Media Watch on Climate Change - A Web-based Knowledge Repository to Promote Awareness and Analyze Stakeholder Communication

Abstract

This paper presents the technology base and roadmap of the Climate Change Collaboratory, a Web-based platform that aims to strengthen the relations between scientists, educators, environmental NGOs, policy makers, news media and corporations - stakeholders who recognize the need for adaptation and mitigation, but differ in worldviews, goals and agendas. The collaboratory manages expert knowledge and provides a platform for effective communication and collaboration. It aims to promote awareness and environmental literacy, to facilitate networking with leading international organizations, and to bridge the science-policy gap. Rich, self-sustaining community interaction will help translate knowledge into coordinated action. Innovative survey instruments in the tradition of “games with a purpose” will create shared meaning through collaborative ontology building, and leverage social networking platforms to capture indicators of environmental attitudes, lifestyles and behaviors.