1. AAEA Post-Conference Workshop: USDA NIFA Projects Best Practices Stephan J. Goetz, Director The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development and Pennsylvania State University Contact: Stephan J. Goetz, Director ● sgoetz@psu.edu ● (814) 777-4656 ● http://nercrd.psu.edu Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, DC ● August 7, 2013

2. Presentation Outline Contact: Stephan J. Goetz, Director ● sgoetz@psu.edu ● (814) 777-4656 ● http://nercrd.psu.edu The Benefits (and Challenges) of inter- and trans-disciplinary collaboration An Example: EFSNE AFRI Global Food Security project Some Take-Aways

3. About collaboration Problems facing society are increasingly complex Working across disciplines is no longer optional but required by many funders Many breakthrough insights occur serendipitously, through collaboration

4. Six Impediments to Natural/Social Sciences Collaboration Mooney et al. PNAS, Feb. 26, 2013, 110, S1:3671 Unrealistic expectations between disciplines Nature of data available by disciplines Natural scientists propose projects to social scientists without coproduction of plan Scale of research focus dissimilar (local vs. global) Academic reward systems differ among disciplines Lack of acceptance of the value of alternative knowledge systems

5. Pecking Order

6. Source: Language Log, UPenn Pecking Order

7. About collaboration Richard Ogle (2007) Smart World: Breakthrough Creativity and the New Science of Ideas, Harvard Business School Press, 302pp. Significant challenges arise… – Different cultures, expectations – Different languages – Distance barriers

8. Some benefits of collaboration Bell Labs in New Jersey in 1966. The long hallways encouraged interaction among researchers. By JON GERTNER Published: February 25, 2012 in NYT

9. BCG/Myelin Repair Foundation Network mapping tool for research on Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Shows who is working on common problems. Can shave years off research, while also helping firms hone corporate strategy. Source: Hindo, B. Business Week, Inside Innovation

10. Title: Enhancing the Food Security of Underserved Populations in the Northeast U.S. through Sustainable Regional Food Systems Development (EFSNE), NIFA Grant No. 2011-68004-30057 12 NE partner institutions, 11 core disciplines $5 million, 5 years: 2011-16 10 EFNSE NIFA GFS Grant Planning, Architecture, Urban Design Nutrition/Dietetics, Food Systems Ag Economics Ag/Biological (Systems) Engineering Agronomy/Soil and Crop Science Sociology, Community Dev. Educational Leadership Communications, Public Health EFSNE

11. Charleston Baltimore Syracuse Pittsburgh Philadelphia New York ARS/Orono, ME Rural Study Sites (DE, NY and VT) Northeast NIFA/AFRI-GIS Project Sites and Collaborators Metro Study Sites Collaborating Institutions Agricultural Research Service/USDA – Orono, ME and Beltsville, MD Columbia University, Urban Design Lab Cornell University, Ithaca and Syracuse Cooperative Extension Delaware State University Economic Research Service/USDA Washington, DC Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (PD) Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Tufts University, Friedman School of Nutrition The Pennsylvania State University University of Vermont West Virginia State University ARS/ERS Wash DC Advisory Council Robert King, Professor, Univ. of Minnesota Toni Liquori, NYC School Food FOCUS David Marvel, President, Fruit and Vegetable Growers Assoc. of Delaware Joyce Smith, Operation Reachout Southwest, Baltimore Evaluation Consultant Ted Wilson, The Headwaters Group 11 EFSNE

12. Basic question: Can regional supply chains provide “healthier” foods to low-income consumers, at prices they can afford? Nine in-depth study sites and covering 300 NE counties Hypothesis of underlying market failure Supply Demand http://washington.ifas.ufl.edu/images/ChipleyFarmersMarket2008005.jpg Distribution 12 EFSNE: NIFA GFS Grant EFSNE

13. The Basic Question Addressed through five specific objectives – Consumption – Distribution – Production – Outreach/Extension – Education Each has one leader – Frequent communications EFSNE

14. Study Design EFSNE Location One of 9 locations (e.g., Baltimore) One neighborhood or community per (underserved) location; focus groups Two stores on average per neighborhood; consumers patronizing the stores; HMBs Supply chains, business owners Local Regional National International Agricultural production capacity, 300 NE counties HMB

15. Some Take-Aways Start early with a core group, communicate often; meet face-to-face if possible Anticipate some lead time (1-2+ years); start with smaller projects… Choose one point person, but break up the project (problem) into smaller, manageable parts; let the experts lead the components – Starting with the proposal writing, and subsequently – E.g., allow for different scales, units of analysis, analytical tools

16. Some Take-Aways Often “muddling through” day by day (a messy process); clarity comes later Joint writing activity can build bonds Develop a clear, compelling hypothesis that addresses stakeholder (granting agency) needs, & is sufficiently broad for everyone to buy into Be flexible, accommodate and respect differences (disciplines, functions, academic rank, career goals and needs)

17. Some Take-Aways Strategically recruit the “right” people: personal contacts and networks work best – Right mix of disciplines and experience vs. up to date skills – Do need shared research ideas, interests, skills – Accomplished professionals, but able to keep egos in check – See the whole as bigger than the sum of the parts – Generalists and specialists – Mutual trust and respect; chemistry

18. EFSNE Project Network: 2006 Average density 2006: 1.75 Legend 1: if knew of this individual in 2006 2: if ever cited this person's published work 3: if had working relationship with (in local or regional foods) Colors represent k-cores 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

19. Average density 2006: 1.75 2012: 18.29 t-stat: (9.92) Colors represent k-cores Legend Line colors show intensity of interaction EFSNE Project Network: 2012

20. What Social Sciences Contribute Framing problems; unifying concepts Production, consumption behavior Incentives, motivation, feedback Modeling skills Economic value, impacts, returns to research Individual vs. group action (e.g., networks) OMB memo “suggests [that] agencies learn how to harness research findings from the social and behavioral sciences.” July 26, 2013 http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/memoranda/2013/m-13-17.pdf

21. Thank you Contact: Stephan J. Goetz, Director ● sgoetz@psu.edu ● (814) 777-4656 ● http://nercrd.psu.edu