A conversation with Lupin Battersby, Director, Knowledge Mobilization, SFU
Research Impact Canada defines Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) as “a broad term that describes the way knowledge is created, shared, and used in order to create an impact.” Genomics projects are increasingly moving from discovery to translational research. Funders expect research projects to yield applicable outcomes, which, as a result, are more impactful. Since KMb is linked to impact, funding agencies are increasingly requiring applicants to submit a KMb plan.
Since KMb is linked to impact, funding agencies are increasingly requiring applicants to submit a KMb plan.
One foundational theory referenced in the KMb field is Everett M. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation. This communications theory is where the early versus late adopter concepts originate along with the familiar innovation adoption lifecycle diagram often cited when discussing the adoption of technology.
Diagram based on Rogers, E. (1962) Diffusion of innovations. Free Press, London, NY, USA.
One could argue that KMb is now at the peak of this curve as research funders and institutions increasingly adopt this concept into their mainstream research processes. I recently discussed KMb’s increasing popularity in genomics research with Lupin Battersby, Director, Knowledge Mobilization at Simon Fraser University’s Knowledge Mobilization Hub. Below is a summary of our conversation.
What is knowledge mobilization?
Lupin describes KMb as an intentional approach to enhance the real-world impact of research through knowledge exchange between researchers and end users. This umbrella term includes dissemination, implementation, co-creation and commercialization. KMb, at its core, is being actively involved in ongoing engagement with partners and end users. KMb frameworks urge researchers to identify and engage these end users including researchers, policy makers, practitioners or the public. KMb prioritizes collaboration between researchers and knowledge users in building research, sharing findings and engaging with outputs and products.
How does KMb change the research process?
KMb is active and intentional. Researchers can ask more relevant and valuable questions by engaging partners and end users more actively in the research process. This requires researchers to have a clearer understanding of their audience, who are the people they have articulated that will benefit from the research outputs. KMb urges researchers to consider how the research project will affect end users at the outset of a project. This includes both positive and negative outcomes. These impacts must be constantly re-evaluated throughout the research lifecycle.
Does KMb apply to discovery research in a laboratory?
KMb occurs anytime a researcher communicates to an audience outside their niche area. An intermediary step of KMb involves determining who could benefit from the research before actively communicating with that audience. This could be as simple as engaging a lab outside their research niche to explore potential knowledge exchange opportunities.
The study of genomics emerged from collaborations between biology and computer science experts. Since the declared end of the Human Genome Project in 2003, social scientists have become engaged in genomics to identify ethical, legal and societal issues and advocate for responsible research practices. Today, genomics researchers continue this interdisciplinary tradition, bringing researchers from fields outside biology to inform their research and help increase impact.
What should a KMb plan look like?
A KMb plan does not have to be complex, but it must be intentional. It should identify audiences and communication methods relevant to those groups. It should not be an exhaustive list of every KMb tactic. It is not impactful to create a podcast that does not appeal to the correct audience. Therefore, a simple KMb plan identifies 1) research results worth sharing, 2) an audience who will benefit from the awareness or specific results, and 3) tactics to reach that audience.
A simple KMb plan identifies 1) research results worth sharing, 2) an audience who will benefit from the awareness or specific results, and 3) tactics to reach that audience.
To create their plan, a researcher asks the simple question: why do I need to mobilize this knowledge? As research progresses, the researcher can continuously ask this question, thereby updating the plan.
What are the biggest misconceptions of KMb?
One misconception is equating knowledge mobilization with communication. Although KMb and communications plans share similarities in audience identification and communication methods, KMb stresses engagement and co-creation with end users. Another misconception is that KMb is a fad. The research community may not know KMb has been a field for over two decades. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation theory was first published in 1962! Can we really call KMb a fad?
Lupin Battersby, Ph.D. Director, Knowledge Mobilization, SFU
Researchers often complain that KMb is a distraction from their crucial scientific experiments. This view is changing as funders increasingly ask for KMb plans that include methods beyond publications and conference presentations. However, alternative KMb tactics are irrelevant to tenure advancement, making the distraction argument tricky. On the other hand, many researchers do KMb unknowingly (anytime they engage outside their specific research area) and do not report these exchanges to funders because they do not believe it will be recognized as impactful. This is a culture we want to change. We want intentional knowledge sharing and these exchanges documented. Often, these multidisciplinary exchanges form a story of technology adoption. For example, a researcher might be a guest on a podcast with an audience outside their usual network of researchers. A listener may later connect with the researcher and collaborate on a future project with unforeseen, yet highly impactful results.
What has caused the surge in adoption?
Rightly so, genomics research is always striving to be more responsible, as shown by early engagement with social scientists to investigate ethical issues. Further, a societal focus on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) has been increasingly prevalent. Because a KMb approach requires analysis and engagement of end users, researchers using these tactics gain a greater understanding of impacted communities, making their research questions more responsible. This can decrease perpetuating stereotypes when discussing health disparities, for example, because it forces a research group to consider their biases and judgements. And most importantly, end user engagement at the start of the research planning phase can indicate whether the research question is even relevant to that community. If a question is irrelevant, the research cannot have an impact and should not be funded.
The link between KMb and EDI is powerful. Therefore, KMb plans will likely become even more important as we continue to strive for responsible research, pushing KMb in genomics research even further on the adoption curve.
