Knowledge co-production
SECOS will test innovative pathways to transform SES towards sustainability through knowledge co-production. This occurs in learning platforms (LP), which are already navigating important sustainability transitions, such as the implementation of payment for ecosystem service schemes with fisher communities, and others who have yet to define niche innovations, such as the development of new biotechnological products or animal welfare schemes to adapt to biophysical impacts of ocean acidification or novel pollutants.
Key methods to address these challenges includes in silico approaches to examine specific genomic processes, novel approaches to consumer demand, early assessments of policy instruments, costumer driven design for scalability and the use of art as a way to co-create new collective visions. SECOS will actively work on developing capabilities in R&D for each SES through post-docs dedicated to LP.
This approach, together with researchers’ past experience, provides a concreate structure to promote interaction and multidisciplinarity. In fact, the co-construction of sustainability pathways using different knowledge systems begins to address transdisciplinary challenges.
At SECOS, knowledge co-production is done under four basic principles*:
Based on context. Local, regional, national and world wide. Consideringn the needs, interests, and problems of the various groups involved.
Pluralistic. We recognize multiple ways of knowing and doing by bringing together multiple forms of knowledge and expertise.
Goal oriented. Focused on the problem and benefits from shared goals and objectives, which are also flexible, evolve and can be revisited.
Interactive. It requires constant interaction between the participants throughout the co-production process. Interaction and participation promote the exchange of knowledge, build dialogue and trust, in addition to making the process and results credible, relevant and legitimate.
At SECOS, we work in small and medium-scale social-ecological experimental units (see image), understood as Learning Platforms (LP).
In these platforms, which can also be considered as natural laboratories, researchers promotes interdiscipline and co-learning for new knowledge production.
* Principles for knowledge co-production in sustainability research.