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Co-learning with researchers and practitioners on the solutions-driven research process
Citation:
Canfield, Katherine, C. Chatelain, AND K. Mulvaney. Co-learning with researchers and practitioners on the solutions-driven research process. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2022, Grand Rapids, MI, May 14 - 20, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
The challenge of excess nutrients on Cape Cod, Massachusetts requires innovative solutions to improve ecosystem health for the benefit of the human and nonhuman environment alike. In tackling this challenge, a team from EPA Office of Research and Development is piloting a solutions-driven approach to research, which is focused on community stakeholder parterships from problem definition through evaluation. As this is a pilot effort at this solutions-driven approach, it is essential to evaluate what is working well and what could be improved in future applications of the approach. This presentation explains social science findings from the perspectives of EPA researchers and community stakeholders on their experiences with this process that involves a high-level of stakeholder engagement.
Description:
Research that engages practitioners and researchers from ideation through evaluation has the potential to better meet the needs of community stakeholders and advance scientific research. One such approach being piloted at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is solutions-driven research. Within the EPA Office of Research Development, this approach is being piloted on Cape Cod (Barnstable County), Massachusetts. EPA researchers are working in close coordination with community partners on Cape Cod to better understand and address challenges with managing nonpoint source nitrogen. This presentation will provide a reflexive assessment of the perceived benefits and drawbacks for researchers and other stakeholders when there is an institutional expectation of an increased focus on engagement, and present lessons for improving solutions-driven approaches. Using results from semi-structured interviews with researchers and other stakeholders, we discuss diverse perspectives on the impacts of intentional and intensive stakeholder engagement on research efforts to improve coastal water quality. Findings include perceptions of increased usefulness of research from valuing collaborative relationships and the importance of putting in the effort to maintain strong relationships. The presentation will include key lessons and recommendations for future improvement of the research process, including how to address the need for efficient communication infrastructure and aligning practitioner and researcher long-term visions of a research project.
