A Citizen Empowered Online Platform for Communicating Climate Science to the General Public

1. A Citizen Empowered Online Platform for Communicating Climate Science to the General Public Michel S. Bourqui Dr Bourqui – Atmospheric and Climate Sciences Consulting, Zurich, Switzerland (Formerly Ass. Prof. at McGill University, Montreal, Canada) Michel Bourqui

2. Plan • Motivation • Purposes of the Online Platform • The Platform at a Glance • Plans for the Next Future • Summary Michel Bourqui

3. Motivation • The impact of Climate Change (CC) on society is large and growing • The public is concerned(1) • Communication and dissemination are now important elements of Climate Sciences • Governments now have access to science-based information thanks to the IPCC • What about the general public? • What about the media? • What about the teachers? • What about the local actors (politicians, economists, entrepreneurs,…)? • What about people not speaking English? Could we build over time some kind of knowledge base on climate sciences, accessible to the general public in a non-scientific language, which could then serve everybody as a support for teaching, journalism and taking decisions? (1) More than 50% of people in OECD and more than 40% in non-OECD countries express a concern about the environment. Franzen, A., Vogl, D., Two decades of measuring environmental attitudes: A comparative analysis of 33 countries. Global Environ. Change (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.03.009 Michel Bourqui

4. Why not? www.climateonline.bourquiconsulting.ch Michel Bourqui

5. Purposes of the Platform (1/2) • To provide the general public with a free and direct access to the existing knowledge in climate sciences • To provide the climate scientists with a simple and reliable way to disseminate their research • A journal publishing climate articles led by climate scientists, written for the general public, and peer-reviewed through a tailored process Michel Bourqui

6. Purposes of the Platform (2/2) • To provide a structure of exchange between scientists and citizens on questions related to Climate Sciences Involvement of citizens as co-authors of climate articles, as translators, as referees A specially dedicated forum for citizens to invite climate articles to be written on chosen topics A channel for citizens to get involved in Citizen Climate Science projects Michel Bourqui

7. The Flow Stream of Manuscripts • Submission of original manuscripts: • by a team of authors led by a climate scientist • in English • Evaluation of manuscripts through a special two step peer-review process: • Open Review, with review reports from • Two requested scientific referees* • Two requested non-scientific referees • Any member (excl. authors) • Open Discussion, with comments from any member • Publication of manuscripts: • Articles are published in open access • Impact metrics are coming soon • Manuscripts and peer-review data stay available to members • Translation of published articles: • Submission in any language by any member • Two-step peer-review of the translated manuscript (without requested scientific referees) • Update of published articles: • Replaces the previous version in open access • Previous versions stay available to members *This requirement is relaxed in situations where an author of a published scientific paper submits a version of this paper re-written in non-scientific language. Michel Bourqui

8. The Platform’s Status Now • Functional • Pre-registration is open • The Journal is ready to receive submissions of manuscripts and manuscript invitations Michel Bourqui

9. What’s next? • Progressive build up of a basis of members • Scientific members • Non-scientific members • Build up of the Editorial board • Executive Editors • Co-Editors • Seeking 50 “Experimental Authors” to participate in the First Manuscripts Contest (rewards expected!) Michel Bourqui

10. On the Governance • The Platform, its journal and the web site will be governed as an association by its members • The Platform will be exclusively financed through country-adjusted flat membership fees Michel Bourqui

11. Sign up! Get ready for the First Manuscripts Contest! And spread the word to colleagues, students, friends, etc… www.climateonline.bourquiconsulting.ch Michel Bourqui

12. Summary - the Key Features • Peer-review process tailored for high-quality climate articles for the general public • Articles published in open access • Articles updated as science progresses • Articles translated by citizens • Citizens able to invite articles to be written • Citizens able to co-author articles • Citizens able to team up with scientists to develop Citizen Climate Science projects www.climateonline.bourquiconsulting.ch Michel Bourqui