Communication

A communication system has been developed within the Authority to facilitate the exchange of information relating to research activities.  The purpose is to collect research needs and ideas, evaluate proposals, prioritise the projects, provide effective technical management, and disseminate results of the Research Programme.

The research network has been devised to maintain both a top-down and bottom-up approach. With the top-down approach, potential projects will be developed from the high-level strategic goals of the Authority. Using the bottom-up approach, the technical specialists of the Authority will identify research projects to solve particular problems or assist in carrying out processes in a more effective way. In both cases, the high-level goals will underpin and justify the research activities.

Communication of the research activities will be co-ordinated by the Research Manager with assistance from the Research Mentors in the different technical areas. Use of the NRA intranet will be made to facilitate the flow of information across the Authority.

Communication is necessary in order to inform all stakeholders (member of the public, universities, institutes, consultants, contractors, other interested bodies) of the Authority’s Research Strategy and the evidence and reasoning that underpin this strategy. It is intended to develop an external network so that these research activities can be disseminated widely. Use of NRA website will be made to publicise the Research Programme and to make the research results available. Promotion of the research outputs will also be maintained though journal publications, presentations at seminars and conferences.