This is a draft Notice of Intent to Apply (NOI)2 for the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) 2026 International Joint Initiative for Research Harnessing Disruptive Technologies to Address Global Challenges1
Keywords:
World Network of Biosphere Reserves, Systems Of Systems Data Integration, AI Knowledge Assistance, Human-Nature-Digital Interaction, Ecofeminist Metaverse, Libraries, Environmental Humanities, Digital Humanities, Information Science, Environmental Science,
Summary of the proposal (maximum 2,500 characters – currently 3320, too long):
Our proposed project can be described as “Building the Ecology of the Metaverse,” and aims to integrate socio-ecological systems thinking into metaverse design, cultivating curiosity-driven exploration and fostering local action with global implications. Objectives include co-creating immersive experiential environments, integrating knowledge infrastructures of relevance to biosphere reserves, and developing a framework for responsible, sustainable digital innovation.
Biosphere reserves (BR), like all initiatives addressing complex challenges, suffer from fragmentation, structural, institutional, and perceptional/ideational challenges as well as governance constraints and narrative complexities. Our approach improves the knowledge management required to effectively conserve biological and cultural diversity in biosphere reserves. The integrated data management and knowledge assistance modules will facilitate socially and culturally sustainable economic development, using biosphere reserves as case study; and provide logistic support for research, monitoring, education, and training. The most important stakeholder group is BR practitioners facing these challenges, together with making BRs accessible to newcomers, in order to grow the BR network. Our relevant stakeholder groups also include researchers working in this field, and growing the knowledge network to reach researchers who can contribute interdisciplinary solutions.
Connecting biosphere reserves with local libraries contributes to the development of a sustainable, democratic society by strengthening the role of libraries in knowledge transfer and the free formation of opinions. Pursuing this approach through a feminist ethic of care ensures the repair of our relationships with nature, each other, and ourselves by restoring the human capabilities that are vital to reach across the boundaries of conflict and difference.
Partnering disruptive technologies – including system of systems data integration, extended reality (XR) visual design, integrated knowledge base development and AI development – with established institutions, allows integrating the environmental expertise of biosphere reserves and the knowledge custodianship of libraries with the disruptive potential of innovation to accelerate global sustainability transformation.
In the convergence of multiple crises, accelerating learning that strengthens the mutual flourishing of life has become critical. Leveraging the power of collective learning through networks amplifies sustainability transformation and allows locally relevant agency to scale globally. This proposal targets not just the technological development to support this learning, but also considers the personal development necessary for this learning to be effective. Through facilitating people’s engagement with politically charged scientific questions, supported by an integrated knowledge infrastructure, we are directly responding to SDG goal 17 – improving Partnerships for the Goals, and by cultivating a feminist ethic of care that strengthens local governance, we contribute to goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Improving the functioning of biosphere reserves as a case study specifically responds to SDG goals 13. Climate Action, 14. Life Below Water and 15. Life on Land.
We are looking for people who work in the following areas to join the consortium:
- Complementary disruptive technologies
- Social / Community Psychology, Convergence Culture, Game approaches
- Feminist philosophy, Ecofeminism, Environmental Humanities, Digital Humanities
- Library Science Researchers and Library practitioners
- Biosphere Reserve Researchers and practitioner groups
Then, more admin stuff the NOI requires:
Application [working] title: The use of disruptive technologies towards improving the functions of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).3
Language of the application: English
Indigenous research: Not explicitly (can be included if relevant partners join)
Sustainable Development Goals: (17) Partnerships for the Goals, and (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Relevant to the biosphere reserves as a case study: (13) Climate Action, (14) Life Below Water, (15) Life on Land
Funding organizations: Nordforsk, NFRF. Pending: UK, Spain, Brazil, Taiwan
Participants
Seeking: Co-PI who will act as project lead for the project overall
Confirmed team as of 26 January 2026:
- Mengjie Han4, Dalarna University, Sweden: data-intensive methodologies and algorithms
- Kim Nevelsteen5, Root Interface, Sweden: system of systems data integration
- Bernelle Verster6, independent researcher searching for affiliation & mentorship: transformation of expertise; building new knowledge alliances that incorporate a wider range of expertise, considered from a feminist ethic of care.
Required research fields (seeking participants):
- Complementary disruptive technologies
- Social / Community Psychology, Convergence Culture, Game approaches
- Feminist philosophy, Ecofeminism, Environmental Humanities, Digital Humanities
- Library Science Researchers and Library practitioners
- Biosphere Reserve Researchers and practitioner groups
Collaborators: N/A currently
Socio-economic objectives7
RDS102 Environmental protection:
RDS10201 Environmentally sustainable human activities
RDS10205 Control and care of the environment
RDS104 Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures (including buildings):
RDS10406 Communication technologies, systems and services
RDS111 Political and social systems, structures and processes:
RDS11108 Environment, urban, and rural planning and development
RDS11110 Social justice
RDS11199 Political and social systems, structure and processes, n.e.c.
Up to five fields of research8
RDF102 Computer and information sciences
RDF105 Earth and related environmental sciences
RDF203 Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and information engineering
RDF501 Psychology and cognitive sciences
RDF605 Other humanities (not sure which one to choose)
Footnotes:
1https://sshrc-crsh.canada.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/international/2026/competition-concours-eng.aspx
2https://sshrc-crsh.canada.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/international/2026/guide_NOI-guide_AIPD-eng.aspx NOI due 3 March 2026 to be submitted by NFRF co-PI on the Convergence Portal: https://www.convergence.gc.ca/en/
3https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/wnbr and with specific interest to islands: https://www.islandbiosphere.org/
4https://www.du.se/en/profile-page/?userId=1998840910
6https://indiebio.co.za/ , and project coordinator of similar project: https://aquasavvy.eu/ through collaborative research position at CICS-NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal (not eligible for this call)
7https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?Function=getVD&TVD=1278005
8https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?Function=getVD&TVD=1278187