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Knowledge Mobilization (KMb): Multiple Contributions & Multi-Production Of New Knowledge

Tag Archives: ResearchImpact

140 Twitter Characters To Knowledge Mobilization – Revisited

1 Comment Posted by on April 5, 2013

How have traditional models of research and dissemination changed to present new knowledge to the public or further inform research by creating broader public engagement?  Many researchers – particularly in the health sciences – are still embedded in long-established values and approaches to methodology and validity, often overlooking new modes of knowledge mobilization such as social media.

NCE Logo

One of my recent KMbeing blog posts presented a very brief Twitter survey of the 16 classic Networks of Centres of Excellence in Canada (NCE). The survey found that many of these NCEs are still not effectively using Twitter as a valuable social media tool that can enhance knowledge mobilization strategies. This quick overview showed that of those NCEs that could actually be found on Twitter only four NCEs tweet an average of just over one tweet per day – which is clearly insufficient for effective social media and potential stakeholder engagement. It would appear that using Twitter as part of a knowledge mobilization strategy is clearly not on the radar screen of many of these NCEs, despite the potential of Twitter (and social media) as a valuable means of addressing key outcomes mandated for NCEs – including working with end users to accelerate the creation and application of new knowledge.

To be fair, my own quick methodology of the previous survey focused on the average number of tweets per day over a 30 day period from the 14th February 2013 to the 15th March 2013.  The average number of tweets in a month was then divided by 30 to get the average number of tweets per day. Although the Twitter profile start date for each NCE was included along with the actual total number of tweets since each NCE began tweeting, this was not considered when doing the first brief survey.

So now, for part two of the original blog post survey 140 Twitter Characters To Knowledge Mobilization, I present a somewhat deeper (though still brief) analysis that takes into consideration the length of time each of these classic NCEs have used Twitter.

I used timeanddate.com to calculate the total number of days from the start date of each NCE Twitter profile to the 15th of March 2013 (up to and including March 15th to be consistent with the first survey). Then the total number of tweets since each NCE joined Twitter was divided by the total number of days each NCE has been using Twitter to create a tweet-intensity score.

Each NCE was then ranked, showing the following results:

Twitter Intensity Scores NCEs

 

                  

(Click on diagram above to enlarge)

Tweet-Intensity Ranking:

  1. Allergy, Genes and Environment Network – AllerGen
 @AllerGen_NCE

(funding to 2019)

0.96
  1. AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence
 @AUTO21NCE 

(funding to 2015)

0.83
  1. ArcticNet
 @ArcticNet

(funding to 2018)

0.81
  1. Canadian Arthritis Network – CAN 
 @commcan

(funding to 2014)

0.80
  1. Stem Cell Network – SCN
 @StemCellNetwork

(funding to 2015)

0.73
  1. Carbon Management Canada – CMC
 @cmc_nce

(funding to 2013)

0.47
  1. Canadian Stroke Network – CSN 
 @strokenetwork

(funding to 2015)

0.37
  1. NeuroDevNet
 @NeuroDevNet

(funding to 2014)

0.34
  1. Canadian Water Network – CWN
 @CdnWaterNetwork

(funding to 2015)

0.28
  1. BioFuelNet 
 @BioFuelNet

(funding to 2017)

0.13
  1. Graphics, Animation and New Media Canada – GRAND
 @GRAND_NCE

(funding to 2014)

0.10
  1. Canadian Photonic Industry Consortium – CPIC 

Not Found

(no longer funded)

0.0
  1. GEOmatics for Informed DEcisions Network – GEOIDE 

Not Found

(no longer funded)

0.0
  1. Marine Environmental, Observation, Prediction and Response Network – MEOPAR 

Not Found

(funding to 2017)

0.0
  1. Mprime Network Inc.

Not Found

(funding to 2014)

0.0
  1. Technology Evaluation in the Elderly Network – TVN 

Not Found

(funding to 2017)

0.0

Although it’s still a simple calculation from the total number of tweets since each NCE started using Twitter, the current results show a more accurate tweet-intensity over time, with one of the NCEs – AllerGen – ranking first and showing a fairly impressive use of tweeting for the shorter amount of time on Twitter.
(It would be interesting to include the number of followers into the mix to see if that variable contributes to tweet effectiveness – but I’ll save that for a future blog post!).

