Clusters of Collaboration

Five dynamic research clusters have been established within which FRACTAL activities take place.

CROSS-CUTTING
The cross-cutting cluster facilitates coordination and transdisciplinary learning across the collaboration clusters. It also coordinates capacity building opportunities and manages administrative tasks across clusters.
Contacts: Bruce Hewitson (CSAG) and Alice McClure (CSAG)

NEXUS
The nexus cluster contributes to understanding the urban-regional flows and systems within the cities, particularly for critical resources such as water and energy. It focuses on producing water and energy models, plus conceptual systems models for each city which capture perceptions and understanding around water and energy.
Contacts: Dianne Scott (ACC) and Piotr Wolski (CSAG)

DECISION-MAKING
This cluster undertakes research that contributes to understanding the decision-making and governance processes related to climate change and the critical resources (water and energy) in FRACTAL cities. Various relevant decision-support tools are being tested through research activities within this cluster.
Contacts: START (tbc) and Sukaina Bharwani (SEI)

CITY LEARNING
The city learning cluster co-ordinates the work that is happening on the ground in cities, to ensure sound co-ordination and learning with the city partners. These partners include Tier 1 cities (Lusaka, Maputo and Windhoek), Tier 2 Cities (Blantyre, Gaborone and Harare) and self-funded cities (Durban and Cape Town). In particular, this cluster coordinates activities related to the learning labs, embedded research, and knowledge and learning exchanges.
Contacts: Anna Taylor (ACC) and Bettina Koelle (RCRCCC)

CLIMATE INFORMATION
This cluster develops updated climate information that will be relevant and applicable in FRACTAL cities, thereby contributing to resilient development pathways. It also utilizes the learning labs to explore the decision space and trigger points associated with this climate information. To improve methods for sharing this information, the cluster will also experiment with innovative visualisation and data exploration methods (informed by user engagement and feedback). It is also undertaking fundamental science such as exploring the effects of baseline attributes and uncertainties, climate process drivers, and sources of contradictions and added value.
Contacts: Chris Jack (CSAG) and Richard Jones (UKMO)


Operational Groups

Task teams have also been established to drive the research processes in a transdisciplinary manner.

City task teams facilitate the city learning dialogues in Lusaka, Maputo and Windhoek. One further task team represents Blantyre, Gaborone and Harare.
Contacts: Anna Taylor (ACC) or Bettina Koelle (RCCCC)

A communications committee implements the programmatic engagement, communications and uptake strategy.
Contact: Alice McClure (CSAG)

The learning working group documents learning at a city, project and ‘community of FRACTAL’ level. To drive this process, a framework has been developed in order to: instill and maintain a hunger for learning among project partners and other knowledge holders; create stimulating spaces that allow reflection and documentation of iterative learning in the process; use this learning, reflection and evaluation to improve project activities, and the broader community of practice; and ensure sound process of participatory monitoring and evaluation of the project that produces robust evidence.
Contacts: Bettina Koelle (RCCCC) or Alice McClure (CSAG)