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Author(s):
Melanie M. Colavito, Sarah F. Trainor, Nathan P. Kettle, Alison D. York
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Human Dimensions of Fire Management
Management Approaches

NRFSN number: 20219
FRAMES RCS number: 58840
Record updated:

Boundary organizations facilitate two-way, sustained interaction and communication between research and practitioner spheres, deliver existing science, and develop new, actionable scientific information to address emerging social–ecological questions applicable to decision-making. There is an increasing emphasis on the role of boundary organizations in facilitating knowledge coproduction, which is collaborative research with end users to develop actionable scientific information for decision-making. However, a deeper understanding of how boundary organizations and knowledge coproduction work in practice is needed. This paper examines the Alaska Fire Science Consortium (AFSC), a boundary organization focused on fire science and management in Alaska that is working to address climate impacts on wildfire. A case study approach was used to assess AFSC activities over time. AFSC’s boundary spanning involves a continuum of outputs and activities, but their overall trajectory has involved a deliberate transition from an emphasis on science delivery to knowledge coproduction. Key factors that facilitated this transition included a receptive and engaged audience, built-in evaluation and learning, subject matter expertise and complementarity, and embeddedness in the target audience communities. Recommendations for boundary organizations wishing to develop knowledge coproduction capacity include knowing your audience, employing trusted experts in boundary spanning, and engaging in frequent self-evaluation to inform change over time.

Citation

Colavito, Melanie M.; Trainor, Sarah F.; Kettle, Nathan P.; York, Alison. 2019. Making the transition from science delivery to knowledge coproduction in boundary spanning: a case study of the Alaska Fire Science Consortium. Weather, Climate, and Society 11:917-934. https://doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-19-0009.1

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