Using the Sea Grant model for successful research to application projects

As coastal landscapes change, management professionals are working hard to transition research results into actions that support scientifically informed decisions impacting our coastal communities. Sea Grant is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Research Office and provides funding for a network of 34 programs in every coastal and Great Lake state in the United States, as well as the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. To solve the urgent problems confronting coastal communities, Sea Grant implements an integrated model of research, education, and extension. Our goal is to explore Sea Grant’s historical and current research and extension projects to better understand how this model effectively transitions university-based research into tangible results for its stakeholder communities. Successful research to application projects require an understanding of stakeholder needs, well-designed scientific research, collaborative partnerships, effective communication, and adequate resources for transition. Through this analysis, we provide methodology and case studies on best practices for harnessing research and local extension agents to apply the Sea Grant model.