Knowledge Exchange for Impact: Perspectives from Relu

Amy ProctorNewcastle University

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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

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Sustainable Sustainable Food ChainsFood Chains

Integrated Land & Integrated Land & Water UseWater Use

Adaptation to Adaptation to Environmental ChangeEnvironmental Change

Animal &Plant Disease Animal &Plant Disease ManagementManagement

A philosophy of knowledge exchange

Knowledge producers

Knowledge users

What is knowledge for?

A philosophy of knowledge exchange

Knowledge producers

Knowledge users

Whose knowledge counts?

A philosophy of knowledge exchange

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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

How are we promoting knowledge exchange?

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 project level?

• Sustained approach to relationship management

• Distinctive approach to science communication

• Building soft networks for knowledge exchange

How are we promoting knowledge exchange at a programme level?

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Accounting for Knowledge Exchange

G Salmon Project 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1H HPA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1H Oxford University 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1D Farm businesses 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 1 1 2 2I Water Trust 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2L Swedish EPA 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1D Defra ELS 4 4 4 4 4 2 1 2 1D Natural England 4 4 4 4 4 2 1 2 1B Biojoule 1 1 2 2 2 2B Defra 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2B Environment Agency 1 1 2 2 2 2B IEA Task 37 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2B IGER 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2B NFU 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2F Com for Rural Comm 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2

F Environment Agency 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

F Environment Agency 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2

F Environment Agency 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2

F OECD 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2H Defra 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2H Forest Manager 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2H GWCT 1 1 2 2 2 2H HPS 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2H MCofS 1 1 2 2 2 2H Moredun Institute 1 1 2 2 2 2H Natural England 1 1 1 2 2 2 2H Scottish Natural Heritage 1 1 2 2 2 2H SNH 1 1 2 2 2 2H Scottish Wildlife Trust 1 1 2 2 2 2H The Royal Parks 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2

Helped to disseminate

findings

Provided information or views as

research subjects

Assisted in data

collection

Received copies of findings

Gave feedback

on findings

Customer

Nature of Relationship Contribution to project

of stakeholder on scientific

quality

of stakeholder on research relevance

Partner

Steering /

advisory group

Research subject

Event participant

ConsulteeVisitor/ work

shadowee

of research on stakeholder policies or practices

of research on stakeholder's knowledge or understanding

Impact

Input to Research Research Process Research Outputs

Contributed to objective

setting

Provided access to research facilities,

materials or study sites

Contributed to project

design

Contributed to knowledge production as

equal partners

Organisation or company

Project

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.

Certain stakeholder relationships bring mutual benefits (people exchange, advisory groups)

Certain stakeholder contributions are mutually beneficial (objective setting, dissemination)

Accounting for Knowledge Exchange:

Stakeholder relationship and contribution

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

Feedback

Visitor/Host

Advisory Group

Dissemination

Accounting for Knowledge Exchange

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

What does this mean for future research?