On November 19th and 20th, 2024, the MERFISH Project advanced its mission of fostering cross-disciplinary research, collaboration, and innovation through a series of impactful secondment activities in Chester and Warrington. These events involved Tina Vrabec from the Jozef Stefan Institute (JSI), alongside team members from Europe for Business, including Donatella Santoro, Maghraby Elseify, and Alessandro Tiraborelli.
Day 1: Bridging Research and Practice at the University of Chester
The first day of the secondment, hosted at the University of Chester Business School, featured an engaging lineup of sessions that blended theoretical insights with practical applications:
- Masterclass by Dr. Trevor Omoruyi
Dr. Trevor Omoruyi, Director of the MBA Program, delivered a lecture on research methodology, exploring literature reviews, sustainability, and the research onion framework. His session emphasized the vital role of communication in translating research into meaningful, real-world impacts. - Presentations by Secondment Participants
- Tina Vrabec shared her experiences in the MERFISH project and highlighted how effective communication amplifies research, supports citizen science, and opens doors to funding opportunities.
- Alessandro Tiraborelli discussed the role of project and communication managers in addressing sustainability challenges and fostering collaboration through the quadruple helix model and living labs.
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation Masterclass
Led by Ahmet Feyzioğlu, Visiting Professor at the University of Chester, this session explored the intersection of entrepreneurship and innovation. Topics included idea generation techniques (e.g., SCAMPER and patent mapping), the lean startup model, and the traits of successful entrepreneurs. Feyzioğlu emphasized the structured methodologies behind innovation and the importance of aligning business strategies with societal needs.
These interactive discussions reinforced the critical importance of integrating communication and innovation strategies into research to achieve impactful outcomes.
Day 2: Strategic Communication at Europe for Business in Warrington
On the second day, activities moved to the Europe for Business offices in Warrington, where the focus shifted to the role of strategic project management and communication:
- Exchange of Insights
A discussion on communication practices highlighted differences and synergies between the Jozef Stefan Institute and Europe for Business.- Tina Vrabec shared how communication drives innovation at JSI.
- The Europe for Business team emphasized how their methodologies ensure high-quality consultancy services, enhance project visibility, and support capacity building.
- Showcase of the Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation Tool
The team demonstrated a versatile tool designed to enhance project outcomes. With proven success in past projects, this tool fosters:- Improved synergy across work packages.
- Enhanced knowledge sharing and visibility for consortium partners.
This session underlined the importance of staying aligned with evolving communication trends to develop innovative tools that address challenges effectively.
Impact on the MERFISH Project
These secondment activities offered invaluable insights to enhance the MERFISH project’s goals, including:
- Advancing training in analytical chemistry and aquaculture.
- Promoting open-access research dissemination and career development.
- Strengthening collaborative networks across disciplines and institutions.
Additionally, the discussions aligned with MERFISH’s broader objectives of promoting gender equality, engaging civil society to raise environmental awareness, and connecting research actions to health and sustainability outcomes.
By bridging science, communication, and societal needs, these secondments demonstrated MERFISH’s commitment to creating lasting impacts that benefit researchers, industries, and communities alike.
MERFISH brings together international experts from a wide array of interdisciplinary research areas (analytical chemistry, fish nutrition, environmental science, communication, toxicology & aquaculture) from industry and academia from EU, Brazil and Mauritius, with a long-term goal of furthering the understanding of the source, transport, fate and effects of mercury from fish to humans and the detoxification role of selenium.
MERFISH surges from a global demand, directly related to mercury, one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern identified by the World Health Organization. However, mercury metabolic pathways in biota still remain poorly understood. Its understanding is crucial to elucidate its (eco)toxic effect and to identify important drivers of the mercury biogeochemical cycle.
