Ten Considerations for Research Funders Seeking to Enhance Knowledge Exchange and the Impact of Marine Science on Policy and Practice
Research funders can play an important role in supporting the integration of marine science into policy and practice to enable evidence-informed decision-making. However, to date, there is a paucity of guidance available to help research funders understand the specific actions they can take to suppo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.704495/full |
| _version_ | 1819028344310595584 |
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| author | Christopher Cvitanovic Christopher Cvitanovic Carina Wyborn Evora Glenn Rachel Kelly Rachel Kelly Rachel Kelly Elena Louder Elizabeth I. van Putten Elizabeth I. van Putten Angela Bednarek |
| author_facet | Christopher Cvitanovic Christopher Cvitanovic Carina Wyborn Evora Glenn Rachel Kelly Rachel Kelly Rachel Kelly Elena Louder Elizabeth I. van Putten Elizabeth I. van Putten Angela Bednarek |
| author_sort | Christopher Cvitanovic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research funders can play an important role in supporting the integration of marine science into policy and practice to enable evidence-informed decision-making. However, to date, there is a paucity of guidance available to help research funders understand the specific actions they can take to support knowledge exchange among the researchers that they fund and relevant stakeholders, particularly within marine contexts. This Brief Research Report aims to begin to fill this gap through an in-depth case study of the Lenfest Ocean Program (LOP). Specifically, through qualitative interviews with 32 participants across eight LOP funded research projects (i.e., case studies) we sought to: (i) understand the types of impacts that have resulted from the LOP funded research, (ii) determine which activities undertaken by the LOP enabled funded research projects to achieve these impacts, and (iii) synthesize findings to articulate the core lessons that have emerged from our examination of these research projects. Results show that the concept of “research impact” is complex and can be interpreted in a number of ways including: (i) raising awareness of research among end-users, (ii) development and expansion of social networks, (iii) the provision of information to decision-makers, (iv) the development of decision-support tools, and (v) a direct contribution to policy change. We highlight the ways by which the LOP has supported the attainment of these impacts, as well as 10 general considerations that research funders should consider when seeking to enhance the impact of the research that they fund on marine policy and practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T05:56:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6531095aa6074ed4bcdf152eaf4f97ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T05:56:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-6531095aa6074ed4bcdf152eaf4f97ed2022-12-21T19:13:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452021-08-01810.3389/fmars.2021.704495704495Ten Considerations for Research Funders Seeking to Enhance Knowledge Exchange and the Impact of Marine Science on Policy and PracticeChristopher Cvitanovic0Christopher Cvitanovic1Carina Wyborn2Evora Glenn3Rachel Kelly4Rachel Kelly5Rachel Kelly6Elena Louder7Elizabeth I. van Putten8Elizabeth I. van Putten9Angela Bednarek10Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaCentre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaInstitute for Water Futures, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaW.A. Frankie College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United StatesAustralian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaCentre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaCSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaSchool of Geography, Development and Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United StatesCentre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaCSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, TAS, AustraliaEvidence Project, Research and Science, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC, United StatesResearch funders can play an important role in supporting the integration of marine science into policy and practice to enable evidence-informed decision-making. However, to date, there is a paucity of guidance available to help research funders understand the specific actions they can take to support knowledge exchange among the researchers that they fund and relevant stakeholders, particularly within marine contexts. This Brief Research Report aims to begin to fill this gap through an in-depth case study of the Lenfest Ocean Program (LOP). Specifically, through qualitative interviews with 32 participants across eight LOP funded research projects (i.e., case studies) we sought to: (i) understand the types of impacts that have resulted from the LOP funded research, (ii) determine which activities undertaken by the LOP enabled funded research projects to achieve these impacts, and (iii) synthesize findings to articulate the core lessons that have emerged from our examination of these research projects. Results show that the concept of “research impact” is complex and can be interpreted in a number of ways including: (i) raising awareness of research among end-users, (ii) development and expansion of social networks, (iii) the provision of information to decision-makers, (iv) the development of decision-support tools, and (v) a direct contribution to policy change. We highlight the ways by which the LOP has supported the attainment of these impacts, as well as 10 general considerations that research funders should consider when seeking to enhance the impact of the research that they fund on marine policy and practice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.704495/fullknowledge exchangeresearch impactresearch fundersscience-policymarine management |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Cvitanovic Christopher Cvitanovic Carina Wyborn Evora Glenn Rachel Kelly Rachel Kelly Rachel Kelly Elena Louder Elizabeth I. van Putten Elizabeth I. van Putten Angela Bednarek Ten Considerations for Research Funders Seeking to Enhance Knowledge Exchange and the Impact of Marine Science on Policy and Practice Frontiers in Marine Science knowledge exchange research impact research funders science-policy marine management |
| title | Ten Considerations for Research Funders Seeking to Enhance Knowledge Exchange and the Impact of Marine Science on Policy and Practice |
| title_full | Ten Considerations for Research Funders Seeking to Enhance Knowledge Exchange and the Impact of Marine Science on Policy and Practice |
| title_fullStr | Ten Considerations for Research Funders Seeking to Enhance Knowledge Exchange and the Impact of Marine Science on Policy and Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ten Considerations for Research Funders Seeking to Enhance Knowledge Exchange and the Impact of Marine Science on Policy and Practice |
| title_short | Ten Considerations for Research Funders Seeking to Enhance Knowledge Exchange and the Impact of Marine Science on Policy and Practice |
| title_sort | ten considerations for research funders seeking to enhance knowledge exchange and the impact of marine science on policy and practice |
| topic | knowledge exchange research impact research funders science-policy marine management |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.704495/full |
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