How Translational Approaches Help Make EPA Research More Impactful

EPA research serves as a valuable resource for both decision-makers and those affected by the environmental and public health issues across the United States. To ensure that results can be used by those who need them, EPA often takes a translational approach to research.

Translational research involves collaborating with those likely to be impacted by the environmental issue being studied and then working to translate complex scientific findings into formats and content that increase public understanding.  

“Translational research is a great way to bring a lot of different expertise together. It allows EPA researchers to bring their deep scientific expertise into conversations with state and local governments’ knowledge of how implementation looks in practice, creating an outcome that achieves both scientific and real-world progress,” explains Kaytee Canfield, a leader of EPA’s translational science team.  

This approach fosters teamwork among scientists trained in a range of disciplines. It may bring engineers and air quality specialists together or integrate approaches from social science and ecology to holistically tackle real world problems.  

Since much of EPA’s research is focused on real world applications, EPA regularly evaluates the engagement experience and the scientific outcomes of its translational research projects. These evaluations support continuous improvement and help define effective practices for collaborative and solutions-focused studies. Recently, EPA researchers on the translational science team evaluated how broadly translational approaches have been applied and identified opportunities to improve translational science work at EPA. The team reviewed partner engagement-related work published between October 2014 and September 2023 and analyzed interviews with EPA staff whose work is related to partner collaboration. Through an extensive analysis, researchers found that translational work has long been a key strategy for promoting cooperative federalism and helping Americans use government research to address environmental challenges.

“This evaluation was incredibly insightful in allowing us to capture the history of translational research at EPA and learn from our past efforts to ensure that our work continues to foster trust and transparency, enhance the quality of data through local knowledge, and promote collaborative solutions that reflect the needs and values of those directly affected by environmental decisions,” explained Shannon Griffin, a biologist who co-led the evaluation with Canfield. 

The translational science team identified a wide range of projects across 37 states and Puerto Rico that developed partner-focused research outputs. Some projects involved their partners throughout the research process, while others were more focused on translating existing EPA research into a tool or information that would help people manage an environmental challenge on the ground.  

Below are brief highlights of some of the projects across the country that focused on the applicability of their research to partner needs, especially the states and EPA Regions: 

• Proctor Creek StoryMap: Proctor Creek is an urban waterway troubled by pollution and frequent flooding issues in Atlanta, GA. To improve awareness of these challenges and share information about ways that the health of the watershed might be improved, EPA researchers worked in close collaboration with residents, stakeholders, and EPA Region 4 staff to develop a Story Map. This community-driven Story Map is an interactive website that combines narratives with geographical data to address community-identified concerns, highlight local efforts to help restore the watershed, and share ideas of further actions the community can take to improve the health of their waterways and protect its residents. 

• Air Sensor Loan Programs: Monitoring local air quality helps individuals and communities understand current pollution levels, pollution sources, and when or where is the best time and place for physical activities. Air sensors have become a more available and cost-effective option for measuring local air quality conditions but are still inaccessible or unaffordable to many. Following a request from the Los Angeles Public Library, EPA developed an initial pilot air sensor loan program which allows patrons to borrow a sensor like they would borrow a book. That program inspired the creation of additional programs, independently launched in all ten of EPA's Regional offices, which now expand access to the entire country. Borrowed air sensors are accompanied by educational materials, training on how to properly install and interpret air quality monitoring data, hands-on activity-based lesson plans, and more. EPA researchers evaluated the sensor loan program pilots to identify best practices and lessons learned to help other organizations seeking to launch similar programs. These programs help the public learn more about air quality in their communities and take actions to protect their health and the environment. 

• Dredged Material Decision Tool: To keep waterways deep enough for efficient operation of the shipping industry, material must be dredged, or removed, from these channels. Dredged material can be reused in construction and habitat restoration, among other uses. EPA Region 5 developed a tool to help states and localities assess the social and environmental impacts of the dredged material reuse alongside economic considerations. Working with EPA Region 5, EPA researchers held workshops with various stakeholders to develop a user-friendly interface for the tool and an instruction manual to support use. This tool is helpful to local decision makers in quantifying and communicating their decision process in how they reuse dredged material. Along with the tool, the team has developed a report and conducted trainings and presentations to demonstrate the usefulness of the tool more broadly. 

• Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance website: Flooding is a common concern for people in the United States following major rainfall events or other large storms. Flooded buildings can become sources of exposure to mold, lead paint dust, asbestos, and bacteria. To help with post-flooding clean up, EPA researchers worked closely with EPA Region 4 and state and academic collaborators in the southeast to connect with people impacted by flooding. In the interactive process, researchers identified people’s primary questions and needs, as well as appropriate communication formats, following a flooding event. Based on the feedback and interactions with these flood victims, researchers developed a website with information about how to safely return to a flooded home and begin the cleanup process. Since developing the website, the EPA team has also held trainings to teach people how to best use it.