NEW TEAM IMPROVES LINKS BETWEEN SCIENTIST AND FORESTER (11/05/06)
Forest Research, the research agency of the Forestry Commission, has completed the appointments of a team of three liaison officers to improve its communication with the people who use its research results.
They are Kate Fielding, who serves Scotland, Chris Jones for Wales, and Susannah Kable for England. Their appointments are part of the Commission's implementation of the Science & Innovation Strategy for British Forestry agreed by Ministers in the UK Government and the devolved administrations last year.
Their
role is to facilitate the two-way transfer of knowledge between those
who carry out the research and those, within and outside the Commission,
who use it.
To this end, they will act as conduits through which Forest Research can
inform and explain to end users what research is available and how it
can be used, and through which end users can communicate their requirements
back to those who commission and carry out research.
Their role is bound to evolve, and might do so differently in different countries, but is likely to include:
*
evaluation of efforts to improve the dissemination of Forest Research's
findings to end users;
* development of strategies for long-term improvement of knowledge transfer
to land managers;
* identify areas where the organisation is perceived to be performing
well and where it can improve;
* provide information about the commissioning and procurement of research;
* improve links to the forest industries; and
* represent the Forestry Commission on country-based research forums and
initiatives.
Announcing the appointments, Professor Jim Lynch, Forest Research's Chief Executive Officer, said, "I'm delighted that we now have this team in place to fulfil this key role for us.
"One of the perennial challenges for research organisations is to fully understand and fulfil what the end users of research results need, and to help them to take advantage of research results to achieve innovation.
"The Science & Innovation Strategy rightly focuses on the importance of this, and challenges us to do better. The Strategy also makes provision for funding a new approach, and I know we will be proved to have spent it wisely in appointing Kate, Chris and Susannah. With the backing of the rest of my Communications Group, and of our partners in the Commission's National Offices and Silvan House (the Commission's head office in Edinburgh), they will be invaluable in helping to bridge this gap between doer and user.
"I think it is important that we do this through individuals, because everything we know points to the efficacy of face-to-face contact in translating research findings into everyday practice, and these three will be in the front line of providing it."
The Research Liaison Officers are part of Forest Research's Communications Group, and their contact details are: Kate Fielding - Northern Research Station, near Roslin, Midlothian; telephone: 0131 445 6973; e-mail: kate.fielding@forestry.gsi.gov.uk; Chris Jones - Talybont, Wales; telephone: 01874 676444; e-mail: chris.jones@forestry.gsi.gov.uk; and Susannah Kable - Alice Holt Lodge, near Farnham, Surrey; telephone: 01420 526188; e-mail: susannah.kable@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.
The full text of the Science & Innovation Strategy for British Forestry is available via a link at www.forestry.gov.uk/research, and further information about Forest Research is available at www.forestresearch.gov.uk.
