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SPEAKER: Dr. Michael Crimmins
Dr. Crimmins is on the faculty of the Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science at the University of Arizona and is a Climate Science Extension Specialist for Arizona Cooperative Extension. In this position he provides climate science support to resource managers across Arizona by assessing information needs, synthesizing and transferring relevant research results and conducting applied research projects. His extension and research work supports resource management across multiple sectors including rangelands, forests/wildfire, and water resources as well as informing policy and decision makers.
DATE: October 22, 2014
TIME: 3:00-4:00 pm
LOCATION: Marley Building, Room 230
ABSTRACT:
Science policy analysts (e.g. McNie, 2007) argue that researchers have concentrated on increasing the supply of scientific information often without a careful, preliminary assessment of what information might be needed or useful. This idea could certainly be applied to climate science and Extension?s role in reconciling the supply and demand of climate science information should be carefully examined. Rather than using the Extension system to find a ?home? for an endless supply of climate information, Extension should be used as originally designed in assessing the demand for information and working to meet those demands. In the realm of climate science this often includes finding a place for complex data and model outputs in existing extension programs, conducting new and ongoing climate science needs assessments and working to tailor education programs and applied research projects to local needs.
Climate extension efforts at the University of Arizona have strived to follow this model of assessing needs and developing innovative data products and outreach strategies. This presentation will highlight several of these efforts including a recently completed study of climate service needs assessed through multiple focus groups across Arizona.