Knowledge Mobilization
What is Knowledge Mobilization?
Knowledge mobilization (or KMb) refers to the sharing of information, most often in the form of research results and insights, between academic researchers and community organizations, individuals, and government with the goal of informing policy or improving programs and services. It is the act of making research have an impact beyond the academic institution.
When people think of mobilizing research, many think of journal articles, published books, and conferences. KMb is traditionally this, but there are many other ways in which academic research can be made to have an impact. Radio interviews, town halls, podcasts, videos, infographics, websites, interactive games, and a wide range of engagement activities are all forms of KMb.
Knowledge Mobilization at Carleton
Carleton University researchers have shared their research with the community, both inside and outside of academia in many creative ways:
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Political Science Podcasts https://carleton.ca/polisci/podcasts/ – Professors and graduate students from Carleton University’s Department of Political Science have produced podcasts on a range of timely topics from police brutality and racism, to the politics of Covid-19, to the Global Refugee Forum.
Minding the Brain Podcast https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/ – Carleton University professors Jim Davies (Institute of Cognitive Science and the School of Computer Science) and Kim Hellemans (Chair of the Department of Neuroscience) discuss topics in Cognitive & Brain Science.
Battlerhythm Podcast https://www.cdsn-rcds.com/battlerhythm – Co-hosted by Stephen Saideman (Director of the Canadian Defence and Security Network (CDSN) and Paterson Chair in International Affairs at Carleton University) and Stefanie von Hlatky (Associate Professor of political studies at Queen’s University), and co-produced with the CDSN, features timely discussion on the defence and security issues of the day, as well as feature conversations with academics and graduate students.
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NPSIA Blog https://npsia.wordpress.com/ – Professors and students from Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) write posts on the issues of the day and assessments of the future in International Affairs.
Worthwhile Canadian Initiative https://worthwhile.typepad.com/worthwhile_canadian_initi/ Nick Rowe and Frances Woolley, both Professors of Economics at Carleton University are two regular contributors to this Canadian Economics blog.
Cultural Reflections http://www.vivekdehejia.com/ – Vivek Dehejia, Associate Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a columnist with Mint newspaper in India, Hosts a blog with links to his academic and public writings, videos, and other items.
The Cuban Economy https://thecubaneconomy.com/ Arch Ritter, Distinguished Research Professor in Carleton’s Dept of Economics, hosts this Blog is to facilitate access to research resources and analyses from all relevant and useful sources, mainly on the economy of Cuba. It includes analyses and observations, as well as hyper-links, abstracts, summaries, and commentaries relating to other research works from academic, governmental, media, non-governmental organizations and international institutions.
Dominique Marshall http://dominiquemarshall.com/ Dominique Marshall is Professor of History at Carleton University and maintains a blog of her research and teaching activities.
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LERNN https://carleton.ca/lerrn/our-media/ – Led by Project Director, James Milner (Associate Professor of Political Science at Carleton University), LERRN: The Local Engagement Refugee Research Network, a SSHRC-funded partnership between researchers and civil society actors primarily in Canada, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon and Tanzania, communicates its research and activities through various media available on their website.
Arctic Greenhouse – Imagine an Ice-Free World Documentary Film https://mediaspace.carleton.ca/media/1_hgr7zmaf – Claudia Schroder-Adam (Professor Emeritus, Department of Earth Sciences) created the documentary film “Arctic Greenhouse – Imagine an Ice-Free World” based on a 2014 expedition to Axel Heiberg and Ellesmere islands.
