Publications (FIS)

Knowledge co-production and researcher roles in transdisciplinary environmental management projects

authored by: Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf, Laura Verbrugge, Barbara Schroeter, Robert-Jan den Haan, Juliette Cortes Arevalo, Jan Fliervoet, Jennifer Henze, Christian Albert
Abstract: Calls for transformative change and participatory modes of knowledge production demand researchers to assume new roles. This paper synthesizes the literature on knowledge co-production and researcher roles to explore challenges for researchers involved in transdisciplinary environmental management projects. Our research methods combine a scoping review and reflections on personal experiences with three transdisciplinary projects. To conceptualize researcher roles in transdisciplinary knowledge co-production, we distinguish between three spaces: knowledge, formal policy, and stakeholder. Knowledge co-production requires collaboration between actors from different spaces and integration of diverse knowledge sources and types. Depending on whether researchers adopt knowledge-oriented, change-oriented or intermediating roles, they will experience different challenges. When researchers combine knowledge development with change-oriented and/or intermediating roles, they encounter new challenges, such as, maintaining independence or objectivity. To assist researchers in transdisciplinary projects, we conclude with a checklist of four elements to reflect upon: orientation, norms and values, expectations and resources.
Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
External Organisation(s): Ruhr-Universität Bochum
University of Twente
Aalto University
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)
Lund University
UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences
Type: Article
Journal: Sustainable development
Volume: 30
Pages: 393-405
No. of pages: 13
ISSN: 0968-0802
Publication date: 14.04.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Development, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2281 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{7aabfa2517de4e98a73fde198c7b4347,
title = "Knowledge co-production and researcher roles in transdisciplinary environmental management projects",
abstract = "Calls for transformative change and participatory modes of knowledge production demand researchers to assume new roles. This paper synthesizes the literature on knowledge co-production and researcher roles to explore challenges for researchers involved in transdisciplinary environmental management projects. Our research methods combine a scoping review and reflections on personal experiences with three transdisciplinary projects. To conceptualize researcher roles in transdisciplinary knowledge co-production, we distinguish between three spaces: knowledge, formal policy, and stakeholder. Knowledge co-production requires collaboration between actors from different spaces and integration of diverse knowledge sources and types. Depending on whether researchers adopt knowledge-oriented, change-oriented or intermediating roles, they will experience different challenges. When researchers combine knowledge development with change-oriented and/or intermediating roles, they encounter new challenges, such as, maintaining independence or objectivity. To assist researchers in transdisciplinary projects, we conclude with a checklist of four elements to reflect upon: orientation, norms and values, expectations and resources.",
keywords = "environmental management, knowledge co-production, knowledge integration, researcher role, river management, transdisciplinary research",
author = "{Vinke-de Kruijf}, Joanne and Laura Verbrugge and Barbara Schroeter and {den Haan}, Robert-Jan and Arevalo, {Juliette Cortes} and Jan Fliervoet and Jennifer Henze and Christian Albert",
note = "Jennifer Henze, Barbara Schr{\"o}ter and Christian Albert acknowledgesupport from the German Federal Ministry for Education and ResearchBundesministerium f{\"u}r Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) through a grantfor the PlanSmart research group (funding code: 01UU1601A and B).The paper contributes to the Global Land Project (GLP) science plan regarding Land Governance theme, and to The Programme on Ecosys-tem Change and Society (PECS)'s mission to advance knowledge forsupporting transitions toward sustainable stewardship of social-ecological systems. Laura Verbrugge, V.J.C.A., Robert-Jan den Haanand Jan Fliervoet acknowledge support from NWO-TTW and theMinistry of Economic Affairs which provided funding for the researchprogram RiverCare under grant number P12-14",
year = "2022",
month = apr,
day = "14",
doi = "10.1002/sd.2281",
language = "English",
volume = "30",
pages = "393--405",
journal = "Sustainable development",
issn = "0968-0802",
publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Ltd",
number = "2",
}