Traditional methods of transferring research results (print copies of newsletters; brochures; meetings; workshops and final reports) can be slow, costly and reach only a limited proportion of stakeholders.

Research providers need to investigate different communication methods to enable them to quickly and easily provide stakeholders with current information.

Existing digital technologies (e-mail; web sites; mobile devices) allow information to be instantly sent to a broad distribution in a cost effective way.

Information provided via mobile devices is also location independent, allowing recipients to receive and view material wherever they like. This is of particular significance to marine researchers as a large percentage of stakeholders are field-based and may be more likely to view information away from the desk at a time that is convenient to them (e.g. on board a boat).

In today’s E-Market of ever-growing e-mail distribution lists, it is necessary to provide a communication point of difference to ensure that extension activities are effective. Using alternatives to receiving e-mails and plain text may improve information retention and follow-up rates by targeted stakeholders, particularly given demographic changes in digital use and awareness.

Successfully transferring non-technical information regularly to a larger percentage of stakeholders will significantly reduce the lag time between producing results and provision of final reports; ensuring more stakeholders are kept up to date and consequently have the opportunity to take advantage of results.