Video by the Transitional Governance Project: From Indian Act to Self Determination https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_AsAHtmyOM&feature=youtu.be (video) – The Transitional Governance Project is a collaboration between the Centre for First Nations Governance (CFNG), the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and Carleton’s School of Public Policy and Administration (SPPA). Frances Abele, Chancellor’s Professor in Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration (SPPA) conceived of a collaborative think-tank, which was held in October 2017 at Carleton marking the start of the Transitional Governance Project. Participants discussed approaches to mastering and moving out from under the Indian Act toward a practical realization of the inherent right to self-governance. http://www.fngovernance.org/news/news_article/essentials_of_first_nations_governance and https://newsroom.carleton.ca/story/indigeous-communities-governance/ (think-tank press)
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New Image of Home Exhibit and Lecture https://carleton.ca/architecture/2020/new-image-of-home-lecture-and-vernissage-mon-march-16/ and https://carleton.ca/architecture/2020/new-image-of-home-drawings-exhibition-by-assoc-prof-johan-voordouw-at-shenkman-arts-centre-from-jan-9-to-feb-11/ – Johan Voordouw, artist and Associate Professor at the Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism at Carleton University, created this exhibit at the Shenkman Arts Centre in January 2020 featuring a set of24 architectural drawings that explore contemporary representations of Canadian domestic space and new ways of drawing architecture. Prof Voordouw unpacks New Image of Home in a lecture on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWBOwaRVgjQ . New Image of Home is the culmination of a two-year research project into the evolution of the Canadian home and its visual representation.
Virtual Exhibits by Carleton University’s Disability Research Group (CUDRG) https://cudisabilityresearchgroup.wordpress.com/our-exhibits/ – CUDRG aims to create accessible exhibits for more inclusive learning and opportunities for collaboration. To date, they have curated three exhibits: A Wheelchair History of Disability https://mobilityhistories.omeka.net/ Envisioning Technologies https://envisioningtechnologies.omeka.net/ , and Transnational Representation: Canada and the Founding of Disabled Peoples’ International https://transnationalrepresentation.omeka.net/exhibits/show/transnational-representation–/transnational-representation .
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Ian Rankin StoryTrek https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=AH%2FP013139%2F1#/tabOverview – Co-investigator Brian Greenspan (Associate Professor in Carleton University’s Department of English and the Institute for Comparative Studies in Literature, Art and Culture) is working on Trailing Rebus: Set in Darkness, a project that uses a StoryTrek prototype in order to engage literary tourists/Ian Rankin readers in the physical spaces where the writing is set. The prototype locative narrative will enable readers to move through Edinburgh while listening to an Ian Rankin/Inspector Rebus novel – Set in Darkness (2000) – that has been specially adapted for this purpose. StoryTrek aligns the user’s physical location with story segments activated by specific motion patterns. Other projects of Brian Greenspan and the Hyperlab can be found here: https://carleton.ca/hyperlab/projects/
Taking Steps: Warrior Women’s Wellness https://carleton.ca/healthequity/research-projects/ – Warrior Women’s Wellness was co-created through community-based participatory research by Dr. Francine Darroch and Carleton University’s Health and Wellness Equity Research Group in partnership with the University of British Columbia, YWCA Crabtree Corner, and women living and/or accessing services in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. The women-led programming included a weekly walking group and monthly introduction to new physical activities led by community partners (such as hiking, yoga, non-contact boxing, dance, strength training, and soccer). More information here: https://www.bcwomensfoundation.org/helping-women-find-their-inner-warrior/. Associated knowledge translation activities include:
- Photovoice Project – Taking Steps: A Collection of Images Shared by Mothers in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Community. https://carleton.ca/healthequity/wp-content/uploads/TakingStepsPhotovoiceBook.pdf
- Documentary – Taking Steps Warrior Women’s Wellness: Reclaiming Wellness Through Trauma- and Violence-Informed Physical Activity Programming https://vimeo.com/320342213/367c845e7c
- Trauma-and Violence-Informed Physical Activity Toolkit https://carleton.ca/healthequity/wp-content/uploads/Trauma-and-Violence-Informed-Physical-Activity.pdf – These resources were created by adapting equity resources created for healthcare settings tailored to be relevant for community centres, gyms, and other physical activity locations.
- Asset Mapping https://carleton.ca/healthequity/wp-content/uploads/DTESPhysicalActivityFitnessResource.pdf – Free or low-cost fitness resources for women in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) – this is a manual available at various women accessed organizations in the DTES that illustrates programs, activities, and community centres that women can access for free or low-cost.