WORKSHOP: Synergies Between Actionable Research and Implementation Science with Professor Janet G. Hering Director Emerita, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Elected Member, U.S. National Academy of Engineering and of Academia Euro

4:00 Welcome
4:05 Presentation by Prof. Hering: Synergies between Actionable Research and Implementation Science
4:30 Q & A
4:40 Erin Bryan (MS student, CCA): Staffing Needed to Implement Climate Adaptation in Worcester County Agriculture
4:50 Lightning talk, Varun Bhat (PhD student, CCA): Implementing a Climate-Ready Workforce in our Society:
Barriers and Considerations
5:00 Breakout discussion
5:20 Return to group discussion
5:50 Reception, refreshments

The goal of actionable research is to be useful in informing policy and practice. Fulfilling 
this intention requires research design that incorporates several aspects.

1) Desired project outcomes should be explicitly included in project design and 
planning. Target outputs that would foster such desired outcomes should be 
identified and incorporated as goals for the project.
2) Integration and synthesis should be explicitly identified as necessary activities 
throughout the project and as a goal for the project.
3) Milestones that can be linked to eventual uptake of project results should be 
identified and tracked during the project and also after its completion.

 
Designing effective actionable research requires serious attention to the needs and 
interests of potential implementation partners (and ideally direct involvement of their 
representatives) at formative stages of project development. These aspects are also 
characteristic of implementation science, which offers a variety of frameworks and tools 
to promote the sustainable uptake of research into practice. These overlapping 
approaches will be examined in the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

Time and resources must also be budgeted for knowledge exchange, which may benefit 
from involvement of (non-academic) knowledge brokers. Equitable acknowledgement of 
contributions made by project participants with varying background and expertise can 
help to foster the partnerships needed for effective actionable research. Contact with 
non-academic project partners and stakeholders can also support early career researchers 
in identifying alternative career tracks. Finally, diversity in project teams should be 
fostered as a source of innovation.