Science and Technology Transition Metrics

Abstract

Abstract : On 27 October 1998, a workshop was convened by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to identify key metrics for NIOSH's Strategic Goals. The first NIOSH Strategic Goal (Conduct a targeted program of research to reduce morbidity, injuries, and mortality among workers in high-priority areas and high-risk sectors) was the major focus of the workshop. Its two related Objectives addressed 1) the success in implementing a research program based on its 1996 National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) priorities (NORA is a framework to guide occupational safety and health research into the next decade, and resulted in the establishment of a list of the top 21 research priorities) and 2) success in measuring its safety and health outcomes. The author was invited to participate as a member of the panel. This report generalizes a document that the author prepared for the NIOSH workshop, and was further refined during preparation for a DOE-sponsored workshop on S&T benefits, 4-5 March 2002. The paper focuses on key metrics for evaluating progress in a mission-oriented research program. The results and conclusions of the analyses are sufficiently generic for applicability to any science and technology (S&T) sponsoring organization.