A Closer Look at Co-production:
What works, when, where and how?
November
11
2017
November
12
2017
Organizer:
Melanie Ryan, Luc Hoffmann Institute
OBJECTIVES:
The workshop aims to develop guiding principles for knowledge co-production. We will bring together people situated across the science policy practice interface (researchers, practitioners, policy etc) who have been involved in knowledge co-production projects to critically examine specific case studies to understand the conditions under which these initiatives have led to demonstrable societal outcomes. Specific objectives of the workshop are to:
- Identify lessons from the experience of practitioners of knowledge co-production
- Identify and establish principles to guide future co-produced research;
- Provide the foundation and information necessary to produce academic and practice oriented publications/resources on the principles of co-production.
BACKGROUND:
More than two decades of experience illustrate the value of collaborative approaches, underpinned by equitable distribution of power and authority, in managing social-ecological systems (e.g. Ostrom 1990, Berkes et al. 2003, Jasanoff and Wynne 1998). Building on these findings, the scientific community is increasingly turning to "knowledge co-production" (drawing on participatory action research, transdisciplinary research, science and technology studies and sustainability science) to build connections between knowledge production and decision-making (Mauser et a. 2013). Significant value has been placed on co-production, assuming that these collaborations will address complex challenges (Voorberg et al. 2015, van Enst et a.l 2014, Langer et al. 2016).
Despite growing calls for knowledge co-production, theory and practice remain fragmented across sectors and disciplines. This workshop will contribute to the development of a coherent empirical base to identify the capacities and principles to enable knowledge co-production that contributes to lasting sustainable development outcomes.
DESIRED PROFILE FOR PARTICIPANTS:
This workshop is open to participants who have been engaged in co-production projects. We are ideally looking to have a range of perspectives from across academia and other sectors. Participants should be willing and able to talk about the projects that they have been involved with as case studies to support the workshop discussions.