Joint Knowledge Production for Urban Change

Poverty, limited resources, increasing ill-health and social exclusion are complex challenges that can be described as "wicked problems" and they require a broad knowledge. Mistra Urban Futures focus is  joint production of knowledge, where those who will use the knowledge also take active part in shaping it.

Merritt Polk, is responsible for the Centre's work with joint knowledge production and one of the authors of the manualJoint Knowledge Production for Urban Change. The manual is based on experience from the five pilot projects which were carried out in Gothenburg 2010-2011.

What is joint knowledge production?

"For Mistra Urban Futures, it means that the boundary between science and practice is erased. It is knowledge that gather different perspectives from science, practice, business and citizens. "

Why is it important?

"We are facing complex problems that cannot be solved unless we do it together. But the community in which we live and work inis divided in to sectors, which makes it difficult to work across borders. "

How do you achieve a joint production of knowledge?

"Bringing together different perspectives, approaches and knowledge is a great challenge and we have identified three challenges of particular importance. You have to accommodate different evaluations concerning sustainable urban development, exploit the breadth of knowledge and expertise which exists among stakeholders and create arenas for legitimate and sustainable transformation processes. The manual discusses how we can deal with these challenges and what qualities are important for achieving a joint production of knowledge. "

What are the key lessons?

"One of the success factors has been a shared project leadership where a researcher and a practitioner together led the project. This leads to both scientific and practical perspectives are better addressed and that the results are more relevant. "

Who has use for the manual?

"Everyone working in projects based on cooperation and joint knowledge production."