National Profile: Roles and Challenges of Aquaculture Extension in a New Century

1
National Profile Roles and Challenges of
Aquaculture Extension in a New Century

• Gary Jensen
• USDA-CSREES
• Plant Animal Systems
• Jim Murray
• NOAA National Sea Grant College Program
• Extension Program

2
Introduction

• Why the questionnaire
• Establish a baseline for extension roles and
  issues
• Solicit diverse ideas and suggestions to benefit
  aquaculture extension community
• Scope of audience
• Persons w/ aquaculture related extension roles
  (88)
• Expectations
• Identify and implement supportive projects
• Strengthen role of federal agencies in extension
  mission

3
Subject Areas of Inquiry

• Position (14)
• Career (8)
• Professional Growth Development (11)
• Extension (20)
• Information Technology (21)
• Research (15)
• Regional and multi-state (9)
• National (3)
• International (5)
• Clientele (21)
• Accomplishment reporting (2)
• Extramural funding (7)
• Future and Emerging Issues (6)

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Position Related Question 4What percentages of
your current FTE appointment at your institution
are in the following categories?
5
Career Related- Question 2What are the three
limiting factors or constraints that influence
the effectiveness of your current work in
Extension?
6
Professional Growth and Development- Question
3How frequently do you think a national
aquaculture extension conference should be
convened to support professional development?
7
Professional Growth and Development Question
4Would you support the idea of forming a
'national committee' responsible for recommending
and planning training sessions annually at
national aquaculture conferences?
8
Professional Growth and Development Question
5 Would you support an annual emerging issues
update organized for Extension audiences at the
Aquaculture America or World Aquaculture Society
conference?
9
Professional Growth Development Question
11Identify two actions or activities that you
believe could most strengthen your professional
growth and development in your Extension career?
10
Extension Related Question 7How can
USDA-CSREES and NOAA Sea Grant Program encourage
and support networking efforts to strengthen your
Extension capabilities and programs?
11
Extension related Question 9Would an 'expert
reference' electronic database that identifies
Extension contacts nationally and their areas of
expertise benefit your work?
12
Extension Related Question 11Should 'expert
support teams' be formed that can provide
assistance regionally and nationally on specific
topics and issues of high priority to Extension
programs?
13
Extension Related Question 12Do you believe
that a web-accessed database and directory of
'public domain' digitized photos and images on
diverse aquaculture topics would benefit your
work?
14
Extension Related Question 14Can you offer
recommendations to strengthen the partnership and
support roles between CSREES and Sea Grant Staff
in national offices and state/local Extension
programs?
15
Information and Technology Question 1In
general, are you satisfied with your access to
adequate research-based information on diverse
topics in aquaculture?
16
Transition Point to Jim Murray
17
Research Related Question 1Does your
institution have an adequate research program in
aquaculture that provides you with science-based
information to support your Extension activities?
18
Clientele Issues Question 2What are the three
most important changes in the needs of your
clientele?
19
Clientele Issues Question 3What do you think
are the three most important factors that will
change the Extension needs of your clients in the
next 5 years?
20
Clientele Issues Question 4 What approximate
percentages of your total annual requests for
information and assistance come from
21
Clientele Issues Question 6 What approximate
percentages of your responses to requests for
assistance are handled by the following methods?
22
Clientele issues Question 21In your opinion,
what are the two most important needs of your
constituents impacting the economic survival of
their business today?
23
Future and Emerging Issues Question 2Should
Extension provide an important role and
contribution on public policy issues?
24
Future and Emerging Issues Question 5In your
opinion, what will be the most significant
challenge facing Extension educators over the
next 5 years (other than funding)?
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Summary Comments

• Potential action items
• Annual emerging issues session
• National committee ID training priorities
• Develop expert reference database
• Consider expert support teams on specific
  hot-button topics
• Public domain digitized photos w/ meta data
• Role of extension in public policy issues
• Defining roles and service of national staff
• Mobilize and facilitate broader communications
  (aqua-ext)

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Summary Comments (Cont.)

• Potential Action Items (cont.)
• Facilitate access to research projects
• Strengthen integration extension and research
  where possible
• Planning for national conference (requires 2
  years)
• Increase funding staffing (more with more)
• Improve efficiencies of existing infrastructure
  (more with less)
• Strengthen the aquaculture extension network
• Access expertise from other disciplines (law,
  marketing, economics, ecology, engineering)
• Maintain human linkages