Knowledge Exchange for Impact: Perspectives from Relu Amy Proctor Newcastle University The Rural Economy and Land Use Programme Relu promotes interdisciplinary research on the social, economic, environmental and technological challenges facing agriculture and rural areas ESRC, BBSRC, NERC, Defra, Scottish Government 2004-2013 Ethos of doing science differently Interdisciplinary research Stakeholder engagement Sustainable Food Chains Integrated Land & Water Use Animal &Plant Disease Management Adaptation to Environmental Change 2 A philosophy of knowledge exchange A philosophy of knowledge exchange What is knowledge for? Knowledge producers Knowledge users A philosophy of knowledge exchange Whose knowledge counts? Knowledge producers Knowledge users How are we promoting knowledge exchange? 1) stakeholders engaged throughout as active partners in research 2) two-way exchange between scientists and stakeholders 3) pluralistic and inclusive notion of stakeholders 4) soft knowledge exchange through informal networks between research and practice 6 How are we promoting knowledge exchange at a project level? Testing a community approach to catchment management How are we promoting knowledge exchange at a project level? Understanding environmental knowledge controversies How are we promoting knowledge exchange at a programme level? • Sustained approach to relationship management • Distinctive approach to science communication • Building soft networks for knowledge exchange Accounting for Knowledge Exchange Stakeholder Impact Analysis Matrix (SIAM) enables stakeholder mapping and identification of key gaps; provides analysis of how stakeholders are involved, to inform future approaches; identifies stakeholder constituencies around which to seek feedback; gives insight into scale and extent of short term impacts, on research and stakeholders; provides data for targeting and accounting for longer term impact analysis. Nature of Relationship Project Organisation or company Steering Visitor/ / Research Event Partner Consultee work Customer advisory subject participant shadowee group Contributed to objective setting Contributed to project design G Salmon Project H HPA H D I Oxford University Farm businesses Water Trust L Swedish EPA 1 1 1 D Defra ELS 4 D B Natural England Biojoule 4 4 4 4 B B Defra Environment Agency 1 1 B IEA Task 37 1 1 B IGER B NFU F Com for Rural Comm F F Environment Agency Environment Agency F Environment Agency F H OECD Defra 1 H Forest Manager 1 H GWCT H HPS H MCofS H H Moredun Institute Natural England H Scottish Natural Heritage H H SNH Scottish Wildlife Trust H The Royal Parks 1 1 Research Process Contributed to knowledge production as equal partners Provided access to research facilities, materials or study sites 1 1 1 1 1 24 1 1 Impact Contribution to project Input to Research 24 1 1 Assisted in data collection 1 1 1 24 1 4 1 1 24 1 Provided information or views as research subjects Research Outputs Received copies of findings 1 Gave feedback on findings 1 1 1 24 24 1 24 24 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 10 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 of of research on of research on stakeholder stakeholder stakeholder's on research policies or knowledge or relevance practices understanding 4 4 1 1 of stakeholder on scientific quality 1 1 1 Helped to disseminate findings 1 Accounting for Knowledge Exchange: Stakeholder relationship and contribution Certain stakeholder relationships bring mutual benefits (people exchange, advisory groups) Certain stakeholder contributions are mutually beneficial (objective setting, dissemination) Accounting for Knowledge Exchange: Impact on stakeholder and research Researchers report positive impact of stakeholders on research quality and relevance Impacts of research on stakeholder knowledge outstrips impact on policies and practices Accounting for Knowledge Exchange Visitor/ Host Advisory Group Dissemination Feedback What does this mean for future research? Knowledge exchange = a practical philosophy of engagement Requires researchers to rethink role as knowledge producers in relation to other sources of expertise Suggests we explore determinants of successful knowledge exchange
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