so far: