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Principles for knowledge co-production in sustainability research

2020; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 3; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/s41893-019-0448-2

2398-9629

Albert V. Norström, Christopher Cvitanovic, Marie Löf, Simon West, Carina Wyborn, Patricia Balvanera, Angela Bednarek, Elena M. Bennett, Reinette Biggs, Ariane de Bremond, Bruce M. Campbell, Josep G. Canadell, Stephen R. Carpenter, Carl Folke, Elizabeth A. Fulton, Owen Gaffney, Stefan Gelcich, Jean‐Baptiste Jouffray, Melissa Leach, Martin Le Tissier, Berta Martín‐López, Elena Louder, Marie‐France Loutre, Alison M. Meadow, Harini Nagendra, Davnah Payne, Garry Peterson, Belinda Reyers, Robert J. Scholes, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Marja Spierenburg, Mark Stafford‐Smith, Maria Tengö, Sandra van der Hel, Ingrid van Putten, Henrik Österblom,

Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development

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. Research addressing sustainability issues is more effective if ‘co-produced’ by academics and non-academics, but definitions of co-production vary. This Perspective presents four knowledge co-production principles for sustainability research and guides on how to engage in co-productive practices.