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Knowledge Mobilization:The NRE Experience

Bill.Reimer@concordia.caBill.Reimer@concordia.ca2006/11/012006/11/01

http://nre.concordia.cahttp://nre.concordia.ca

Tom BeckleyDavid Bruce

Omer ChouinardIvan Emke

Greg HalsethBruno Jean

Patrice LeBlancDianne Looker

Diane MartzSolange Nadeau

John ParkinsSteve Plante

Doug RamseyRichard Stedman

Ellen WallDerek WilkinsonAnna Woodrow

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Rural Revitalization•Drivers and processesDrivers and processes•Building CapacityBuilding Capacity•FindingsFindings

Key economic, social, political processesKey economic, social, political processes Relative importance of economic and social Relative importance of economic and social

processesprocesses Capacity-building processesCapacity-building processes Social capital, networks, social cohesion, Social capital, networks, social cohesion,

community capacitycommunity capacity

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Policy-MakersPractitioners

CitizensResearchers

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Engagement and Dialogue•Engage earlyEngage early•Multiple venues of communicationMultiple venues of communication•Appropriate means of communicationAppropriate means of communication•Building trust is target-specificBuilding trust is target-specific

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The NRE Sample FrameLow CapacityHigh Capacity

LagLeadLagLead

DistantAdjac.DistantAdjac.DistantAdjac.DistantAdjac.

Local Exposed

Stable

Fluctu-ating

Stable

56169915457100121351612945430181651982644412413251154627175Fluctu-

atingGlobal Exposed

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Build on Existing Capacity•Use existing Use existing

organizations and organizations and networksnetworks

• Identify and Identify and respect their respect their interestsinterests

• Identify and Identify and accommodate accommodate their normstheir norms

Mackenzie, BC

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Bear the Burden• Multiple demands on all Multiple demands on all

partnerspartners• KM means bearing the KM means bearing the

burdenburden Proactive liaisonProactive liaison Intelligence gatheringIntelligence gathering Telephone or face-to-faceTelephone or face-to-face PositivePositive Not researcher Not researcher

responsibilityresponsibility

LiaisonLiaisonOfficerOfficer

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NRE…The Rural Observatory

…an International

Network

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Structural Biases•KM not part of KM not part of

promotion, tenure, promotion, tenure, grantsgrants

•ReorganizeReorganize•Strategic planningStrategic planning•Challenge the Challenge the

institutionsinstitutions

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Inclusion-Exclusion Tension•KM must be inclusiveKM must be inclusive•Research must be exclusiveResearch must be exclusive•Form strategic alliancesForm strategic alliances

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Continuity•KM is long termKM is long term•Plan for Plan for

replacement and replacement and recruitmentrecruitment

•CelebrateCelebrate

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Lessons for Councils•Long term viewLong term view•Bear the burdenBear the burden•Recognize broader accomplishmentsRecognize broader accomplishments•Develop criteria for quality KMDevelop criteria for quality KM•Lobby for KM (all levels)Lobby for KM (all levels)•Publicize KM (but bear the burden)Publicize KM (but bear the burden)

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Knowledge Mobilization:The NRE Experience

Bill.Reimer@concordia.caBill.Reimer@concordia.ca2006/11/012006/11/01

http://nre.concordia.cahttp://nre.concordia.ca

Tom BeckleyDavid Bruce

Omer ChouinardIvan Emke

Greg HalsethBruno Jean

Patrice LeBlancDianne Looker

Diane MartzSolange Nadeau

John ParkinsSteve Plante

Doug RamseyRichard Stedman

Ellen WallDerek WilkinsonAnna Woodrow

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Impacts•ResearchersResearchers•Policy-makersPolicy-makers•PractitionersPractitioners•CitizensCitizens