The Knowledge-Action Workshop on December 6th, 2012 provided key successes and opportunities for learning about how to advance our collective work across disciplines and with community partners. Our website will remain active and serve as a hub for continued access to resources and to grow the conversation around the multiple approaches to linking knowledge with action.
In the morning session, panel presenters shared their experiences in different forms of collaborative projects, from working with fishermen to finding ways to reduce lead poisoning to linking funding priorities with science decision making. Some of the key messages from this session included an emphasis that in partnerships, there are always multiple conflicting goals; there is a need for active linkers who understand group process and communication; power matters; sustaining a long-term commitment is challenging; there is a risk of becoming an advocate for partisan interests.
Preliminary data analysis from our surveys revealed that 89% of participants in the morning session felt they learned something that will be useful in their work and 96% felt that the case studies in particular helped them think about the complexities of stakeholder engagement.
Presenters in the partnership resources session shared information related to web-based tools, interdisciplinary toolkits, facilitation training, and key publications in interdisciplinary journals. Visit the Resources page for downloads and links to relevant resources.
In the afternoon session, presenters articulated the need to consider framing science to make it accessible and find ways to resonate with particular audiences; that metadata are important for enhancing data communication; and that listening is a key part of effective communication using maps and models.
“Listening to you today has given me at least 10 more years of optimism.”
“Being here makes me feel like this is where I should be or at least part of my work should be associated this work.”
“I wish we had more time to talk with the presenters! Wanting more time to talk is a sign of a good workshop.”