However, results still show that the average number of tweets per day still remains well under the evidence that a minimum of at least ten tweets per day creates more valuable engagement and greater opportunities for knowledge dissemination. There’s still room for improvement to create greater social media engagement for more effective knowledge mobilization.

Just as a comparison, I decided to look at the results for Canada’s leading knowledge mobilization network ResearchImpact and my own KMbeing Twitter account.

Twitter Profile Twitter Name Twitter Start Total Days On Twitter Total Tweets Tweet-Intensity Score
ResearchImpact @researchimpact May 15, 2009

1401

9450

6.74
KMbeing @kmbeing March 25, 2010

1087

9982

9.18

researchimpact

KMbeing logo

(Perhaps this is the reason why both ResearchImpact and KMbeing were voted in the top ten Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Influencers for 2011 and 2012).

Canadian policymakers and government agencies have recognized the value of drawing together leading researchers and research institutions into national research networks to support trans-disciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration.  The effectiveness of these research networks are also a great example to the rest of the world.  It’s a first step towards incorporating knowledge mobilization into strategic planning to successfully increase communication and collaboration among a variety of stakeholders. It’s a changing research model using networking as part of the research process.

The next step for Canada’s flagship Science & Technology networks is to increase the use of social media for knowledge mobilization.  Again, social media is not a fad, and the use of social media for academics and institutions is becoming more incorporated into strategic planning. Many researchers and academic institutions are recognizing the value of using Twitter in a more consistent and productive manner for knowledge mobilization.

David Phipps

As David Phipps, Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services at York University (and ResearchImpact) pointed out in a keynote address to the Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum in 2012 (and posted on the blog MobilizeThis!), the future of knowledge mobilization and research engagement will depend on social media, but researchers and knowledge mobilizers are still trying to figure out how to effectively use social media to do this.

“15-20 years ago IT folks had to develop a business case to convince corporate leaders to invest in an enterprise e mail system. Today e mail is a fact of life (unfortunately). Many of us are now using social media as a broadcasting tool and a large portion are also using it as a listening tool. We are now starting to figure out how to use social media as a tool for engagement but we’re not there yet. These trends will accelerate.”

Just as email changed society, so too is social media changing the traditional models of research, dissemination and engagement. Social media provides new modes of knowledge exchange and broader public input, creating a further research resource in the current KMb world as a way of providing broader participation in discussions around research topics.  Social media also breaks down international barriers to share academic research in a way that is more friendly and immediate to a wider audience. Yet, social media is still a tool that needs to be used correctly to be effective (see my previous blog for tips on how to do this).

Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence are making a start.  They just need to continue to take a few more steps forward into new modes of research and into the future of using social media – especially Twitter – for knowledge mobilization.

digital technology, KMb, knowledge, knowledge exchange, knowledge mobilization, making the world a better place, policy, research, social collaboration, social media, social media tools, Today's Knowledge Inspiration, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Knowledge Exchange at CAMH

1 Comment Posted by on January 10, 2013

CAMH logo                              gary-pic

Many thanks to ResearchImpact’s MobilizeThis! blog for mention of my new position as Knowledge Exchange Events & Resources Planner. I started working with an amazing team at CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) in the Knowledge Exchange & Education division of the Provincial System Support Program (PSSP) – including my former colleague from the KM “bee”-hive at York University’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit, Jason Guriel.

Jason Guriel

The team is being lead by Executive Director Heather Bullock, who is also heading up EENet – the Evidence Exchange Network.

Heather Bullock

Along with my organizational abilities and experience in the field of knowledge mobilization, I am hoping to put my interests and skills in using social media for knowledge mobilization to great use. You can read the blog here.

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Formal & Personal Knowledge Mobilization (KMb)

Leave a Comment Posted by on March 3, 2012

Dedicated followers of my KMbeing blog will know that my understanding of Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) has evolved over the recent years as KMb has emerged, and I have taken a more holistic (and perhaps idealistic) approach to Knowledge Mobilization from the more academic/institutional approach that has now been established.

I continue to recognize (what I call) more formal KMb as knowledge collaborations between researchers and research-users to inform public policy decision-makers to create social benefit. But I also see the value of Knowledge Mobilization on a more personal level – connecting each person’s individual knowledge with the knowledge of others to make the world a better place.

