BACKGROUND
Several National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) research publications have identified best practices and strategies to communicate research results, and to engage with stakeholders, fellow researchers, and the general public. These include research publications such as NCHRP Synthesis 280: Seven Keys to Building a Robust Research Program, NCHRP Report 610: Communicating the Value of Transportation Research, NCHRP Synthesis 522: Managing State Transportation Research Programs, and NCHRP Synthesis 461: Accelerating Implementation of Transportation Research Results. The NCHRP research showed that it is generally a combination of approaches and strategies that foster success, and speed the implementation of research results and realization of research benefits. The research also noted that successful communication and marketing efforts link researchers and research results with their intended audience by strengthening the information flow throughout the research process.
There is, therefore, a need for the preparation of technology transfer materials, processes, and procedures to assist state research managers in developing marketing efforts appropriate for a state DOT research program, to develop alliances with other organizations to leverage available resources, to improve access to needed skills, and to enhance consensus building.
OBJECTIVE
NCHRP has identified a consultant to develop materials, processes, and procedures for a regional technology transfer program that would address the needs of the nine member states of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Research Advisory Committee (RAC) Region 3, to communicate recently completed research that could have regional interest. The member states of RAC Region 3 are: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The research will be delivered through the fulfillment of the following tasks:
1. Develop a scoping document in conjunction with the member states of RAC Region 3.
2. Develop dissemination strategies promoting the results of five recently completed research projects. The projects will be selected by the participant states and will serve as examples of different types of research projects that may have regional interest. The dissemination strategies will include the appropriate tools and methods state DOTs can
3. Develop two example dissemination videos, showcasing two of the selected research projects. The videos will be no more than 5 minutes long each, and will be accompanied by a brief how-to-do guideline on developing similar videos.
4. Develop two 90 minute webinars on how to effectively communicate the results of research projects, to be conducted with members of the state DOT research staff, other state DOT employees, state DOT research contractors, and local agencies.
5. Conduct targeted technology transfer visits for selected research projects to develop state specific implementation activities and an additional AASHTO RAC workshop targeted more generally to all state DOTs.
6. Develop an implementation guide and a webinar documenting the implementation activities and strategies to be used by other state DOTs interested in developing similar dissemination strategies and technology transfer programs.
7. Develop a project report that documents the activities and results of this project.
