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RESEARCH PLANNING AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: TWO CASE STUDIES IN SUPPORT OF THE WHEAT INDUSTRY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Wilfred R. Cuff ,
J.M. Hardman  and
M.K. Mukerji
Wilfred R. Cuff
Affiliation:
Canadian Forestry Service – Maritimes, PO Box 4000, Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5P7
J.M. Hardman
Affiliation:
Agriculture Canada Research Station, Kentville, N.S. B4N 1J5
M.K. Mukerji
Affiliation:
Agriculture Canada Research Station, 107 Science Crescent, Saskatoon, Sask. S7N 0X2
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Abstract

Two research programs in support of the wheat industry provide insights into mechanisms that can be used in research planning and in technology transfer. Modelling was pivotal in both: in Australia since 1973 in efforts against rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L., infestations of stored wheat and in Canada since 1970 against grasshopper infestations of wheat fields. The research studies, described in published papers, were designed by the scientists within broad research objectives defined by the employing organizations. A mixture of technical and human considerations determined the direction of the research: the talents of scientific staff combined to capitalize on fortuitous events or situations. Serendipity improved the response to uncertainty in both research and industrial environments. The nature and amount of effort needed to get scientific insights applied varied with the specifics of the scientific insight. A general analysis of technology transfer suggests that, in some cases, application requires the involvement of a variety of nonscientific specialists and that research managers are well positioned to coordinate the efforts. Taken together, the conclusions show that satisfying a need or solving a problem is a task within which research is only one part. Success requires effective communication and compromises among very different people.

Résumé

Deux programmes de recherche appuyant l'industrie du blé permettent de dégager une vue d'ensemble des mécanismes pouvant servir à la planification de la recherche et à la mise en pratique de la technologie. La modélisation s'est avérée cruciale dans les deux cas : en Australie en 1973 lors des efforts déployés contre les infestations des stocks de blé par le charançon du blé, Sitophilus oryzae L., et au Canada en 1970 contre les infestations de criquets dans les champs de blé. Les projets de recherches décrits dans des articles publiés avaient été élaborés à l'intérieur de perspectives générales de recherche définies par les organismes employeurs. Un ensemble de considérations techniques et humaines ont dirigé la recherche : les expertises spécifiques des scientistes ont été combinées pour profiter d'évènements et de situations imprévus. La capacité de profiter des imprévus a permis de faire face aux incertitudes de la recherche et de l'industrie. La nature et la quantité des efforts requis pour l'application des idées scientifiques a varié selon les attributs spécifiques de ces idées. Une analyse globale de l'exploitation de la technologie indique que dans certains cas, l'application pratique nécessite l'intervention de divers spécialistes non-scientistes et que les administrateurs de la recherche sont parmi les plus aptes à la coordination des efforts. Dans l'ensemble, les conclusions indiquent que la recherche n'est qu'un des éléments de la satisfaction d'un besoin ou de la solution d'un problème. Le succès nécessite une communication efficace et des compromis entre divers intervenants.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada , Volume 120 , Supplement S143 , 1988 , pp. 19 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1988

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Footnotes

1

Present address: Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Department of National Health and Welfare, LCDC Building, Tunney's Pasture, Holland Avenue, Ottawa, Ontrio, Canada K1A 0L2.

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