Knowledge gaps need Knowledge GAPES: Stepping beyond Knowledge Exchange to Knowledge Gathering, Analysis, Personalizing and Exchange Systems

In almost two decades of science communication and outreach, Fuse has been called upon many, many times to identify knowledge gaps. Traditionally, this request includes gathering knowledge producers and users to collect the best available science on a subject and ask the question: What are the areas of future research that could support decision- making and move us to action?

With the retirement of the Baby Boomers, effectively gathering their resource management wisdom is essential. Fuse has been contracted to inventory historical databases of resources, reports and other contributions. We identify the most valuable publications – then summarize, visualize and mobilize those documents.

“What we need to know in order to do better is already out there. ”

At the same time, our company is supporting numerous Knowledge Exchange Networks – all built on the principle that what we need to know in order to do better is already out there.

Some of this knowledge is in the minds of those “boots on the ground” practitioners with lifetimes’ worth of wisdom that could benefit an entire industry. Other knowledge is informing action in one region, but could solve problems in another region if it were only shared. In other instances, knowledge was produced and put into practice in one industry and would have transformational applications in other industries and sectors.

This is not news to ambitious change- makers, government directors with national mandates, and Canada’s social impact groups. Nor is  gathering this information a new challenge.

I recently spoke to a jaded late-career professional who has “seen this all before.” Attempts to find all the relevant resources in forestry, put them in one place, raise awareness of the resource library, and host events to advance thinking and practice – only to see funding cuts destroy that great vision and set back knowledge exchange once again.

So where do we go from here?

A recent Masterclass about the CIA gave me an idea.

I believe we need to transform knowledge exchange professionals into CIA agents of science communication and evidence-based decision-making so they can gather and analyze the knowledge we need to solve complex challenges.

GATHER

• Train them to identify their informants – individuals with knowledge valuable to their program – and establish transformational, not transactional relationships with them.

• Support them to digitize “historical” resources collecting dust on shelves or at risk of being shredded and lost forever. The hunt for these critical pieces of knowledge can feel like detective work.

• Encourage them to host interviews with the knowledge keepers all around them. Document their experiences and expertise in podcasts, voice memos, and reports.

• Model humility and respect for all knowledge systems, diverse perspectives, and creative ideas. Particularly from young voices, elderly voices, community voices and voices from outside their specialty that do not share the same biases as the voices that are usually heard in these sectors.

ANALYZE

At Fuse, our mission is to help solve the most pressing conservation challenges in Canada. These issues require evidence that supports action and informs decisions at the policy level. Building this clear picture of the evidence and path forward is like assembling a 1000-piece puzzle, starting with only 250 pieces of that puzzle (see the Gather section above on how to find those other 750 pieces) and 5000 potential pieces from other irrelevant puzzles. Making inventories, ranking, and screening out the valuable information from the distractions can feel like the work of an intelligence analysis operative.

Here are some tips to focus on the key details:

• Identify the key message or objective of your knowledge-sharing publication.

• Find and highlight the scientific evidence keeping things concise and credible.

• Focus on pieces that have management applications or implications for decision- makers.

PERSONALIZE

The next step is to translate that scientific evidence into accessible, targeted media for your audience.

• Know your audience. Spend time identifying who they are and understanding what they know, what they value, and what they want to know more about.

• Make findings concrete. Transform statistics, data, engagement results, and other numbers into  numeric relationships (eg. more than, 3X, reduced by half, etc.), providing examples that are relevant to the audience.

• Use visuals, like infographics and compelling photos, to explain your concepts in ways that are memorable, connect with emotions, and convey many ideas with as few words as possible.

• Tell stories that make knowledge personal. How does this relate to the real life of your audience? Use case studies, real organizations, and lived experiences to connect scientific realities to things people care about and understand.

EXCHANGE SYSTEMS

Communication products, like infographics, visual guides, and briefing notes are tools to start a conversation. Create spaces to host those conversations, both online and in-person. A knowledge exchange program should include a network or community of practice that meets regularly to exchange ideas, learn from each others’ failures, share successes, and ask each other questions. Document and share these conversations in a centralized place. For example, a digital platform or website with a searchable resource library. Building an information management or knowledge exchange system is a large undertaking, here are suggestions to consider.

• Don’t go at it alone. Partner with like-minded groups or join an existing knowledge exchange system like the Canadian Conservation and Land Management Knowledge Network (CCLM)[Od1] . Having multiple contributors keeps the content fresh, and ensures sustainable operating funding for maintenance, upgrades, and ongoing management into the future.

• A website is not enough. The digital space will not attract and retain users without knowledge exchange activities like webinars, synthesis projects, conferences, and other engagement activities.

• Focus on what you do uniquely well. Be sure not to duplicate the functions of existing platforms.

• Avoid letting “bells and whistles” distract users from what you want them to do on your site. These distractions can also take away from budget and time that you could otherwise spend building the platform and maintaining its functions.

• The internet is a cybersecurity arms race. Ensure you have the support, and budget for regular upgrades, bug fixes, and new security software. New types of spam and cyberattacks are manifesting all the time. Think twice before investing in a low-cost site or low-cost developer. If you don’t have a big budget, or long-term funding, perhaps an existing database or knowledge exchange system would welcome your users and valuable resources as a new section of their digital space and save you entering this dangerous territory.

Knowledge gaps need Knowledge GAPES – gathering, analyzing, personalizing, and exchange systems to make use of all the knowledge that is already out there. Along your journey, new areas of research may  be identified as you gather and analyz knowledge on the subject.