Getting a project off the ground

You have an idea? You think it's a good idea? That's great! How do you go about putting it into practice? This is a really crucial step, and in this  post we'll be discussing how to do that in an open way. What I mean is that you establish a project that others can be join, advise on, or be informed about as it progresses.

I've previously blogged about an open science workflow, and this is the first stage. As I mentioned before, when there is the potential for collaborating with others it's key to be absolutely clear which stage you are at. So

Step 1: Identify that you have a new problem to solve

This means taking some time to check that it really is novel, that no-one's solved it before and that no-one is close to solving it (the latter is not so easy, unless they are also being open about their work).

Step 2: Write down what the problem is

This serves two purposes. Firstly, it makes it clear in your mind exactly what it is you want to tackle. I would recommend using a SMART approach, i.e. make the statement of the problem: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-scaled. This will lead to measures of success for later, allowing you to better monitor progress. Secondly, the statement can be shared with others and will make it much clearer to them what the goal is. This means that all those involved in the project are pulling in the same direction.

Step 3: Consult stakeholders

Are there people who will be affected by the progress or outcome of the project? Get their input at this early stage. That will make it much more fit for purpose. In my experience, others can frequently make key contributions that turn a mediocre idea into a great one. This stage can also involve contacting funding bodies, which might mean you have to define a few of your methods as well (there's an upcoming post about that stage).

My experience is that most of these stages happen, but not necessarily in the correct order and with the optimum effect on the project. Planning is usually rushed and the proposed outcome defined somewhere near the end. Interested parties want to change the direction of the project when it is half-way through, which can lead to tension and be costly.

This advice has a lot to do with communication. Ask yourself, can you successfully communicate your project? Have you done so?

This advice isn't rocket science, and my hope in spelling it out is that it can be used to improve project visibility and get lots of people excited about you and your great new idea.

Eating beef with a clear conscience?

Vegetarians and vegans often, quite justifiably, claim that their way of life is morally superior to those of us carnivores because the breeding of animals is, comparatively, a waste of resources. A cow's stomach produces vast quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas, plus it requires grassland on which to feed, further land to grow additional food for it to eat and finally live transport to a slaughterhouse.

A recent paper (Sustainability 2012, 4, 3279-3301; doi:10.3390/su4123279) explores these issues and gives estimates of what, exactly is the carbon footprint of beef cattle. The bad news is that this is still quite substantial (another article from the centre for sustainable systems shows a comparison). The good news, however, is that it can be greatly reduced. The article quotes values of reduction up to 50% for various regions of the world. Here's a graph of what they reckon to be the most reliable data (from Canada):

It shows a decrease, although the last couple of points raise the question of whether such a rate can be sustained in the future. Different kinds of feed make up a lot of the difference, including how the animal is 'finished' before slaughter, i.e. what it's fattened up on make a difference, as does how the herd is managed - running alongside a dairy herd can lead to exchange that can be beneficial.

A big challenge going forward concerns application of good practice worldwide. The regions with the smallest carbon footprint are the Americas and Europe, but South America, North Australia and Asia have some catching up to do.

It's not realistic to stop people from eating red meat, but it is nice to know that there are things that can be done to mitigate the effect of such a high-consuming industry. Combined with a shove in the right direction for us to eat a little less meat could have a tangible positive effect on our environment.