CICEET Progress Report for the period 3/15/05 Through 9/15/05

Project Title: Science translation for non-point source pollution control - A cultural models approach with municipal officials
Principal Investigator(s): Christine Feurt
Additional Investigator(s): Michele Dionne, Pam Morgan, Thomas Webler, Willett Kempton
Project Start Date: 1 September 2003

Project Objectives for This Reporting Period
Objectives
1. To test the effectiveness of cultural models research methodology in the context of a NERR Coastal Training Program. Can cultural models methodology be an effective tool for the design and evaluation of education and outreach strategies?
2. To determine the cultural models used by municipal decision makers to understand the hydrologic cycle, stormwater impacts on coastal environments, connections between land use and water quality, and the role of scientific information in the decision making process.
3. To use the cultural models information to design outreach and training for municipal officials that contributes to the reduction and prevention of non-point source pollution impacts.

Tasks to meet objectives
Developed and conducted collaborative learning workshops using information on cultural models of water and water management

Progress on Tasks
Progress on tasks for this period will be included in the final report.

Difficulties
Municipal officials are very busy and have difficulty setting aside time for training and meetings outside of their towns. Even though the workshop series was designed to facilitate consistent participation by all town officials, scheduling conflict resulted in less than full participation, despite interest and commitment.

Project Objectives for Next Reporting Period

Objectives
Evaluate workshop series; disseminate findings at ERF, and prepare Final Report.

Tasks to Meet Objectives
Tasks to Meet Objective A:
1. Conduct third workshop and evaluation of workshop series.
2. Present at ERF Conference
3. Write final report

Work Plan for Next Reporting Period
1. September 28, Complete third workshop and evaluation
2. October 19, Present research findings at ERF 2005
3. October 22 ­ 28, Participate in NERRS Annual Meeting
4. November Prepare Report, update Cultural Models Primer submit to CICEET for posting on website by December 1

Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives
Project Objectives have been met. Data synthesis remaining for final report.

Overall Project Timeline Update
Final Report on Project to CICEET December 1, 2005

Dissemination
Workshops:
A series of Collaborative Learning Workshops was developed using data from the municipal official interviews. The interview data was analyzed and used to develop an understanding municipal decision making about water as a system. Following methodology for systems analysis(Senge,1990) and collaborative learning design (Daniels and Walker,2001) these workshops provided an opportunity to bring federal, state and municipal officials involved with water management together to implement an approved watershed management plan.
Protecting Our Children’s Water 2005 - 2025
A Workshop Series Implementing the Branch Brook, Merriland River and Little River Watershed Management Plan
A Collaborative Project in Wells, Sanford and Kennebunk, Maine

May 17 Present Watershed Plan and Selection of Action Items (22 participants)

June 9 Land Protection Teleconference (5 participants)

June 22 Tour and Meeting at UNH Stormwater Research Center (20 participants)

July 12 Tour of Sanford Airport (24 particpants)

Conferences:
Presentations Given:
Society for Applied Anthropology Annual Meeting April 6, 2005 Santa Fe, NM
"Through the Looking Glass, Using Cultural Models to Understand Barriers to Science Translation in Coastal Watershed Management" (30 attendees to presentation, including coastal managers from state, local and federal agencies.)

Coastal Zone 05 July 21, 2005 New Orleans, LA
"Understanding Barriers to Science Translation in Coastal Watershed Management" (30 attendees)

Wells NERR CTP and Staff July 27, 2005 Wells, MA
"Understanding Barriers to Science Translation in Coastal Watershed Management" (17 attendees)

Upcoming Presentation:
Estuarine Research Federation Annual Meeting, October 19, 2005 Norfolk, VA
"Understanding Barriers to Science Translation in Coastal Watershed Management"

Training:
Training for staff of Wells NERR, Sea Grant, Maine Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) in Collaborative Learning design as part of the “Protecting Our Children’s Water” workshop series

Manuals, Protocols:
Cultural Models Primer distributed to audience for presentation at CZ05 (25 primers distributed)

Contact with End Users:
End users for this methodology are coastal managers, science communicators, education and outreach specialists working at the interface between science and policy. The nature of the work of these end users requires interaction across disciplines, institutional scales (federal, state, local) and with environmental issues that are complex and uncertain. The end users of this cultural models methodology for outreach, training and education that improves water and watershed management are active participants in the design, implementation and evaluation of the workshop series described above. A third workshop in this series is scheduled for September 28, 2005. End users will be involved in the evaluation of the collaborative learning project that was designed using an understanding of the municipal water management system and cultural models of water management gained from this research. Lessons from this workshop series will be applied as part of a CICEET Technology Transfer grant beginning in November, 2005.

Expenditures
Expenditures are as planned for this reporting period. The CICEET funding for this project has supplied critical funding that has been used to leverage additional support in the form of staff time, facilities and equipment from Wells NERR, Laudholm Trust, Maine Sea Grant, University of New England, and Maine NEMO.