Geographies of Academic Knowledge

ExchangeMasters Thesis Defense

Thesis

The nature of informal knowledge exchange amongst scientists is affected by the surrounding environment.

Why?Elements of the urban environment decrease accessibility.

If travel isn't easy, it will be avoided.

When travel is avoided, chances for serendipitous contact are reduced.

Effort & Reward

Individuals will choose to undertake an activity based on the effort that it will take to complete.

They will also take into account the rewards they receive from participating/completing the activity.

Microscale - the landscape within the immediate line of sight

Scale

Scale

Micro

Mesoscale - walking distance of an individual

Scale

Micro

Meso

Macroscale - beyond walking distance

Macro

Scale

Micro

Meso

What we knowMacro

Micro

Meso

What we know

Allen 1977,Kraut 1990 & 2002,Grey & Toker 2008

Macro

Micro

Meso

What we know

Allen 1977,Kraut 1990 & 2002,Grey & Toker 2008

Knudesn et. al 2005, Macro

Micro

Meso

Link & Scott 2006

What we know

Allen 1977,Kraut 1990 & 2002,Grey & Toker 2008

Knudesn et. al 2005,

No evidence

Macro

Micro

Meso

Link & Scott 2006

What we know

Allen 1977,Kraut 1990 & 2002,Grey & Toker 2008

Knudesn et. al 2005, Macro

Micro

Meso

Link & Scott 2006

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Data from Link & Scott 2006 Em

ploym

ent g

rowt

h

Miles from university

Privately Owned Research Park University Owned Research Park

When thinking about effort, we don't want to study the direct path people take

Rather, we want to think about the path they actually take

Rather, we want to think about the path they actually take

We have to recognize what barriers exist that reduce people's willingness to

travel on both macroscales

and microscales

Columbus, Ohio Toronto, Ontario

Methodology

Interviews

Survey of university researchers

0

200

400

600

800

Ohio State University University of Toronto

Population Size

Faculty Graduate Students

0

20

40

60

80

Ohio State University University of Toronto

Responce Rate

Faculty Graduate Students

Survey Questions

Commute

Career stage

Distance to university/ private lab

Interaction patterns with outside scientists

Analysis I : ANOVANo Sig

differenceDifference at p<.1 Difference at p<.01

Distance to MaRS/BattelleCommute distanceCommute via car

Alternative transportationDiscuss research @ partyDiscuss research w/ lab

Any contact w/ labFriend

Colleague

XX

XX

XXX

XX

Red box: OSU has higher means; Blue box: U of T has higher mean

Analysis II : OSU LogitModel 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4

Constant

Friend

Colleague

Faculty

Distance Home

Distance to Battelle

Commute via Car

Nagelkete R2

.766** 0.638* 0.507* 0.581

-0.556 0.296 0.308

-0.088 -0.243 -0.234

2.221* 2.231*

-0.003

*.017

*.018

0.017 0.121 0.121

Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4

Constant

Friend

Colleague

Faculty

Distance Home

Distance to MaRS

Alternative Transportation

Nagelkete R2

1.522 2.106** 1.938** 0.202

-0.441 -0.419 -0.391

-0.845 -1.080 -1.579

1.119 2.385*

-.061*

.234*

2.278*

0.059 0.112 0.353

Analysis III : U of T Logit

Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4

Constant

Friend

Colleague

Faculty

Distance Home

Distance to MaRS

Alternative Transportation

Nagelkete R2

1.522 2.106** 1.938** 0.202

-0.441 -0.419 -0.391

-0.845 -1.080 -1.579

1.119 2.385*

-.061*

.234*

2.278*

0.059 0.112 0.353

Analysis III : U of T Logit

Interpretation

Little evidence of spatial effects in Columbus -- temporal effects more important.

Some evidence of spatial effects in Toronto, but more research is needed to confirm if they are mesoscale or macroscale.

In Toronto, MaRS & U of T need to create regular, informal

interaction opportunities for scientists

OSU's parking problems are intractable - this makes encouraging interaction difficult

Future Work

Concentrate on more in-depth qualitative data gathering

Concentrate on finding observable mesoscale effects