MRI Community Survey Form

1.1) What is your role in mountain research?Select all that apply

Researcher (natural sciences)

Researcher (social sciences / humanities)

Practitioner / development professional

Policy advisor / policymaker

Early-career researcher / student

Coordination / facilitation role

Other

1.2) Please select the different ways you engage with the MRI. The MRI's activities are structured around Flagship Activities and Community-Led Activities.(click all that apply)

Newsletter

Community-Led activities (e.g., Working Groups)

Flagship Activities (e.g., GEO Mountains)

Funding Calls

Other MRI events (e.g., Conferences / workshops)

As a member of the MRI Governing Body (past or present)

Other

1.3) How long have you been connected to the MRI network?

Less than 1 year

1 - 3 years

4 - 10 years

More than 10 years

1.4) In which region(s) do you primarily work?

Global / cross regional

Africa

Asia

Europe

Latin American & Caribbean

North America

Other

2.1) Overall, how well do you think the MRI fulfils its functions as a global network for mountain research?

2.2) In your view, what is the MRI's most important contribution to the mountain research community today?

2.3) Without the MRI, what would the mountain research community most clearly lose?

3.1) Are you familiar with the MRI's Objectives?

Yes

Somewhat

3.2) Please indicate how well you think the MRI is currently doing in meeting each of our objectives.

3.3) What do you feel should be the MRI's objectives going forward post 2026?

3.4) If you have any other recommendations for objectives and thematic areas of work upon which the MRI should focus, please specify here.

4.1) In your opinion, how well do you think that the MRI Coordination Office undertakes the following functions

4.2) Please rank the following functions of the MRI Coordination Office in terms of their relevance to you.From most relevant to least relevant

4.3) If you would like to elaborate on your responses to the MRI Coordination Office functions, please do so below.

5.1) Before today, were you aware of the following MRI flagship activities?

5.2) If yes, then how relevant are these projects to your work?

6.1) Are you currently involved in an MRI Working Group?

Yes

No, but interested

No, not interested at this time

I don't know what the MRI working groups are

6.2) If Yes, then how effective are the MRI's Working Groups in the following:

6.3) Are you or have you participated in an MRI synthesis workshop?

Yes

No, but interested

No, not interested at this time

I don't know what the MRI synthesis workshops are

6.4) If Yes, then how effective are the MRI's synthesis workshops in the following:

6.5) What could the MRI do better to support community-led activities (e.g., Working Groups / synthesis workshops)?

6.6a) Have you ever used the MRI Expert Database to search for a mountain research expert?

YESNO

6.6b) If Yes, did you find the search function easy to use?

YESNO

6.7) Do you have any recommendations on how you think the search or other functions of the database could be improved?

7.1) Which communications approaches would help you feel more connected to others in the MRI network? Select all that apply

Thematic digests showcasing researchers or projects

Curated introductions or ‘you might want to connect with...’ features (via newsletter or social media channels)

Short format virtual interactions or Q&A sessions with guest researchers, projects, or programs (e.g., 30-minute Zoom drop-ins)

More community-generated content (e.g., members share insights, field notes, new publications)

Opportunities to respond to questions or prompts from the MRI community (e.g., LinkedIn threads, social media polls)

Regional communication threads or updates

Networking ‘micro-moments’ hosted at existing conferences (e.g., coffee meet-up announcements, shared social media hashtags)

Clearer information on how to engage

Other

7.2) When MRI communications arrive in your inbox or social media feed, what makes you stop and pay attention? Select all that apply

Regional relevance

Career or funding opportunities

Calls, events, or time-sensitive items

Research summaries or insights

Human stories or profiles from the mountain research community

Regional communication threads or updates

Visual formats (e.g., images, infographics, short videos)

Very concise communication

Thematic focus relevant to my field

Other

7.3) Do you feel any groups, topics, or perspectives are under-served or underrepresented in MRI communications? For example, disciplines, regions, career stages, languages, stakeholder groups, research themes, etc.

7.4) If MRI were to introduce one new communication format in the coming year, which would add the most value for you?

Regional spotlight updates

Thematic research digests or curated reading lists

Webinars on specific themes

Researcher stories or field diaries

Collaboration or partnership bulletin (digest of upcoming opportunities)

Short visual summaries (e.g., infographics, micro-videos)

‘Failure’ case learning notes

Other

7.4b) Why did you choose this option?

8.1) How do you feel about the current GEO Mountains communication approach?

I appreciate receiving GEO Mountains updates through the MRI newsletter

I miss the dedicated GEO Mountains monthly email round-up

I would prefer a mix of MRI newsletter content and occasional dedicated GEO Mountains updates

I am not familiar with GEO Mountains communication channels

Other

8.2) Looking ahead, what would you most like GEO Mountains to focus on in the coming year?

Continue fulfilling the MRI's goal on promoting long-term monitoring and observations in mountain regions

Data, monitoring, and information products (e.g., inventories, datasets, platforms)

Policy engagement and support (e.g., by providing discussion platform around data governance)

Capacity building and support for Early Career Researchers

Events and workshops (online or in-person)

Thematic task groups

Communicate on mountain data and information

I am not familiar enough with GEO Mountains activities

Advocacy and engagement within the Group on Earth Observations

Other

8.3. Do you have any suggestions, recommendations, or expectations for upcoming GEO Mountains activities?

9.1) In your opinion what would success for the MRI look like in 5 years?

9.2) If you have any other suggestions, improvements, or comments that haven't already been addressed in previous questions, please feel free to add them here.

9.3) If you agree to us contacting you for follow up regarding any ideas or suggestions, please leave your email below.