I am humbled and honored to have been nominated by my peers and selected by the committee to receive the Researcher of the Year award!
I recently received my 20-years-of-service plaque from the State of North Carolina, prompting me to reflect on my career. I actually fell into this work. After graduating from Bren School of Environmental Science & Management - University of California, Santa Barbara, I thought I'd get a job to develop conservation policies to effect change in our communities.
While I don't create policies, I've worked on really great projects that contribute to making communities better places to live. Some of the projects I'm most proud of include:
-Developing the Let's Go NC! skills based curriculum for teaching elementary aged children about walking and bicycling (https://lnkd.in/exFgptxK)
-The recently completed TCRP Research Report 248: Tactile Wayfinding in Transportation Settings for Travelers Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (https://lnkd.in/epJXAdQ7)
-And establishing several programs for NCDOT. These include:
--Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative, which as awarded funds to develop or update over 240 plans across the state thus far,
--Safe Routes to School Program, where I served as interim coordinator for the state,
--The Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure Network,
--The Non-Motorized Volume Data Program, and
--The Pedestrian Crossing Guidance and Flow Chart
I like to think I've also had a hand in improving safety through research I've been involved with to study rumble strip gaps for bicyclists, variable posted speed limit signs in school zones, separated bike lanes, shared use path crossings, and wayfinding for accessibility. I have seen these projects and research influence the decisions that policymakers have made.
I didn't do any of this work alone, so I share this award with the many people I've collaborated with along the way. Every project is a team effort, and I always learn a lot from the contributions and expertise of others.
Finally, it has been a rewarding job to be a researcher, even though this isn't what I thought I wanted to be when I grew up. 😉 I am glad I fell into this profession, and I thank Mary Meletiou, APBP's 2011 Award recipient for Lifetime Achievement, for taking a chance on me and mentoring me early in my career.
We are proud to share that PBIC team member Sarah O'Brien was recently named Research Professional of the Year by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP)!
As a senior research associate at UNC Highway Safety Research Center, Sarah was recognized for her significant contributions to innovative research in increasing accessibility in the public realm, pedestrian and bicyclist data, and decision-making tools for facility selection. The award selection committee noted that “her colleagues and peers value her guidance, mentorship, and expertise in navigating research processes.” Sarah also recently celebrated 20 years of experience in nonmotorized planning, education, policy, and design. Congratulations, Sarah, and thank you for your dedication to making our roads safer for all!
Read more about APBP 2024 Annual Award Winners: https://lnkd.in/gVmEuxy
Executive Director, Healthy Democracy Healthy People
8moDr Adams, I appreciated reading your interview. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to education!