The Red Seaweed Learning Collaborative (RSLC) demonstrates how Extension approaches can transform traditional academic research and enhance its relevance for real-world application. At its core are seven students bringing together transdisciplinary perspectives – chemical and biological engineering PhD candidates work alongside undergraduates in fisheries and wildlife, business and marketing, environmental sciences, and marine resources management. Through this unique collaboration, fresh insights emerge: fisheries students observe and interpret how seaweeds evolve different morphologies in response to the flow and circulation systems being studied by engineering students, while environmental science and marine resource management students open new perspectives about red seaweeds’ role in carbon sequestration and its broader implications for marine ecosystems.
The RSLC’s distinctive contribution within the Aquaculture Hub network lies in its integration of Extension methodologies with traditional academic research. When engineering students design cultivation systems, their work is enriched by their colleagues’ observations about seaweed biology and ecosystem dynamics. When chemical engineering students plan experiments, they now consider not just scientific variables but also practical implementation challenges identified through industry engagement. These interactions, guided by Extension approaches like applied research engagement, outcome-based Logic Models, and strategic science communication, fundamentally shape how research questions are formed and investigated.
The collaborative brings together diverse expertise through Extension. Students develop skills in engaging stakeholders early in the research process, designing experiments that address real-world needs, and creating visual tools that make research findings accessible. Marketing students help researchers effectively communicate about complex topics like carbon sequestration, while marine resource management students connect technical innovations to broader environmental and social impacts. Early results show how this approach enhances research impact: students develop broader skill sets combining disciplinary expertise with practical application, research projects better integrate technical innovation with ecological understanding, and communication materials make complex concepts accessible to diverse audiences.
Looking ahead, this model offers insights for both Extension and research communities. For Extension professionals, it illustrates how their approaches can transform traditional academic research. For researchers, it shows how Extension methodologies can enhance the relevance and impact of their work. Through this ongoing work, the collaborative demonstrates that Extension approaches have value beyond their traditional applications, offering proven methodologies for making transdisciplinary research more relevant and impactful for real-world implementation.