by Often, when scientists research a specific societal challenge, they hope that their work will help solve that larger problem. However, translating results into long-term community-led solutions is much more difficult than most expect.
It seems intuitive that scientists who study living organisms, microbes and ecosystems could apply their findings to combat food shortages, help keep environments healthy and improve human and animal health . But it’s not always that easy. Issues such as climate change, renewable energy, public health and migration are complex, making it challenging to develop and implement straightforward solutions.
As a group of researchers invested in helping scientists create meaningful impact with their work, we understand that working together on problems like these will require experts from different fields and industries.
This means that we may need to reassess certain aspects of the inquiry process and embrace fresh perspectives if we, as members of the scientific community, want to improve our ability to produce solution-oriented research.
Defining use-driven research
Science does not happen in a vacuum. Factors including the availability of funding, access to advanced technologies and political or social contexts may influence the types of studies undertaken. This is recognized in a framework known as use-driven research and engagement, or UIRE.
In utility-driven research, the potential applications of the findings to society form the directions of exploration.
In UIRE, researchers work with members of the public to find out what questions they should look at. They form partnerships with other stakeholders, including governments, businesses of all sizes and non-profits, to create a collaborative foundation. In this way, researchers can tailor investigations from the outset to be useful and usable by decision makers.
Translational research, or intentionally basing scientific exploration on practical applications, is not new. Utilization-driven research expands on translational research, prioritizing building connections between practitioners and communities.
In the United States, further incentive research was codified with the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022. The Act directed US$280 billion over the next 10 years toward funding scientific inquiry to boost domestic competitiveness, innovation and national security.
This legislation also authorized the creation of the National Science Foundation’s Directorate of Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, known as NSF TIP. TIP is the agency’s first new directorate in over three decades, created to encourage the growth of diverse innovation and technology landscapes.
Producing science in partnership
In use-driven research and participation, collaboration is a big part of every project from the beginning, when the researchers are deciding what to study. These collaborative partnerships continue during data collection and analysis. Together, these teams implement the results and develop products, implement behavioral changes, or provide more information for public decision-making.
For example, a large hospital, an academic organization and several non-profit organizations may partner together to explore issues related to healthcare accessibility in the region. Researchers collect data through surveys and interviews, and interpret the results within the specific circumstances of the community. They can then coordinate a data assessment with the healthcare and nonprofit partners, which helps take into account socioeconomic status, cultural beliefs and built infrastructure like grocery stores and public transportation.
This approach brings together the broad perspectives of a large hospital network, academic expertise in survey creation and data analysis, and nonprofit expertise. These groups can then join forces to develop specific programmes, such as educational initiatives and improved health care services. They can adapt these to the needs of the community they serve.
Use-driven research is important because it looks at all the different issues facing a community holistically and keeps them in mind when exploring possible solutions. UIRE is not a substitute for primary, original research, which examines new questions to fundamentally understand a topic. Rather, it is an approach focused on selecting questions and developing methods based on real-world relevance.
UIRE creates a basis for inclusive long-term partnerships – and not just within academia. Government, community organizations, large companies and start-ups can use the same principles of UIRE to share ideas and craft solutions to issues facing their communities. Individuals from all kinds of backgrounds are equally central to the whole process, contributing to the perspectives that are present.
Use-driven methods are not just about improving research results. A use-driven approach drives innovation and technological progress across sectors. When used in K-12 classrooms, UIRE results in well-rounded students.
This approach can enhance learning in workforce development spaces, creating skilled employees to build connections.
UIRE provides platforms for the general public to participate in conversations about issues that affect their lives that they would otherwise not be a part of.
Benefiting from early career participation
Use-driven methods challenge not only how, but who contributes to and benefits from scientific inquiry. They also focus on making the results available to those outside academia.
To create necessary solutions to society’s complex problems, institutions will need to continue to support traditional scholars who excel in pure basic research. At the same time, they can support training in use-driven domains.
Early career professionals across sectors will continue to play an important role in disseminating and sustaining the cultural changes needed to embrace utilization-driven research on a wider scale. These early career professionals can present fresh ideas and create innovative approaches to problems.
To support long-term translational research, institutions and supervisors can support students in hands-on learning opportunities from the first year of undergraduate coursework to postgraduate fellowships. These opportunities can help students learn about UIRE and equip them with the skills needed to build cross-sector partnerships before entering the workforce.
By being mentored by individuals outside of academia, students and trainees can gain exposure to different career paths and be encouraged to pursue opportunities outside of traditional academic roles. This mentorship fosters creative problem solving and adaptability.
UIRE provides a possible framework for addressing society’s complex challenges. By creating opportunities for the continued participation of young people, a vibrant future will emerge for use-driven research and engagement.
This article is republished from The Conversation, a non-profit, independent news organization that brings you reliable facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. Written by: Zoey England, University of Connecticut; Jennifer Forbey, Boise State Universityand Michael Muszynski, University of Hawaii
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Zoey England currently holds an Applied Research Science Communication fellowship, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. She has also received funding from CTNext.
Jennifer Forbey receives funding from the National Science Foundation.
Michael Muszynski receives funding from the National Science Foundation. He is affiliated with the Maize Genetics Collaborative.
