Throwing Back the Curtain: Sharing Knowledge About NOAA’s R2X Transition Practices, Processes, and Policies to Promote More Equitable R&D Opportunities

Researchers learn how to navigate NOAA’s R2X transition practices, processes, and polices via experience conducting NOAA-funded research, collaborating with operational partners, or transitioning research and development critical to NOAA’s mission (Elliott et al., 2023). It is unclear, however, how individuals can gain this experiential knowledge if they have yet to collaborate with NOAA. This also raises a question as to whether having prior experience with NOAA R2X may provide an advantage when developing proposals for funding opportunities (DiPrete and Eirich 2006). To increase the number and diversity of researchers submitting competitive proposals to NOAA, program managers and transition staff have been sharing competition and R2X transition information more broadly, through engagement in outreach opportunities with the NOAA Central Library via NOAA Library Webinars and Fireside Chats. These efforts have received positive feedback and were highly attended, highlighting the broad interest in learning how to effectively transition research deliverables. To continue to make more progress and remain inclusive of individuals who may lack prior NOAA transition knowledge, more effective outreach and engagement is needed with the external weather, water, and climate community.

The goal of this annual panel session is to share, transfer, and impart important NOAA R2X transition knowledge to individuals in the academic, private, and public sectors. This will be accomplished by featuring lightning talks from NOAA experts in R2X transitions and transition processes. The panelists will discuss a variety of topics, including but not limited to: (1) the basics of NOAA’s R2X transition practices, processes, and policies; (2) NOAA’s readiness levels; (3) advice, tips, and helpful hints for navigating NOAA’s transition plan development process; (4) success stories and best practices for developing effective operational collaborations; and (5) previous experiences and/or guidance for transferring social and physical science knowledge to the agency. Feedback from the widely attended panel session at the 2023 AMS Annual Meeting suggested we continue to host such events. As such, we are excited to continue this outreach and engagement opportunity with the broader weather, water, and climate enterprise. Join us as we “throw back the curtain” and share NOAA’s R2X practices, processes, and policies to make research and development opportunities more accessible and equitable for all.

The panelists will include Castle Williamsberg (NOAA’s Weather Program Office), Andrew Peck (NOAA Office of Research Transitions), Wendy Sellers (NWS’ Science and Technology Integration), Wayne Mackenzie (NOAA’s Technology Partnership Office), and Annette Hollingshead (NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory).

References:

Elliott, Steve, Gina Eosco, Joseph Conran, and Laura Newcomb. “Institutional Values Influence the Design and Evaluation of Transition Knowledge in Funding Proposals at NOAA.” (Accepted). Philosophy of Science.

DiPrete, Thomas A., and Gregory M. Eirich. 2006. “Cumulative Advantage as a Mechanism for Inequality: A Review of Theoretical and Empirical Developments.” Annual Review of Sociology. 32: 271–97.