Fundamentals of knowledge transfer and extension

Abstract

Increasingly, forestry researchers must do more than solve abstract problems; they must also make those solutions available to those who can use them. Research results and other sources of innovation fall far short of their potential to change management practice when these resources do not become part of the working knowledge of those who will make the changes. And, once these resources are applied, the resulting adaptive management raises new questions that drive further research and knowledge development. To ensure that this iterative process occurs effectively, a process for accomplishing as many as possible of the following goals is necessary: • Application of research results: Through effective transfer of new knowledge and methodologies, research results become part of operational practice. • Validation of new knowledge: Practitioners ensure that research results are realistic based on their years of experience. • Operational testing: Practitioners test new practices and new information at an operational level to confirm whether the results are operationally significant. • Feedback that can help prioritize additional research: After applying new knowledge and practices, practitioners provide feedback to researchers to guide their future research and help them refine new research hypotheses. • Ongoing dialogue: Knowledge generators, knowledge transfer professionals, and those who apply the knowledge interact through systematic, designed or informal interactions, thereby generating new innovations that would not otherwise have occurred. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved.