At the start of December 2020 The Systems Group led a five-day online research sandpit on “Sustainable Intensification: Integrating Aquaculture into Food Systems” This involved colleagues from other Faculties and Disciplines within the University of Stirling, the University of Aberdeen and partners from Bangladesh and Vietnam. The specific focus was the development of concept notes suitable for funding by the UK Global Challenge Research Fund and focused on Vietnam and Bangladesh as beneficiary countries. The video below sets out the context and aims of the Sandpit.

The Sandpit involved around 40 participants meeting for three hours each day using online tools such as Zoom video conferencing, Miro whiteboard and Google document. A selection of stakeholders and expert advisers were also invited to make inputs and meet with participants to help refine proposals. Five working groups emerged from the Sandpit event, each with a draft concept note to take forward as research calls allow.