Poster Details
WESTERN STATES COORDINATED RESEARCH EFFORT: INCREASING COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION AMONG AQUATIC SCIENTISTS
Communication of ideas, findings, and raw data can be accomplished almost instantly by most researchers on Earth. A major constraint faced by those who could potentially collaborate, is a disconnection among scientists whose work is not always published. Examples of this work include regional reports, SOPs, small scale trials, and historical data sets that are filed as internal agency documents. A central repository for this gray literature could help to provide answers to many questions and reduce costly duplication of research efforts. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the American Fisheries Society are leading an effort to create such a database. The Western States Coordinated Research Effort will begin by producing a searchable list of ongoing and upcoming aquatic research projects. This list will be populated by representatives of each participating state. The initial effort will be followed by a website with links to a full grey literature database, discussion forums, and featured projects. We would like to encourage participation in this effort by collaborating with academic laboratories, federal and state agencies, Tribal organizations, non-profit groups, and consulting firms across North America.
Robert Shields (Primary Presenter/Author), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, rshields@utah.gov;