There are four essential factors that influence effective formal Knowledge Mobilization:

1)      Strong inter-organizational/institutional partnerships

2)      Using skilled knowledge brokers (like those found at York University’s KMb Unit and ResearchImpact – Canada’s Knowledge Mobilization Network)

3)      Meaningful involvement of “front-line” personnel – those involved in direct contact between researchers and community organizations

4)      Support (professionally and financially) by institutional leaders

There are four essential factors that influence effective personal Knowledge Mobilization:

1)      Value of one’s own knowledge

2)      Sharing one’s own knowledge with others

3)      Being open to the knowledge of others

4)      Combining knowledge to create meaningful, new knowledge to make the world a better place

Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) – both formal and personal – is about creating multi-directional connections of knowledge utilization, transfer and exchange for social benefit. It’s about establishing social relationships through multi-directional knowledge sharing.

More formally – knowledge can be translated and/or exchanged in several multi-directional and engaging ways:

  • mobilized from researcher(s) to researcher(s) within the academy
  • mobilized from researcher(s) to practitioner(s) or vice versa
  • mobilized from one institution or organization working with another
  • mobilized from community organizations to practitioner(s) to researcher(s)
  • mobilized from community organizations to researcher(s)
  • mobilized from researcher(s) to researcher(s) within or across institutions
  • mobilized from a tweeter/blogger (use of social media) to inform researcher(s) in academia
  • mobilized from word-of-mouth story-telling to organizations or researcher(s)

More personally – knowledge can be translated and/or exchanged in several multi-directional and engaging ways:

  • mobilized from person(s) to person(s) within a family
  • mobilized from person(s) to person(s) from within to outside a family (or vice versa)
  • mobilized from person(s) to co-worker(s)
  • mobilized from person(s) to person(s) within social circles (friends, volunteer communities, faith communities)
  • mobilized from a tweeter/blogger (using social media) to inform others
  • mobilized from comments of others (using social media) to inform tweeter/blogger
  • mobilized from word-of-mouth story-telling to strangers or new acquaintance(s)

In short – Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) can take place with and among anyone wanting to share knowledge with the intention of making the world a better place. At the heart of KMb is the intention of social benefit for everyone.

Whether you’re doing it formally or personally – are you mobilizing knowledge to make the world a better place?

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Knowledge Hypocrites: Take Two!

4 Comments Posted by on February 3, 2012

A recent controversial blog that has been getting much attention is by York University’s David Phipps of ResearchImpact - titled Knowledge Hypocrites. In it Phipps makes the pointed claim that “We are all knowledge hypocrites.”

Phipps includes himself when he states that “neither researchers nor knowledge brokers practice what we preach.” Phipps concludes that “until researchers receive time and incentives for making their research broadly accessible and knowledge brokers receive time and incentives for accessing that research we shall remain hypocritical. Well-meaning indeed, but hypocritical. The system won’t change overnight but it won’t change at all if we don’t start to seek out KMb/KT researcher/practitioner collaborations.”

Well-said! Although I am not a researcher or a knowledge broker (although I have been called a theoretical knowledge broker) my holistic approach to Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) has always attempted to promote greater social collaboration across knowledge sectors to include community voices of knowledge. I believe all of us have knowledge from our life experiences to share for greater social benefit – not just within academic or more formal research institutions – to influence decision/policy makers to make the world a better place. Isn’t making the world a better place the most important incentive? Only when all knowledge voices are given an opportunity to speak for benefit can hypocrisy ever end. Knowledge brokers can provide those links across knowledge sectors for social benefit as I have shown in the following diagram.

A hypocrite is defined as a person who professes certain ideals – but fails to live up to them.

Ideals are all about making things better – but ideals are also something that remain just out of reach, waiting to be turned into reality. So how do we turn ideals into reality? For starters we need to continue to break down barriers and preconceived notions or beliefs. That’s what David Phipps is calling us to do – especially researchers and knowledge brokers who are considered the “experts” in knowledge.

It’s been said that a cup is useful only when it’s empty – a mind that is filled with rigid beliefs or dogmas is really a closed and hypocritical mind.

