Katy Lee leads the Hazard & Resilience Modelling Team at BGS, focusing on the development of BGS data products and innovations. In our latest GeoBlogy she tells us about the recent BGS Innovation Bootcamp on geology and heritage. Who was involved?
The BGS and Historic England (HE) have been developing joint research ideas at an ‘innovation boot camp’, held at BGS in July.
Researchers from Historic England’s Strategic Research and Partnerships Team and BGS Hazard & Resilience Modelling (HARM) Team came together to discuss new research collaborations and innovative ideas.
Part of the HARM Team’s strategy is to focus on:
- Co-development: Explore and develop methodologies with the aim to provide and develop new and pre-existing products and innovative services.
- Research: Ever-changing research developments result in constantly evolving outputs that product development can draw upon. For example, scientific research, developments in data analytical techniques (particularly fast-moving currently), Commissioned Research for specific users can potentially be scaled up to provide data from the broader community or even into other market sectors, and the development/release of new datasets both internally and externally.
- Funding opportunities: All development requires funding from either National Capability or other sources and we look to bring in additional income to support our product development activities.
The bootcamp provided an ideal opportunity to explore some aspects of these aims and aspirations.
Some of the team had already had ‘bootcamp’ training last year, provided by no-nonsense innovation company ‘Nonon’, which was a great success so we were able to draw on this experience and some of the techniques for this current event.
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| From L-R: Using a lean business canvas ensures we consider all factors, needs and users; Brainstorming in an innovative environment |
What did we talk about?
We had initially discussed multiple different project or topic ideas and, in preparation for the bootcamp, had narrowed it down to 7, ranging from: coastal change impacts to factors controlling rates of organic decay/preservation of historic artefacts.
On the day, we focussed in on 4 main topics: using historic mining ponds in upland regions for Natural Flood Management; 3D borehole data interpretations for the Anthropocene and Holocene; multihazard impacts on historic assets; and Coastal vulnerability.
What did the day involve?
We used tools and techniques for developing lean business models, stakeholder analysis, and personas. This enabled us to identify research themes that we could take forward and investigate in more detail. After a short introduction, the day soon swung into action and everyone became very busy. Initial discussions soon developed into fledgling ideas and then a little more information could be added. Lots of post-it notes and whiteboard doodles were employed throughout the day. We also had a brilliant team of ‘artists in residence’ to help communicate ideas through drawings and sketches.
What were the results?
At the end of the day, each team presented their idea in a 5-minute elevator-pitch and a group vote decided that the 3D deposits/borehole interpretation idea was the winner! This idea will be taken forward by BGS and HE and developed into a feasibility project. Congratulations not only go to the 3D deposits team but also to everyone who took part, it was a fantastic day with much success and lots of ideas that we can now build on. Well done everyone. |
| From L-R: More coffee!...finalising the idea; Heritage and hazards: one of the sketches used to 'pitch' the idea |
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