Use of bioaerosol stakeholder mapping and engagement for the development of future strategic collaborations: a UK perspective

Stakeholder mapping is a process that involves identifying, characterizing and visualizing the connections between stakeholders. It is important to understand the main influencers and those with an interest in or affected by a certain project or field. Stakeholders can have diverse perspectives and priorities, some complementary and others conflicting, and it is important to develop effective engagement strategies to facilitate progress with the desired impact. Here, we present the first such analysis for the bioaerosol research field. This study presents data from a survey and outcomes from workshops attended by researchers with an interest in bioaerosols. Bioaerosols are airborne particles from biological origin that can have diverse and serious effects on public health. Stakeholders were identified and analysed in terms of sector, engagement type, interest and influence scores, expertise and the nature of the relationships between them. Limitations of this study are discussed with suggestions for improvements. The workshops included discussions on missing stakeholders, skills and knowledge gaps, the uses of stakeholder mapping and how to facilitate skill sharing, collaboration and effective progress in the future. We share this to provide a simple but successful approach for researchers with no previous practical experience in stakeholder mapping to modify, use and realize similar benefits within their own fields.