How many of us have missed wonderful opportunities for learning and sharing knowledge because of preconceived notions or beliefs that we’ve adopted from others because we thought we were “right”? How many times have we rejected people who might have been great knowledge sources because they believed something that we didn’t believe, or didn’t believe what I believed? I have mentioned in my previous blog that there are many “truths”.  What is most important is being open to and sharing knowledge regardless of how “truth” is perceived.  What is most important is creating new knowledge – combining knowledge from many knowledge sectors – for social benefit.

I’ll take Phipps’ challenge even further beyond just researcher/ practitioner collaborations to include all social collaborations that include knowledge voices beyond an institutional capacity. As Phipps says, “the system won’t change overnight but it won’t change at all if we don’t start to seek out…collaborations” – even in unexpected places within various community knowledge sectors. Only then, when we break down these barriers – and the ideal can be turned into reality to make the world a better place – will we no longer be knowledge hypocrites.

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KMbeing.com Named Among Top Knowledge Mobilization Influencers In Canada

1 Comment Posted by on September 29, 2011

Gary Myers (KMbeing.com)

It’s with great appreciation and pleasure that my KMbeing website and twitter feeds (KMbeing) were named among the top five Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) influencers in Canada.  I am truly humbled and honoured by this recognition. Much thanks to my many dedicated KMbeing blog readers and KMbeing twitter followers.  Although my recent posts have been fewer than usual due to recent time constraints, this recognition makes me realize the importance of ramping up again with more frequent blog & twitter postings to continue spreading the word of Knowledge Mobilization for social benefit. Thanks again to my KMb peers and followers – and I hope you will continue to spread the word of KMb and KMbeing!

The following article appeared in York University’s YFile on September 28, 2011 and is reposted.

David Phipps, director of York’s Research Services and Knowledge Exchange, has been named the most influential knowledge broker in Canada, according to a report by Knowledge Mobilization Works, a consulting and training company based in Ottawa.

The Canadian Knowledge Mobilization 100, a survey run by Knowledge Mobilization Works, asked respondents to rank the biggest influences of their knowledge mobilization practice. Phipps, who leads York’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit and ResearchImpact-RéseauImpactRecherche, Canada’s knowledge mobilization network, topped the list.

                        Left: David Phipps

Also mentioned among the top influencers in Canada were Peter Levesque (Knowledge Mobilization Works), Melanie Barwick (Hospital for Sick Children), Ben Levin (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) and Gary Myers (KMbeing.com).  The survey collected responses from Jan. 5 to June 15, and results were released by Knowledge Mobilization Works on Monday (26 Sept 2011).

“Knowledge mobilization is a key element of York’s research outreach strategy,” said Robert Haché, York’s vice-president research & innovation. “Through David’s efforts and leadership, York’s excellent reputation as a leading knowledge mobilization university in Canada continues to be strengthened. This recognition by his peers is well deserved.”

York piloted institutional knowledge mobilization in 2005 under a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Since then, York has grown its knowledge mobilization collaboration with the University of Victoria to include the other four ResearchImpact-RéseauImpactRecherche universities: Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador, Université du Québec à Montréal, University of Guelph and University of Saskatchewan. York also works closely with the United Way of York Region to deliver knowledge mobilization services to the York Region community, municipal and regional agencies.

Knowledge mobilization is a suite of services that connect university research and expertise to government and community agencies so that research can help these organizations make better informed decisions about public policy and social services. Knowledge mobilization is a process that results in social innovation.

“Knowledge mobilization has become very important for Canada,” said Steven Gaetz, professor in the Faculty of Education who leads both the Canadian Homelessness Research Network and the Homeless Hub. “David’s work and that of the knowledge mobilization unit is very helpful to those of us seeking to make research accessible to policy makers.”

Levesque, president and CEO of Knowledge Mobilization Works, undertook the survey to obtain a snapshot of who people see as influential in their knowledge mobilization practice in Canada.

“We think that knowledge mobilization as a concept and as a practice is growing. We think that we have barely scratched the surface of understanding what influences knowledge mobilization practice,” said Levesque.

Founded in January 2007, Knowledge Mobilization Works supports individuals and organizations to create incentives and infrastructure for knowledge mobilization.

For more information on York’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit contact Michael Johnny, manager, Knowledge Mobilization at ext. 88876. (Michael Johnny has also been featured on KMbeing.com)

To view the results of the survey, click here.

