What is the role of universities?

Chairperson: Jim WATSON (CCG Research Director, University College London, UK) The perspective of the Climate Compatible Growth Programme. In this session the role of universities will be discussed. They are critical part of the 'ecosystem' needed to sustain evidence-based policy making. In this school there has been a special emphasis on the use of models to develop policy insights. The chair will allow a 5min opening statement from each panelist and then lead a discussion. Themes to be touched on will include (with initial volunteers initialed in brackets) 'What are the challenges associated with distilling research into structured 'public goods' for other researcher? 'How might a critical mass be built, within and between universities?' 'Reflections on the organisation and contribution to regional schools (VM)', 'Can our research Agendas be complementary? If so, how?' In this session announcements will also be made around developments on the African (DS)j and Latin American (JQ) SD/Energy Modelling Platform.