TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD Back to Basics: Fostering and Nurturing Research Agendas Value for TRB State Reps Barbara T. Harder Principal, B. T. Harder, Inc. Co-Chair, TRB Back to Basics Initiative & Co-Chair TRB Conduct of Research Committee TRB State Reps Meeting, July 25, 2012

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD Back to Basics Initiative Sponsors –TRB Technical Activities Council –Standing Committee on Conduct of Research –Standing Committee on Technology Transfer Organized fall 2011 July 25, 2012 TRB State Reps Meeting

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD Committee Research Coordinators (CRCs) CRC is point person in fostering and nurturing the committee’s research agenda One CRC per TRB Technical Committee; named by committee chair; over 130 CRCs to-date Workshops and webinars held for information and training of CRCs (Thanks to some here that assisted!) In process of forming a leadership council –SUE SILLICK, Montana DOT, recently named chair July 25, 2012 TRB State Reps Meeting

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD Back to Basics Initiative: Vision “Typical” standing committee led by its CRC will be: –Using the TRB Research Needs Statements Database –Managing a robust portfolio of quality needs statements –Enabling research sponsors to be aware of the identified research needs July 25, 2012 TRB State Reps Meeting

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD Back to Basics Initiative: Vision (cont.) “Typical” standing committee led by its CRC will be: –Educating members on submitting research needs statements to research organizations –Monitoring status of research of interest –Keeping stakeholders informed on ongoing and completed research July 25, 2012 TRB State Reps Meeting

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD July 25, 2012 TRB State Reps Meeting Search Browse

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD Advantages for TRB State Reps RNS database: a source of robust research ideas and statements Opportunity for targeted information exchange between state DOT research activities and TRB committees CRCs are an excellent contact point for topical information and a link for technology transfer –CRC listing (easy find, enter CRC in TRB search, first item) – July 25, 2012 TRB State Reps Meeting

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD Back to Basics -- a TRB initiative to identify quality research needs and encourage more effective solutions for transportation’s difficult problems Thank you! Questions? July 25, 2012 TRB State Reps Meeting