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Assessing Research Impact

1 Comment Posted by on June 17, 2011

For those of you who follow me on my KMbeing Twitter feed, you may have noticed a flurry of tweeting yesterday afternoon – June 17th, 2011.  My fingers were furiously flying on my laptop as I live-tweeted a presentation by Sandra Nutley, Professor of Public Policy and Management at the University of Edinburgh. She is also Director of the Research Unit for Research Utilisation (RURU) which investigates the use of social science research in public policy and service delivery settings.


Those of us in the Knowledge Mobilization field consider Sandra Nutley to be somewhat of a KMb celebrity. She along with Isabel Walter and Huw Davies wrote the highly-influential and important book Using Evidence: How research can inform public services. (She actually has KTE/KMb groupies who ask her to sign their copy of the book!  Thanks for your signature Sandra! )

Professor Nutley was addressing the Ontario KTE (Knowledge Transfer & Exchange) Community of Practice (CoP) (of which I am a member). I had the opportunity and privilege to mobilize some of her knowledge on Twitter as she presented on the topic Assessing impact of research & Knowledge Transfer & Exchange (KTE) activities. (KTE is another word used to describe the formal process of Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) -  I make the distinction between formal and informal or macro & micro KMb as well as the differences in use of terminology).

It was also a privilege to meet informally for dinner with Sandra after her talk, along with my husband and KMb partner David Phipps from ResearchImpact at York University (@researchimpact on Twitter), and Sarah Morton (@sasmort on Twitter),  Co-Director at the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships (CRFR) at The University of Edinburgh (@CRFRtweets on Twitter).  I also live-tweeted a presentation by Sandra on June 6th, 2011 titled Research Use in Different Contexts. You can expect an upcoming Mobilize This! blog from ResearchImpact on this event soon.

Sandra Nutley began by asking the important question Why assess research impact? Using a forward tracking and back tracking approach, Nutley pointed out the common reasons for the need to assess research impact such as addressing accountability, assuring value for money invested in research, setting priorities for research, assisting with learning and improving outcomes from research.

Within the scope of this forward/back tracking model are the various stakeholders that play a role in the research process: tracked back to ‘user’ communities – such as policymakers, practitioners, the media and other organizational use; while tracking forward with research stemming from either single studies, research programs or systematic reviews.

As part of an evaluation of research initiatives, Nutley reminded the group of the importance of their own KTE or KMb interventions (along with other centres) that play an important role in promoting research when assessing the impact of initiatives and increasing research use.

Nutley also pointed out two common methods used to assess the impact of research:

1: the “payback” model – which focuses more on the value gained from research

OR

2: the “mapping” model – which describes and maps networks and flows of knowledge and the effects of any interactions from research.

(Research Unit for Research Utilisation (RURU) at The University of Edinburgh)

Nutley went on to describe the work being done by RURU to assess research impact which focuses on KTE or KMb intervention types – specifically on the underlying mechanisms involved such as dissemination, interaction, social influence, facilitation, incentives & reinforcement. This created some valued discussion within the room with Peter Levesque, founder and managing Director of Knowledge Mobilization Works asking “how do we best distinguish between the complexity of the research environment & mechanisms used?”  Melanie Barwick, Health Systems Scientist from Sick Kids Hospital, suggested the use of the term mechanism doesn’t always take into consideration the audience or goal for sharing knowledge and is a limiting term.

The presentation continued with Professor Nutley pointing out some common challenges and methodological issues when assessing research impact such as the types and use of research being done, the timing of assessment, the importance of context, along with attribution and additionality to research, and the importance of getting away from linear models (which I have pointed out in a previous blog about the multi-directional flow of knowledge from context to context).

The floor was briefly turned over to Sarah Morton who described an emerging approach to address attribution in research using John Mayne’s work on contribution analysis.  Sarah has been actively involved in applying this approach to her own important and recognized research on families and relationships at CRFR. (I hope Sarah and Sandra will return to Canada to present further on this valuable “contribution” to knowledge mobilization).

