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 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

Regional Knowledge Resource Kit & training package:

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

• 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)

AANRO – Drivers for Redevelopment

Gateway AANRO

Streamline ABOA

Metadata:Author _____________Title _______________Affiliation ___________Abstract __________________________________________________Subject _____________Places ______________URL _______________

www.aanro.net

AANRO Mgt

Committee

Redevelopment

Collaboration:RDC’s, State

Agencies, CSIRO etc.

Research in progress

Finalreports

Repository AANRO

Inte

rface

Dig.Obj.

Regional KB

PublicRegional KB

Private

Dig.Obj.

Summary

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)

• 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

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