NOAA’s Office of Research, Transition, and Application (ORTA) conducted an in-person workshop at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) on January 28-29, 2025. The objective of this collaboration was to connect both organizations and their teams, provide briefings and informational exchanges, and offer training and direct support in transition planning and intellectual property management.
Participants at the 2-day workshop included representation from GLERL’s leadership, more than 13 Principal Investigators (PIs) and their teams totaling over 25 individuals, as well as ORTA’s Transition Support team and leadership from NOAA’s Technology Partnerships Office (TPO).
ORTA & GLERL Transition Planning Workshop Team; (left to right) Kenneth Vierra, Michael Kruk, Debbie Lee, Dr. Jesse Feyen, Laura Newlin. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
GLERL carries the mission to conduct scientific research on the Great Lakes and coastal ecosystems; develop and transition products and services into use; and share knowledge and information to advance science, service, and stewardship. The Ann Arbor, Michigan, lab serves as a base for many partners, including staff from NOAA’s Great Lakes Cooperative Institute and partner agencies from NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) Marine Sanctuary Program, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Habitat Restoration Program, NOAA Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Team, Great Lakes Sea Grant, International Association for Great Lakes Research, and the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), as well as the United States Coast Guard, Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise (USCG GLCOE)
As stated in GLERL’s mission, transition of products and services is a key objective, presenting an inherent need for transition planning and guidance. ORTA specializes in addressing transition planning, with the mission to advance innovative research and development (R&D) to support NOAA’s mission and the US economy.
The Five Great Lakes (Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie, Ontario) as displayed at GLERL’s Ann Arbor campus. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
On day 1 of the workshop following a welcome briefing by Laura Newlin (GLERL’s Research Portfolio Manager), ORTA’s Kenneth Vierra conducted a briefing on transition plan development and processes, addressing the complexities of transition planning through various Readiness Levels. This included a description of ORTA’s transition support resources, such as various templates and tools for transition plans, one-on-one guidance with individuals and teams, graphics and content development, and shepherding transition plans through the signature process.
Additionally, Mike Kruk briefed on how TPO manages two unique programs: the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Technology Transfer (T2) Program. The SBIR Program supports small businesses working in NOAA’s mission space, and the T2 Program is focused on protection and commercialization of NOAA-invented and developed technologies and developing partnerships to advance innovation in support of a strong and resilient U.S. economy.
Briefings being conducted by TPO’s Mike Kruk (left) and ORTA’s Kenneth Vierra (right). (Photo Credit: NOAA)
This two-day event included several drafting sessions during which PI(s) and their teams met one-on-one with the ORTA staff to kickstart early-stage, mid-stage, and final drafts of their transition plans. During these sessions, PI(s) and their teams were able to bring questions and concerns and gain insight on efficient development of their ongoing transition plans. Since transition plans are mandated through NOAA OAR directives, these sessions provided greater clarity and confidence in their transition planning journeys.
Kenneth Vierra briefing some of GLERL’s principal investigators (PIs) on the transition planning process. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
At the conclusion of this workshop, both GLERL and ORTA leadership gathered to synergize the discussions over the two days, discuss key takeaways, and plan future objectives around transition planning. Fueled by the valuable questions and input from many of the PIs who participated, some key topics were identified:
- The transition planning process can appear as a time-intensive task for PIs with rigorous workloads, highlighting a need to further bring attention to the tools and resources available to simplify the process.
- Knowledge transfer is an important category of transition within OAR labs, and there is a need to continue to refine and clarify a process for publications vs. other knowledge transfer documentation.
- Just as important as clarifying the NOAA mandates surrounding transition plans is the necessity to provide comprehensive training and guidance to ensure PI(s) can succeed efficiently and effectively in planning the application of their research products.
GLERL’s innovative research and development (R&D) leads to valuable products and services for use in key management decisions in areas such as safe and sustainable ecosystems, ecosystem services, and human communities. The full use of transition plans helps lay out a roadmap for moving that R&D into use to meet mission needs and thus ensuring NOAA’s research investment is realized in services to America.