Professor Nutley discussed the use of Erica Wimbush’s work on the Theory of Change to assess research impact, showing the direct and indirect control and influences on the process of research – from inputs, activities & outputs (direct control & influence) through the process of reach/engagement, reactions & capacity (direct influence) to ongoing practice, behavior change & end results (indirect influence) – all as external influences gradually increase along each stage of the process.  (Sandra Nutley’s slide presentation has been posted on the KTE CoP website).

Sandra Nutley’s interesting and engaging presentation concluded by emphasizing some generic features of effective KTE or KMb practices that RURU suggests applying to any research process.

Although these are valuable insights into effective knowledge mobilization, Nutley pointed out there is still much work to be done. She states we must move away from:

–Poor documentation and under-evaluated KTE (KMb) activities
–Studies that focus only on the instrumental use of research (see KMbeing blog on this)
–An assumption that research is used and applied mainly by individual practitioners
–Studies that result only in a now familiar listing of barriers and enablers, especially where these are the barriers/enablers experienced by individual practitioners
I always try to use my KMbeing blog to provoke and inspire deeper questions and thinking to break down some of  the barriers that Sandra Nutley has mentioned – barriers that also exist between academia & community.  It’s my hope that in some small way my KMbeing blog creates more inclusive, theoretical but simple and common approaches to our understanding of knowledge and knowledge mobilization (KMb) for the benefit of society. I also hope that by showcasing some of our great knowledge mobilizers (such as Sandra Nutley & Sarah Morton) – and the professional work they do – it will provide an opportunity to connect people who would not normally connect their knowledge in multi-directional ways across many sectors and communities.
(KMbeing Model of Knowledge Mobilization)
Many thanks to Sandra Nutley and Sarah Morton for a great presentations and for coming to Canada to speak to the KTE CoP on valuable approaches to research and KMb process.
Perhaps now it’s time to go out on Steve’s boat (Sandra’s husband) for a well-deserved rest back home in Scotland – if he gets it fixed up soon!
Community of Practice (CoP), knowledge, policy, presentations, research , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chad Gaffield (President Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council SSHRC) Speaking at Annual Conference of Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences

1 Comment Posted by on April 11, 2011

Re-Imagining Scholarship In The Digital Age

David Phipps, Director of Research Services and Knowledge Exchange at York University in Toronto,  makes a cameo asking a question after Chad’s presentation. Chad Gaffield publically recognized David as a leader in Canada helping SSHRC think through knowledge mobilization in all its dimensions, and creating a knowledge mobilization Community of Practice.

David is becoming more recognized nationally and internationally as a Knowledge Broker and actively involved in Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) as a Knowledge Mobilizer at ResearchImpact – Canada’s Knowledge Mobilization Network.

Congratulations for the public acknowledgement David!

And thanks to Chad Gaffield for an terrific presentation!

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Bridging The Evidence-To-Policy Gap With Knowledge Mobilization

3 Comments Posted by on March 8, 2011

I recently attended two important events pointing forward to the future of collaborative knowledge mobilization. The first event was the Climate Change Policy and Research Day sponsored by ResearchImpact and the Knowledge Mobilization Unit at York University. The day profiled climate change work being done at municipal and regional levels with a discussion on the existing research to policy gaps, while exploring opportunities for collaboration between community stakeholders, policy makers and researchers. The event was live-tweeted by a number of participants with the hashtag #CCKMb. For a full transcript of the tweets, please see here. ResearchImpact also has a blog about the event here.

The second event was the Using Evidence to Inform Policy Workshop at the University of Guelph. The workshop was part of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Knowledge Translation Learning Series, and featured international policy expert Louise Shaxton from the UK. Like the York event, the day gathered researchers and policy makers to discuss and collaborate on bridging research to policy gaps – even including an industry participant from Maple Leaf Consumer Foods. The session was hosted by the Public Health Agency of Canada and its partners from the University of Guelph, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Environment Canada, and Health Canada’s Science Policy Directorate.

Setting the stage for the workshop was Barbara Marshall from the Centre for Food-borne, Environmental & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases who presented the workshop themes around evidence and policy making along with a definition of public policy.

Melissa MacKay from the University of Guelph talked about the various roles in policy – including research and development – and what is needed to overcome the barriers to effective evidence-based policy making.

Phil Malcolmson, Director, Strategic Policy Branch from OMAFRA provided an example of the partnership that OMAFRA has with the University of Guelph to showcase the benefits of partnerships between government and academia.

