• Catalytic → Like a catalyst in chemistry, it triggers or accelerates a process without being the end in itself. Here, it means the knowledge produced is designed to set things in motion—to inspire decisions, collaboration, or innovation.
• Knowledge & insight generation → Producing research, analysis, or new ways of understanding an issue.

So together, it means producing knowledge that has an activating effect—knowledge that prompts stakeholders (policymakers, partners, communities, etc.) to think differently, make changes, or take action.

Signals early, insights sharp.

We scan for emerging issues, connect scattered datasets and publish insights the moment partners need them. Open licences and peer review mean others can build on our work at speed.

Why it matters

Progress is tracked by the number of GRID-Arendal knowledge products cited in policy documents. Timely, trusted insights shift debates and budgets.

Skills: Adaptation Strategies Agro-Economics and Biology Analytical Thinking Arctic Plastic Pollution Arctic Research Arctic Science and Policy Arctic and Indigenous Affairs Environmental Data Analysis Environmental Ethics Environmental Information Management Environmental Law Environmental Mapping Environmental Monitoring Field Research GIS Gender Perspectives Gender and Environment Gender and Waste Management Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Geospatial Analysis Geospatial Programming Glaciology HKH Region Human-Nature Relationships (HNR) Interdisciplinary Analysis Interdisciplinary Research Interdisciplinary Science Leadership Blue Carbon and Ocean-Climate Solutions Blue Economy CE Model Development Cartography Chemicals and waste management Circular Economy Circular economy & waste management planning Citizen Science Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies Climate Impacts Climate Science and Cryosphere Climate change adaptation Coastal Ecosystems Data Analysis Deep-sea Ecosystems Eastern European and Arctic regional expertise Ecosystem Management Ecosystem Services Ecosystem Services Valuation and Application Ecosystem-based Management Environmental Assessment and Reporting Marine Biology Marine Litter Marine Litter Mitigation Marine Policy Marine Pollution Marine Science Marine Spatial Planning Marine and polar ecosystems Maritime Boundary Delimitation Mining Waste Management Ocean Governance Ocean Policy Plastic Pollution Plastic Pollution Mitigation Pollution Pollution Mitigation Pollution Research Report Writing Research Literacy Research Synthesis Scientific Communication Scientific Writing Seabed Mapping Social Science Spatial Data Analysis Sustainability Sustainability Science Sustainable Development Sustainable Development Strategy Systems Thinking Systems thinking & just transition Transformative Change Use of remote sensing for environmental monitoring Waste Management Waste Systems Analysis Web Mapping nature conservation science-policy interface and knowledge translation sustainable blue economy development Environmetnal Toxicology