In a paper in Nature Climate Change published on 29 March 2011, Nick Pidgeon and Baruch Fischhoff make a compelling case for a more co-ordinated and integrated approach to communicating climate science. Recognising the challenge that climate scientists face in explaining the risks and uncertainties surrounding potential climate change, they suggest that “boundary organisations” are needed to bridge the gap between climate scientists and communication experts.
Kulima has also recognised this gap based on many years of experience working in the field of climate change in southern Africa. Many of our current projects are based on us filling the role of a boundary organisation, working to translate scientific information, which we understand, into language that suits the needs of various end-user groups (policy-makers, decision-makers, the private sector) with whom we have experience of working.