Also among the list of guest speakers was Laurent Gémar from Health Canada’s Science Policy Directorate talking about the Science to Policy Interface in getting the most up-to-date evidence-based research to Canadian Federal Government Ministers. Gémar pointed out that timing is everything as parliamentary time restrictions often create barriers between getting a research answer to a Cabinet Minister and being able to go back to researchers to get the latest updates. He also spoke about the many ministries all seeking to work collaboratively within the political barriers that exist. Gémar stated that such political barriers create a limitation to the number of key research projects being selected. (For more on political obstacles to knowledge mobilization click here). Gémar also suggested some key objectives of health policy to address the complexity of issues within health and other ministries. He addressed the need for training scientists and policy makers together to create better science policy information and collaboration.

For a further interesting connection about building a knowledge-based government – and a great example of how social media can be used to facilitate open dialogue among stakeholders and interested participants – link to the recent Twitter tweet-chat titled GovChat here.

Among the list of international guest speakers was Alex Bielak from United Nations University who presented on The Evolution of Knowledge Mobilization and Knowledge Brokers. Bielak talked about the existing diversity of terminology to describe KMb, and the shift to unify terminology with the term K* (K-star). (For more on the problems of KMb terminology click here). Bielak pointed out that different stakeholders prefer to receive information in different ways. This presents a challenge to knowledge brokers who need to stimulate policy “pull” for greater knowledge impact and action with a more adaptive and collaborative approach.

The highlight of the workshop was the engaging lecture by Louise Shaxson, Director of the Delta Partnership, UK examining what is meant by evidence-informed policy making. Shaxson outlined some basic evidence and policy principles, and described specific tools and techniques that have worked well to help policy makers create more effective and informed decisions. Shaxson states that a suite of tools is required – not just one tool for policy making. She points out that today’s policy making is very different from the past, and that researchers must understand that the political process is an important part of the research process. Shaxson points out that the quality of the entire research to decision making process is as important as the evidence presented. Shaxson presented valuable and effective evidence mapping and social frameworks tools to assess the impacts of evidence and policy making throughout the stakeholder network. (See the brief video below of Shaxson speaking at a previous conference in Bogotá in 2010 about the importance of research communication).

The big difference between the Climate Change and the Evidence Policy events was the receptivity of using social media as a tool in the collaborative knowledge mobilization process. When I asked the Climate Change panel about how they’re using social media to bridge the gap between research and policy making, the group looked baffled and overlooked the opportunity to answer my question as if I just asked a group from the 1970s how they’re using email (before its popularity and use).  At least the Evidence Policy participants were open to suggestions about how social media can be used as a knowledge mobilization tool, and the value of creating a social media strategy – even discussing the government restrictions currently imposed on employees to use such tools for knowledge communications.

Most importantly, both events brought together a diversity of stakeholders – including researchers, community agencies and actors, knowledge brokers and government policy makers – in the same room face-to-face. This is knowledge mobilization at its best!

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Featuring A Knowledge Mobilizer: Michael Johnny

2 Comments Posted by on February 25, 2011

Michael Johnny is one of Canada’s top and most respected university-based Knowledge Brokers. He is also Manager of the Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) Unit at York University. As a Knowledge Broker, Michael works as a bridge between researchers at York University and research stakeholders. Michael facilitates university outreach collaboration and knowledge mobilization within the community of York Region and Toronto. He helps create partnerships designed to support research to better inform public policy or professional practice. His background in literacy working at Toronto’s AlphaPlus Centre for the Deaf, Native, Francophone, and Anglophone communities has provided an excellent foundation for effective communication and bridging required to work with the diverse sectors of researchers and community stakeholders.

Michael’s work also extends beyond the university and York/Toronto region across Canada working with ResearchImpact – Canada’s Knowledge Mobilization network. Michael helped build the Knowledge Mobilization Unit at York and the inclusion of six other Canadian universities (and growing) as part of the ResearchImpact network.

Also under Michael’s guidance at the KMb Unit, future policy-makers are trained by giving graduate students and post-doctoral fellows valuable experience working with a variety of stakeholders. The KMb Unit equips research trainees and their research collaborators with broader skill sets which they can then take into positions in the public, private, and voluntary sectors.

