RESCOPAR Inception meeting
Can Tho University (Vietnam) hosted the kick-off of the RESCOPAR project from 28 - 30 April 2006. Over the course of two days 28 scientists and practitioners from Wageningen University (teh Netherlands), Can Tho University (Vietnam), Mulawarman University, The Indonesian Institute of Sciences-LIPI, WWF-Indonesia (Indonesia), the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and Pacific (NACA, Thailand) and OXFAM-NOVIB discussed the goals, research agenda and deliverables of the four research themes of the program. A start was made to define the terms of reference for the nine PhD studies that will be carried out in the coastal areas of the Mekong Delta in Ca Mau province and in the Berau Delta in East-Kalimantan province. Special attention was given to the interaction between the nine studies and the ways in which interdisciplinarity can be achieved. Vietnam proposed to install a National Advisory Comittee that would include major stakeholders to ensure their participation in the research program. NACA furthermore had highly interesting proposals to communicate research results to achieve a maximum policy effect for the program. The meeting was carried out in good spirit, and in the words of Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan who closed the meeting: "Several things need to be done, but after this kick-off it is very clear what is needed". The next Scientific Program Workshop in which all scientists and PhD students will be involved will be held in Wageningen in May 2006. Further information with: paul.vanzwieten@wur.nl