TULIP News 004

On June 3, 2024, the TULIP Consortium kicked off its General Assembly with a Co-Production Workshop at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health in Germany. The workshop aimed to develop a collaborative framework for the TULIP Project, focusing on intercultural team building, co-creation of implementation plans, and defining criteria for study sites in the Philippines.

Event Overview

The Co-Production Workshop was the first of a three-day General Assembly, designed to foster a transdisciplinary approach to tackling the complex challenges of microplastic pollution, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and climate change. The workshop brought together consortium members from various institutions and countries, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and shared knowledge.

Workshop Objectives

• Develop an Intercultural Community: Foster a collaborative environment that respects diverse cultural backgrounds and expertise.
• Transdisciplinary Understanding: Create a shared understanding of the TULIP Project’s goals and methodologies.
• Define Study Site Criteria: Establish criteria for selecting study locations in the Philippines.
• Create Implementation Plans: Develop a detailed timeline and implementation plan for the project.
• Finalize IRB Protocol: Reach a consensus on the Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol for the project.

Agenda and Activities

The workshop was structured around a series of interactive sessions, including design charrettes and mind mapping exercises, aimed at co-creating a comprehensive project blueprint.

Key Activities and Outcomes

• Co-Production Workshop: Participants worked collaboratively to create a mind map and implementation plan, focusing on the project’s goals and timelines.
• Intercultural Team-Spirit Building: Activities designed to build a cohesive team environment, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives.
• Study Site Criteria: Discussions centered on defining criteria for selecting study locations in the Philippines, including pollution gradients and control sites.
• IRB Protocol: The workshop aimed to finalize the IRB protocol, ensuring ethical standards for the project’s research activities.

Building the TULIP Blueprint

The workshop focused on co-creating a comprehensive framework for the TULIP Project, including:

• Sampling Frames: Developing criteria for water and sediment sample collection across pollution gradients.
• Community Engagement: Planning for community-based interventions and citizen science initiatives.
• Indicator Development: Creating indicators for integrated surveillance and monitoring.
• Nature-Based Solutions (NbS): Evaluating the effectiveness of NbS in addressing pollution and AMR.

Next Steps

The outcomes of the Co-Production Workshop will inform the project’s implementation plan and guide future activities. The collaborative approach ensures that all consortium members are aligned and ready to tackle the project’s ambitious goals.

The TULIP Consortium’s commitment to intercultural collaboration and transdisciplinary research sets the stage for a successful project, addressing the urgent challenges of plastic pollution, AMR, and climate change.