Project background
MAISRC researchers have dedicated significant effort to understanding aquatic invasive species spread and evaluating various management strategies. These insights are not always easily accessible to stakeholders or structured in a way that directly supports their decision-making processes.
Decision support tools provide an effective way to make scientific findings more accessible to communities by applying research findings to specific contexts relevant to stakeholders so they can more readily see their implications. To enhance the use of decision support tool and aid in the development of improved tools, MAISRC researchers will synthesize research on aquatic invasive species (AIS) and create a simulation-based tool. This tool will allow users to explore the outcomes of different management scenarios, assisting with both specific management planning and helping individuals develop a better understanding of invasions, management trade-offs, and personal management preferences. To learn more about how stakeholders use decision support tools, MAISRC researchers will host a series of workshops across Minnesota, where participants can engage with the tool and explore its capabilities. As part of these workshops the research team will collect information on how participants interact with the tool, how it influences their understanding of AIS, and if it changes their decision-making process.