2022 SOST Opportunities and Actions Roundtable
Summary: Inequities in accessible science training and ineffective engagement of local experts reduces the impact of U.S. technology, innovation, and expertise that would otherwise result from Federal research activities. An increased focus on developing a diverse and inclusive blue workforce through federally-funded activities would benefit underserved local communities while strengthening the job outlooks for ocean-related careers.
For instance, Federal projects working on-the-ground across the U.S., in territories, or with international partners should identify co-designed opportunities to bolster local talent, e.g. by offering shadowing for early career students and training researchers on new technology or methodologies. Better connecting experts from central governmental offices to those in the region they are working with is a cost-effective way to carry out research while supporting cross-cutting themes, although this outreach, mentorship, and training work does require dedicated budget allocations.
Furthermore, to support burgeoning regional expertise, local experts should be considered as contract bidders using criteria that reflect the value of local understanding for the area’s conditions and potential project risks. Contractors that routinely bring in a small number of outside experts decrease the geographical distribution of economic opportunities.
During these research activities, deploying and leaving low-cost, easy-to-use instruments or tools with local partners establishes a pipeline of technology transfer to where it is needed, creating impact beyond the period of performance.
Realizing practices such as these in the work that federal agencies support and implement represents an avenue to accomplish the goals laid out in the Opportunities and Actions Report.
Sector: NGO
Organization: The Ocean Foundation
POC: Alexis Valauri-Orton, avalauriorton@oceanfdn.org
Other Contacts: Kaitlyn Lowder; klowder@oceanfdn.org