Session 556 Logic Models to Describe Diffusion of Innovations Innovation Systems, Program Theory, and Sustainability Research October 28 th, 2005 Diana Bauer, Julie Zimmerman, Dale Pahl, Emma Norland US EPA Office of Research and Development 2005 Joint Conference: Crossing Borders, Crossing Boundaries Canada Evaluation Society & American Evaluation Association October 28 th, 2005 Diana Bauer, Julie Zimmerman, Dale Pahl, Emma Norland US EPA Office of Research and Development 2005 Joint Conference: Crossing Borders, Crossing Boundaries Canada Evaluation Society & American Evaluation Association

Why innovate? Solve problems Adapt Grow Improve

The Future: Forecasted Trends Important for Sustainability  Economy: + 500%*  Population: + 50%*  Energy Consumption: + 300%*  Manufacturing Activity: +300%*  Planets: +0% * – World Resources Institute, The Weight of Nations, 2000 We conventionally think of innovation as driving economic growth, but why not also adaptation of proactive environmental protection and environmental improvement that is balanced with the economy and society?

How Does Systems Thinking Strengthen Sustainability Research? Environment/Societal System: Identify leverage points for solutions in multidisciplinary systems Knowledge System: Integrate thinking; fill gaps Social/Economic/Technological System: Accelerate implementation Communication/ Social/ Technological System: Improve dissemination and diffusion of innovation Information/ Communication System: Tighten loops of communication and feedback between research and application

How Can the Global and Local Scales Work Together? Global/National Scale  Identify, develop solution strategies, and measure progress towards global/national goals  Prioritize federal spending  Invest in the national/international knowledge base and research community Local Scale  Identify needs and develop tailored solutions  Develop and test out new ideas  Prioritize local resources  Collaborate in community

What is required for innovation to solve society’s problems? People need to have the ability to innovate Innovation needs to be valued Opportunities for innovation need to be seen and understood “Good” innovation needs to be diffused and scaled up “Good” innovations need to complement and enhance one another

Client-Centered Long Term Goals and Relation to Outcomes for Sustainability Research

P3 Student Award (People, Prosperity, and the Planet)  Innovation in science and technology for sustainability: Teams of university students to design, research, and develop a scientific, policy, or technical solution to a sustainability challenge in developing and developed world  Building capacity in the Next Generation: integrating sustainability concepts into fundamental education creating a future workforce with an awareness of the impacts of their work on economy, society, and the environment, to work in a multi-disciplinary framework, and to make collaborative, interdisciplinary decisions.  Team Partnerships: Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged. Teams are encouraged to partner with industry, nonprofits, and government  Program Partners: over 40 partners including industry, NGOs, professional societies, other government

Research Example: Getting the Lead Out  Dr. CJ Wong of Georgia Tech, with graduate students Grace Yi Li and Kyoung-sik Moon, is developing electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) that are substitutes for leaded solder.  ECAs could simplify electronics manufacture by eliminating several processing steps.  Lower processing temperatures will mean less thermal stress on components and less manufacturing energy consumed.  5 invention disclosures and 2 patents are pending

Research Example: Towards Trash that Thinks Valerie Thomas at Princeton University is developing product tags to embed information. This approach will enable more intelligent:  end-of-life product management;  tracking of product end- of-life practices; and  recycling rebate programs.

Ecological Sustainability in Rapidly Developing Watersheds P2 and the NY/ NJ Harbor Sustainable Sandhills: A Plan for Regional Sustainability Decision Model for Urban Water Reuse Cuyahoga Sustainability Network Integrating Water Supply Management and Ecological Flow Requirements Sustaining Multiple Benefits in Large River Floodplains Using Market Forces to Implement Sustainable Watershed Management Efficient Materials and Energy Use: Understanding Economic Benefits Bringing Global Thinking to Local Sustainability Efforts for the Boston Region Sustainable Land Use in Puerto Rico Transforming Office Parks into Transit Villages CNS Projects

Science for Decision-Making: The Collaborative Science and Technology Network for Sustainability (CNS) CNS CARE EJ Cooperative Grants Brownfields Technical Assistance NEIEN PH fellow Regional scientist ORD scientists ORD Research Regional Environmental Management Strategies OEI AMI NSF Programs Federal Regulations, Incentives, Information Research Partners & Programs Information/ Data Programs Regional Grants Programs Federal, State, Local Policy

Sustainability Research and Applications: a Systems View Systems Understanding Resilience Vulnerabilities Interconnectedness Scale Trends and Transformations Links between Natural and Built Environment Uncertainty Decision Support Tools Technologies Collaborative Decision-Making Customers and Collaborators Business & Industry Communities Government Individuals Metrics and Indicators Long term Outcomes Environmental and Human Health protected Resource Sustainability Outcomes Water Land Air Energy Materials Ecosystems Metrics and Indicators

Questions for Discussion Which types of systems are most important to enlist to enable innovation in support of sustainability? How do we balance the encouragement of independent innovation and new ideas with collaborating towards common sustainability goals? How can we best tighten loops of communication and information so that critical societal decisions are informed by science and visa versa? How can we best invest our resources in pursuit of sustainability?