Knowledge and technology transfer
Landcare Research participates in a variety of activities to support knowledge and technology transfer to end users and drive the adoption of new approaches, tools and techniques that we have developed. In addition to scientific papers and commissioned contract reports, Landcare Research uses a multitude of channels to disseminate information. They include existing industry pathways (professional magazines, conferences, newsletters, outreach networks, social and other media) and national and regional policy and regulatory agencies, hui, training workshops, embedding knowledge through secondments, and through our own regular newsletters and publications. Our online resources are becoming increasingly important and are experiencing strong growth. Such initiatives are particularly important for community groups, who are increasingly well-informed and expect access to up-to-date information. Ultimately, our successful history of knowledge transfer relies on the strong collaborative relationships we develop and grow
Knowledge and technology transfer pathways are increasingly related to formal collaborative networks, although communicating more effectively with the public is a growing focus in terms of raising awareness about the environmental challenges facing New Zealand and how research can help solve them. The BioHeritage Challenge will provide new approaches linked to knowledge and technology transfer activities, as well as enabling our work to have much wider uptake. Landcare Research also participates in other National Science Challenges and the Lincoln Hub, which will be significant in terms of knowledge and technology transfer. The National Land Resource Centre (www.nlrc.org.nz), a consortium initiated and led by Landcare Research, plays a vital role in knowledge and technology transfer.
Key 2016/17 knowledge and technology transfer activities include:
- Continuing to make new, authoritative information readily available through
- high-profile, internationally recognised scientific papers, authoritative online publications and newsletters targeted to specific end users
- open access to web-based data portals, including biodiversity and taxonomic and other digitised information with user-friendly ‘how to’ guidelines and resources that synthesise the latest information.
- specialist species identification services (including DNA technologies) and risk management advice to support biosecurity agencies and the primary.
- Developing stakeholder awareness, capability and capacity, including through
- strengthening partnerships with industry (e.g. dairy sector on riparian management), councils (e.g. integrating local authorities in research) and communities (e.g. iwi involvement in research)
- developing new relationships with Māori collectives and trusts to identify development opportunities within a kaitiakitanga framework
- new marae-based training courses on land-use capability, soils and ecosystem services
- providing training workshops for biodiversity and biocontrol officers and disseminating information via publications, newsletters and our websites
- growing awareness of the policy relevance of our research through our LINK seminars, Regional Council roadshows and policy briefs.
As well as activities focused on driving uptake of research by public sector and industry end users, we have a strong and strategic focus on communicating and raising awareness of our research and how to access it. We engage and share our success stories with the general public via our range of websites and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn) and engage with mainstream and specialist media, science and agribusiness publications and their digital platforms. We participate in and host public events such as BioBlitz, Biosecurity Bonanza and NatureHack, and communicate with the community via school talks and visits to our Collections and stalls at community events, and we engage with teachers on RSNZ Fellowships. Increasingly, we are engaging with young New Zealanders through our Unlocking Curious Minds projects.
Central to our knowledge and technology transfer strategy is the ongoing development of web-based information resources, data portals and user-friendly online guides. Key initiatives planned for 2016/17 include enhancing the relevance, impact and use of Collections-derived knowledge, including eBiota; improving web service infrastructure; making key information available to biosecurity agencies and the primary sector via development of online diagnostic tools.