Apart from one of Michael’s hobbies mentioned in this KMbeing blog, some of his other passions (besides knowledge mobilization) include golf, cooking and red wine. See Michael’s description in his own words here.

Michael Johnny is one of the most genuinely friendly, kind and considerate people I know, and  I’m please to present him as part of my series Featuring a Knowledge Mobilizer.

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Knitting Knowledge Mobilization

2 Comments Posted by on February 23, 2011

Do you knit? Do you like to turn yarn or thread into warm, comfortable clothing or snuggly blankets? I’d like to dedicate this blog to all of the knitters out there. Quite surprisingly, for some reason, I’ve found many of my colleagues in Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) are genuine “dyed-in-the-wool” regular knitters. Is there some sort of strange connection between people who enjoy knitting and knowledge mobilization? Probably not. However, it’s suspicious that both knitting and knowledge both begin with silent Ks! All humour aside, it appears that knitting remains a very popular hobby.

One of my dedicated blog and Twitter followers (whom I also follow regularly) is Bonnie Zink (on Twitter @BonnieZink). Bonnie is a writer, editor and a knowledge translation & exchange specialist, as well as being a social media enthusiast interested in Knowledge Mobilization. Her Twitter profile says she “loves to indulge in knitterly obsessions” which is clearly seen in Bonnie’s blog Stitching in Saskatoon.

Bonnie’s knitting blog is so popular that this past weekend, Bonnie tweeted: “A new “record!” Over 400 reads of the blog this weekend. Thanks! I take it as a sign that you enjoy what I #write. http://bit.ly/8oDKK4”.

Apparently there are more hits to knitting blogs than knowledge mobilization blogs! Why do you suppose that is? I’ve checked with many of my fellow KMb bloggers and they admit they rarely come close to that number on any weekend or daily level. Congrats Bonnie!

Another Twitter follower (and whom I also follow regularly)  is an educator, academic career coach and regular knitter is Jo Vanevery http://jovanevery.ca/ (on Twitter @jovanevery). Jo’s postings are always thought-provoking and helpful to those seeking academic direction, guidance and information. Amusingly, Jo continues to pepper several of her enjoyable academic blog posts with mentions of knitting.

And knitting is also the hobby of two of Canada’s top knowledge brokers,  Michael Johnny (on Twitter @mobilizemichael), and  Krista Jensen (on Twitter @atomickitty), whom I work with at the Knowledge Mobilization Unit at York University – and also part of ResearchImpact, Canada’s Knowledge Mobilization Network. I’ve never seen them knitting at work, but both tell me it’s a leisurely pleasure they enjoy. (To see some of Krista’s knitting projects link here http://www.flickr.com/photos/86079743@N00/sets/72157622667413246/). There’s even a social networking site for knitters and crocheters called Ravelry.

Although I’m not a knitter, I did a little research. Did you know that originally, knitting was a male-only occupation? The first knitting trade guild was started in Paris in 1527. Today, thankfully and rightfully, it’s good to see woman are now as included in formally contributing knowledge as they are in knitting. It’s also good to see that men are also still knitting. I’ve been known to see a KMb connection in almost anything to help explain what Knowledge Mobilization is. So here goes with knitting…

You probably know that the yarn in knitted fabrics follows a meandering path, forming symmetrical loops around a path of yarn. These meandering loops can be stretched easily in different directions, giving knitting much more elasticity (and strength) than many woven fabrics. Depending on the yarn and knitting pattern, knitted garments can stretch as much as 500%. There are also many hundreds of different knitting stitches used by knitters, and different ways to insert the needle into the stitch.

So let’s say Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) is a process like knitting. Just as knitting relies on the continuous stitching of symmetrical loops, KMb relies on the continuous action loops of informing and being informed. As each stitch is knitted and stretched in different directions, so too is knowledge expanded when turned into action through mobilization.

Like the many types of stitching with many different types of threads, KMb includes many different knowledge sectors and individuals (cultures, communities, beliefs, academia, organizations, associations) brought together to be woven into a valuable knowledge fabric for the benefit of society.

My analogy might be a stretch (oh groan!), but like a path of yarn, knitting and knowledge through focused stitching and mobilization can create value that can move, extend and provide something good for others.

And as knitter and knowledge mobilizer Bonnie Zink says… “Happy stitching!”

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