Knowledge exchange: A review and research agenda for environmental management

Ioan Fazey*, Anna C. Evely, Mark S. Reed, Lindsay C. Stringer, Joanneke Kruijsen, Piran C.L. White, Andrew Newsham, Lixian Jin, Martin Cortazzi, Jeremy Phillipson, Kirsty Blackstock, Noel Entwistle, William Sheate, Fiona Armstrong, Chris Blackmore, John Fazey, Julie Ingram, Jon Gregson, Philip Lowe, Sarah MortonChris Trevitt

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

252 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There is increasing emphasis on the need for effective ways of sharing knowledge to enhance environmental management and sustainability. Knowledge exchange (KE) are processes that generate, share and/or use knowledge through various methods appropriate to the context, purpose, and participants involved. KE includes concepts such as sharing, generation, coproduction, comanagement, and brokerage of knowledge. This paper elicits the expert knowledge of academics involved in research and practice of KE from different disciplines and backgrounds to review research themes, identify gaps and questions, and develop a research agenda for furthering understanding about KE. Results include 80 research questions prefaced by a review of research themes. Key conclusions are: (1) there is a diverse range of questions relating to KE that require attention; (2) there is a particular need for research on understanding the process of KE and how KE can be evaluated; and (3) given the strong interdependency of research questions, an integrated approach to understanding KE is required. To improve understanding of KE, action research methodologies and embedding evaluation as a normal part of KE research and practice need to be encouraged. This will foster more adaptive approaches to learning about KE and enhance effectiveness of environmental management.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)19-36
Number of pages18
JournalEnvironmental Conservation
Volume40
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPrint publication - Mar 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • adaptive comanagement
  • decision-making
  • environmental management
  • evidence-based conservation
  • knowledge exchange
  • knowledge management
  • knowledge transfer
  • participation
  • research impact
  • social learning

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