Workshop synopsis
Funded by The Turing Institute and Bayes Centre, the aim of this 1hr workshop was to examine issues around the application of models and data in decision-making, providing new strategies to aid the transition to net zero. The specific theme was to improve linkages between: (1) the questions being asked by decision makers, (2) the evidence required to make a decision on such questions, and (3) the source of this evidence – i.e. data and/or models. A new visual approach was developed in the lead up to this event, to strengthen links between high-level decision-making activities in energy policy and associated evidence building workflows involving big data and models. This in-person workshop (along with the ECCI Edinburgh workshop on 24th Mar 2023) provided a 'hackathon-like' group activity session using a purpose-built web-app. This session was led by Dr Andrew Lyden.
Group Activity - Finding linkages: from questions, to evidence, to source
Task description: "Participants will be able to envisage any composition of models and data to answer policy questions (including models/data which may not yet exist), and to make graphical linkages to decision-making evidence." During this activity, each group developed their own high-level policy question, forming the basis of a policy design exercise. The groups then compiled lists of evidence, or information, required for actionable closure of this question. This crucial step was carried out before specific models and data were identified for the delivery of this evidence. The groups were able to iterate through adaptations of their original questions, to try to resolve the many issues with this process.
Data generated
Registers of energy models and energy datasets were generated during this in-person workshop, the aim of these being to create a more coherent reference point for energy modellers and analysts with a role in energy planning studies. Further to this, a number of high-level policy questions were generated, along with evidence requirements associated with each question. Rich associative networks (maps) were also generated, connecting questions, evidence, models, and datasets. All of the above data is structured within a SQL-based relational database and is linked directly to the web-app user interface pages.
About the event
This workshop was delivered by Dr Andrew Lyden, Dr Wei Sun, and Dr Peter McCallum at The Institute for Energy Systems (within the University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering), with the support of Prof Chris Dent at The School of Mathematics. 13 participants attended this in-person workshop, wich was held as part of the wider Openmod Workshop event in Vienna (22nd-24th Mar). The web-platform used for the 1hr group activity session was developed in-house by the above team, during the project: "Harmonising Energy Models and Data to Aid Decisions on the Net Zero Transition" (funders: The Turing Institute; Bayes Centre).
Funded by The Turing Institute and Bayes Centre, the aim of this 1hr workshop was to examine issues around the application of models and data in decision-making, providing new strategies to aid the transition to net zero. The specific theme was to improve linkages between: (1) the questions being asked by decision makers, (2) the evidence required to make a decision on such questions, and (3) the source of this evidence – i.e. data and/or models. A new visual approach was developed in the lead up to this event, to strengthen links between high-level decision-making activities in energy policy and associated evidence building workflows involving big data and models. This in-person workshop (along with the ECCI Edinburgh workshop on 24th Mar 2023) provided a 'hackathon-like' group activity session using a purpose-built web-app. This session was led by Dr Andrew Lyden.
Group Activity - Finding linkages: from questions, to evidence, to source
Task description: "Participants will be able to envisage any composition of models and data to answer policy questions (including models/data which may not yet exist), and to make graphical linkages to decision-making evidence." During this activity, each group developed their own high-level policy question, forming the basis of a policy design exercise. The groups then compiled lists of evidence, or information, required for actionable closure of this question. This crucial step was carried out before specific models and data were identified for the delivery of this evidence. The groups were able to iterate through adaptations of their original questions, to try to resolve the many issues with this process.
Data generated
Registers of energy models and energy datasets were generated during this in-person workshop, the aim of these being to create a more coherent reference point for energy modellers and analysts with a role in energy planning studies. Further to this, a number of high-level policy questions were generated, along with evidence requirements associated with each question. Rich associative networks (maps) were also generated, connecting questions, evidence, models, and datasets. All of the above data is structured within a SQL-based relational database and is linked directly to the web-app user interface pages.
About the event
This workshop was delivered by Dr Andrew Lyden, Dr Wei Sun, and Dr Peter McCallum at The Institute for Energy Systems (within the University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering), with the support of Prof Chris Dent at The School of Mathematics. 13 participants attended this in-person workshop, wich was held as part of the wider Openmod Workshop event in Vienna (22nd-24th Mar). The web-platform used for the 1hr group activity session was developed in-house by the above team, during the project: "Harmonising Energy Models and Data to Aid Decisions on the Net Zero Transition" (funders: The Turing Institute; Bayes Centre).
New insights on decision-making
Discussion points on models
Discussion points on data
Feedback on workshop and platform
- I was confused about the right to left layout from question to model, I would have expected the direction to go from left to right :)
- I like the concept of the website, and the idea to have an interactive website with a structured way to address research questions and the evidence needed to answer these questions.
- Several UI issues - the radio buttons for information to be added disappear when zoomed in. I would like to be able to edit "model" or "data" after entering.
- What happens to this information I provide? Please include a contribution statement and licensing. Can I export the data I have provided