Transcript Slide 1

Improving the NRM Knowledge System
for Regions
Nerida Hart, Program Manager, Knowledge for Regional
NRM
Overview
• Land & Water Australia
• Knowledge for Regional NRM Phase 1
• Knowledge for Regional NRM Phase 2
– 3 packages
• Australian Agriculture and Natural
Resources Online (AANRO)
Land & Water Australia
• Statutory research and development (R&D) corporation
within the Australian Government Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry portfolio
• Established in 1990 as the Land and Water Resources
Research and Development Corporation (LWRRDC)
under the Primary Industries & Energy Research &
Development (PIERD) Act 1989
• One of 14 R&D Corporations and related companies
• Managed corporately, independent Board (CAC Act)
• $12.6m appropriation; ~$36m R&D spend (2006-7)
• >30 co-investing partners
What does LWA do?
• We’re in the knowledge business
• We buy, broker and manage research, we
don’t do it
• Our research aims to support sustainable
resource management
Knowledge for Regional NRM
Programme
Phase 1 - Early 2005 to June 2006
– Scoping, collaboration, initial delivery
Regionally identified
knowledge issues from Phase One - examples
•
•
•
Need to reduce fragmentation of information
sources
Ability to better define and communicate
knowledge needs to establish a more relevant
R&D agenda
Support to further develop information-seeking
and management practices
Phase One issues cont
•
•
More information needs to be available at a
scale relevant to regional decision-making
Account for the diversity of circumstances and
user preferences with regard to accessing
information (variability across regions and
individuals)
Knowledge for Regional NRM
Phase 2 - July 2006 to June 2008
– Test concepts, develop products and
services, commence implementation
• 3 packages of products and services
Where our services target the NRM Knowledge System
Package 1: Better Practice in Knowledge
Management for Regions
Regional Knowledge Resource Kit & training package:
– Regional Knowledge Strategies developed through a 5-stage
process which explores 3 lines of enquiry:
• Information systems mapping
• Information needs surveys (internal staff & external stakeholder)
• Narrative
– Visit www.rkrk.net.au for full details
Package 1: Better Practice in Knowledge
Management for Regions
– Development:
• Pilots with 5 regional bodies
• Expert input from consultants Anecdote Pty Ltd
• Concludes December 2007
– Implementation:
• To be facilitated in regions across Australia by
Regional Knowledge Leaders
• Commences January 2008
Package 2: NRM Toolbar
– Version 1 (Released week of 2 October 2007):
• Includes customised NRM Search Engine, databases of Decision support
tools, brokering services, events, knowledge needs and e-networks
• Development benefiting from collaboration with education investments
through involvement of Education.au Limited
• See www.nrmtoolbar.net.au
– Before the end of 2007:
• Regional Knowledge Bases
• NRM Toolbar interface
– In first 6 months of 2008:
• R&D Directory
• Funding database
• Knowledge Market Report
Package 2: NRM Toolbar
Package 3: Knowledge Brokering for Regions
– ‘Gotta question’
• Online form to submit questions available
• 1300 307 457 number now available
– Systematic Reviews
• More than a literature search: questioning, searching, appraising,
applying and evaluating
• A new way of thinking about NRM research synthesis
• Example from evidence-based medicine: Cochrane Collaboration
• Currently investigating options to pilot the approach
Package 3: Knowledge Brokering for Regions
– Networks of expertise (Communities of practice)
• CoP for Knowledge Brokers initiated in October 2007
• Potential new CoP being proposed for South Australia
– Supporting NRM innovations
• Opportunistic support of region to region mentoring
• Developing a guideline to allocate funding
– Collaborative Regional Investment
• Identifying opportunities for regions to collaboratively invest
in research – as Knowledge Needs Database populated and
‘Gotta question’ requests received
AANRO – what is it?
• A national R&D bibliographic database for Agriculture and
Natural Resources Management – contains research in
progress and final reports
• Initiative of the Australian Government in partnership with
the States, NRMSC, PISC & RDCs
• Integrated knowledge and discovery tool for research and
extension information.
• Content sourced from RDCs, CRCs, and Federal and State
Government Departments
AANRO – Drivers for
Redevelopment
• National Agriculture and NRM R&D annual spend over $1bil - If
we drop the ball now, we’ll need to reinvent it within 5 years, at
much greater cost
• Crowded, fragmented scene – multiple databases with much cross
over and duplication
• Publicly funded research outputs should be freely accessible and
searchable online (Research Quality Framework, E-Research
Strategy, Code of Conduct for Responsible Research, OECD)
Summary
Gateway AANRO
www.aanro.net
Streamline
Repository AANRO
Redevelopment
Dig.
Obj.
ABOA
AANRO Mgt
Committee
Collaboration:
RDC’s, State Agencies,
CSIRO etc.
Research in
progress
Final
reports
Interface
Metadata:
Author _____________
Title _______________
Affiliation ___________
Abstract ____________
___________________
___________________
Subject _____________
Places ______________
URL _______________
Dig.
Obj.
Regional KB
Public
Regional KB
Private
AANRO - Now
•
Management Committee established (6 – GRDC, HAL, DAFWA,
DPI, Joint Team)
•
LWA selected as agency to manage AANRO:
•
•
Manage contracts with service providers
•
Development of new system to meet needs
•
Communication and Marketing
•
Arrange training for participants
Consolidate partner buy–in and ongoing support (contracts – over
30 agencies)
AANRO – Future
• Linking other knowledge repositories - Regional Knowledge
Bases to be included
• Integrated into agencies’ knowledge management systems:
– Corangamite CMA, LWA, Meat & Livestock Australia,
Fisheries RDC, Livestock Library
– retain identity, use AANRO to improve their websites and
manage knowledge assets (upload critical)
• Link to the NRM Toolbar to expose the research
AANRO – Future cont.
•
Currently testing various open source options with USQ
•
Once testing is completed and the final report available we will
go to tender for a hosting and development organization
•
•
Goal is to be recognised as the trusted source for agriculture
and natural resource management research and information for
Australia
One of the first discipline based repositories for Australia
•
Launch date March 08
Any questions?
Further information on the Knowledge for Regional NRM Programme
can be found at www.lwa.gov.au/regionalknowledge
The Regional Knowledge Resource Kit can be found at www.rkrk.net.au
The NRM Toolbar can be found at www.nrmtoolbar.net.au