Principles for knowledge co-production in sustainability research
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 21:43authored byNorstrom, AV, Cvitanovic, C, Lof, MF, West, S, Wyborn, C, Balvanera, P, Bednarek, AT, Bennett, EM, Biggs, R, de Bremond, A, Campbell, BM, Canadell, JG, Carpenter, SR, Folke, C, Elizabeth FultonElizabeth Fulton, Gaffney, O, Gelcich, S, Jouffray, JB, Leach, M, Le Tissier, M, Martin-Lopez, B, Louder, E, Loutre, MF, Meadow, AM, Nagendra, H, Payne, D, Peterson, GD, Reyers, B, Scholes, R, Speranza, CI, Spierenburg, M, Stafford-Smith, M, Tengo, M, van der Hel, S, Elizabeth Van PuttenElizabeth Van Putten, Osterblom, H
Research practice, funding agencies and global science organizations suggest that research aimed at addressing sustainability challenges is most effective when ‘co-produced’ by academics and non-academics. Co-production promises to address the complex nature of contemporary sustainability challenges better than more traditional scientific approaches. But definitions of knowledge co-production are diverse and often contradictory. We propose a set of four general principles that underlie high-quality knowledge co-production for sustainability research. Using these principles, we offer practical guidance on how to engage in meaningful co-productive practices, and how to evaluate their quality and success.