|
|
|
Scientific discovery alone can not ensure a viable economy for Florida or the sustained use of the state’s coastal environment. Discovery must be accompanied by a speedy transfer of scientific results to the public and private sectors in a format they can use. Making the discovery and accomplishing this transfer of information is what the Florida Sea Grant College Program is all about. Being a part of a national network, having a statewide vision, being multi-institutional and interdisciplinary and having funding with a research, education and extension focus will make Sea Grant successful.
Research and education priorities are set by widespread public input from research, extension and communications faculty, professionals in local, state and regional agencies, industry and citizens. This strategic plan results from that input. To implement the strategic plan, research projects are chosen through a stiff biennial peer review competition. Extension major focus areas are planned on a four-year basis, with annual adjustments. Research and extension priorities then drive the communications process, along with communications priorities derived on the basis of continuing input from the media sector.
Results can only be achieved through the work of dedicated professionals and the support of the Florida academic institutions who participate as partners with Florida Sea Grant. Once the formal and lengthy two-year implementation plan is submitted to the National Sea Grant office in proposal format, a two-year implementation plan in lay language is developed for FSG participants and stakeholders that defines measurable goals, the audience, the products and activities, who will deliver the products and activities, the performance indicators and measures of impacts and the exit strategy. This is complemented each year with an annual work plan containing specific faculty tasks, and an annual performance report that documents accomplishments and benefits against each task from the previous year.
The plan is built around goals that when addressed will solve problems or create opportunities. It is not built around processes. Using research, education and technology transfer to address societal needs requires a strategic approach along with tailored tools and techniques designed to solve specific problems. One problem may require a substantial research effort. Another may need the transfer of existing information. The solution to a third problem may depend on an intensive educational effort to develop a new source of human capital. Solving other problems may require substantial extension networking with agencies, industries or communities to bring people together in a common activity. Of course, the successful solution to some problems will require all these elements. Florida Sea Grant has a demonstrated record of success in designing the best possible approach to solving the problems resulting from human interaction with the state’s coastal environment. Florida Sea Grant thrives on accountability. It is the role of management to help determine the highest priority needs, keep the correct balance of research, education, extension and communications focused on solving the problem or creating the opportunity, to recruit the best talent to work on the issue, to secure the funds to support the work and to track progress against the performance goals. It is also the role of management to create an environment in which faculty, agency and industry partners thrive and prosper.
One of Florida Sea Grant’s major products is research that can be provided on a rapid response schedule to address priority problems identified by faculty, agencies, businesses and citizens. Sea Grant’s state/local network provides valuable access to grassroots constituencies and a way to get programs and solutions out to those who need them. Sea Grant can also use this network to form collaborations between local interests and researchers to see that the most pressing research questions are addressed.
Sea Grant has many markets and constituents, from state governments, to coastal environmental managers, to local fishing industries. It serves as a clearinghouse for the latest research results related to marine sciences and as a neutral broker on marine-related issues. Sea Grant’s wide range of programs ensures that all constituencies have access to this information to help make policy and business decisions. It provides educational briefings and seminars for federal and state policy makers, as well as for the public at large. It helps local government officials, planners and developers integrate scientific information into practical decision making in ways that promote sound land use and sustainable development. Sea Grant’s extension programs provide technical assistance to the full spectrum of coastal dependent industries—aquaculture, marinas, commercial and recreational fishing—to help them with product and market development.
As a consequence of the reach of the program, Sea Grant has become a training ground for skilled researchers and outreach workers in marine science disciplines. Sea Grant recruits, trains and employs graduate students, post-doctoral students and senior researchers and professionals, helping to build a statewide and national “brain trust” for dealing with economic and environmental challenges and opportunities in the coastal arena.
|
|
|
Previous