Knowledge Co-production in a Research-to-Operation (R2O) Process for
Development of a Great Lakes Ice Forecast: Reflection from a Stakeholder
Engagement Workshop
Abstract
In weather forecast products, stakeholder engagement in the
research-to-operations (R2O) transition process has been increasingly
valued yet it is far from being standardized. Engagement at multiple R2O
stages and methods rigorously supported by social science are critical
in implementing a practice of knowledge coproduction in such forecast
products. With an example of short-term ice forecasts in the North
American Great Lakes, this commentary provides a reflection of the
stakeholder engagement workshop where two targeted stakeholder groups
(shipping industry and U.S. Coast Guard 9 District), operational
forecast providers, and scientists worked together to maximize the
usability of ice forecast guidance from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Great Lakes Operational Forecast
System (GLOFS). The workshop was designed carefully by social scientists
to address predominant questions; what decisions do stakeholders make
with ice information; what ice information do stakeholders use to
support that decision-making; and what are stakeholder usability
requirements for a short-term Great Lakes ice forecast? The findings
from the workshop provided in-depth information to formulate
recommendations to GLOFS on its user interface of the upcoming ice
forecast guidance, as well as the future model development. The effort
placed a steppingstone toward a new standard of R2O, where participation
of stakeholders and social scientists is a formalized part of the
process.