Engaging stakeholders with the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System

Session: Beyond Peer Review: Why You Must Connect Your Science to Stakeholders (and how to do it) (3)

El Lower, Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, [email protected]
Rochelle Sturtevant, GLERL/NOAA, Sea Grant Extension, [email protected]
Devin Gill, Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, [email protected]

Abstract

The Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS) is an inter-agency database funded by the GLRI and featuring comprehensive information on identification, ecology, management, and distribution of aquatic nonindigenous species throughout the Great Lakes region. Since IAGLR 2018, the GLANSIS site has undergone a number of updates and improvements based on user feedback solicited from scientific and environmental management stakeholder groups. This presentation will focus on results of our scientist survey launched at IAGLR last year, the user-testing project conducted with environmental managers since December 2018, and the changes that have been made to the site so far based on user feedback. Major updates and new functions of the site will be highlighted, including an improved user interface, FAQ, and feedback forms to encourage environmental professionals and other stakeholders to contribute peer review of the information on the site.