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WORKSHOP: Developing a Toolkit for Effective Extension and
O​utreach​

Description​

The purpose of this workshop will be to bring together attendees who have experience or are interested in Extension and outreach programming to discuss traditional and innovative strategies to share their science with stakeholders. Classic Extension programming based on field days and grower meetings has proven to be an effective way to reach stakeholders and develop robust professional relationships, but can at times feel stale, and in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, unadvisable. The use of online tools and social media has emerged as an alternative or complementary strategy that is wide-reaching, including international audiences, to traditional in-person Extension, but successfully reaching stakeholders through these channels may require more careful programming than initially expected. In addition, considering the widespread use of presentations to communicate scientific information, plant pathologists may benefit from a discussion of some of the tools and techniques that have been developed to make presentations more engaging, whether they are in person or online. Workshop attendees will learn how Extension programming has evolved over the years and will take part in a thorough discussion of where Extension may be headed in the future to stay relevant. This workshop will provide information on new tools and strategies for effective communication and delivery of research findings to diverse audiences.

Learning Objectives

Understand how Extension and Outreach were conceptualized and how they have been traditionally approached in the United States and other countries. 

Learn how to identify target audiences and tailor messages through reviewing grower/stakeholder outreach surveys recently conducted. 

Learn about successful cases from invited speakers and discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with some of these strategies. 

Determine the best ways to assess Extension impact​

Target Audience

We would target early career researchers and graduate student members, but the workshop will be open to anyone interested in Extension.​

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Organizers​

Hannah Rivedal, USDA-ARS
Leslie Holland, University of Wisconsin
Ying-Yu Liao, North Carolina State University 

Moderators

Sara Garcia Figuera, University of California, Davis
Salina Banu, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute​

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