iN-Net is a National Science Foundation-funded project to shape a nitrogen research agenda that can underpin ambitious national policies to address nitrogen pollution.

The International Nitrogen Network

Our Approach

iN-Net is a network of networks. NSF defines a network of networks as “a federation of international independent, non-overlapping networks that converge on a clearly articulated research theme and set of questions”. For the purposes of iN-Net, this is a partnership of international and regional science and policy networks all devoted, at least in part, to addressing nitrogen pollution.

Several of our partner networks have been working for years, if not decades, on the issue - moving science and policy forward via the development of databases, peer-reviewed papers, guidance documents, scientific assessments, UNEA resolutions and a variety of other outputs. Some have worked together before, others have not.

iN-Net is a unique forum, bringing together nine of the world’s leading nitrogen science and policy networks to leverage and amplify existing expertise and outputs to work towards the UN goal of halving nitrogen waste by 2030.

Our work is organized around four knowledge gaps that we believe are necessary to address in order to help develop effective nitrogen policy, and three pillar activities, outlined below.

Inconsistent and incomplete data to establish a baseline for national action plans and measure their progress

A paucity of effective governance options to implement plan measures

A fragmented understanding of the links between N and climate actions

Cutting across all of these research gaps is an inability to effectively communicate across scientific communities and stakeholder groups.

iN-Net takes a three-pronged approach to addressing these barriers and moving nitrogen research and policy forward:

  • The working groups will be organized according to the four key gaps identified as central to translating halving N waste targets into national action plans: data and indicators, governance, and interactions between N and climate – with communication as a cross-cutting theme.

    Each working group consists of practitioners, policy/decision-makers and researchers, and early career professionals with representation from all major world regions.

    Each working group will be tasked with developing a clear and cogent plan to address their theme within the first 6-12 months of the project, with specific outputs including at least one review, perspective and/or meta-analysis paper on their topic, policy-relevant boundary objects including policy briefs and webinars, and the development of grant proposals on specific sub-themes in the final year of the project.

  • The data dashboard will be a one-stop-shop for N data from different networks, research groups, countries and disciplines, which in turn will help to provide a common foundation for the development and evaluation of national action plans to halve N waste. It will bring together and reference existing data from iN-Net partner networks and other sources, with a focus on transparently aggregating data in a way that is visually compelling and accessible.

  • Workforce development is an integral part of iN-Net, comprising research, education, leadership and professional development opportunities.

    Students and early career researchers have several opportunities to embed themselves in iN-Net activities and to develop their own N research portfolios. Opportunities include working group participation (with annual research fellowships available for those seeking leadership roles in the program); annual meeting collaborations; participation in the Nitrogen Summer Institute (in collaboration with NICCEE); and INI conference networking.

    iN-Net will also leverage our network partners focused on policy engagement and development by creating annual Policy Fellowships for 2-3 N scientists. These fellows will collaborate with iN-Net partner networks TFRN, GPNM and the UNEP NWG. They will engage in a variety of activities to be determined with the partner network.

iN-Net’s Logic Model

Who we are

iN-Net is a network of networks, greater than the sum of its parts. Through its activities, iN-Net aims to strengthen the relationships between partner networks and help shape the next nitrogen research agenda in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders via new papers, grants and public-facing outputs.

Our four-year project includes a core leadership team, rotating executive committee members, stakeholder participants in our working groups, and partner networks working in the nitrogen research and policy fields.