A knowledge exchange framework to connect research, policy, and practice, developed through the example of the Chinese island of Hainan

Abstract

Tropical coastal ecosystems face increasingly severe environmental challenges. Promoting evidence-based management is one way to address these. In this paper, we propose a knowledge exchange framework to promote the uptake of scientific evidence by policy and practice and discuss its effectiveness through on-the-ground implementation on the Chinese tropical island of Hainan. The framework comprises four main components: context analysis, framework building, implementation of knowledge brokering strategies, and monitoring and evaluation. This simple and process-centric framework can serve as a tool to facilitate the transition from "traditional" science to "societally-engaged" science. Notable barriers to the successful application of the framework are discussed, specifically the nature of knowledge, the institutional and cultural context, and resource factors. It is also observed that relevant, legitimate, and accessible research evidence and the involvement of a suitable intermediary play essential roles. We conclude that society has to be empowered as a whole, through institutional reforms of research and funding organizations towards providing a broader basis for improved knowledge exchange between science and society. Such a knowledge exchange framework and case study can provide other scientists and stakeholders with a clear, standardized way to connect science, policy, and practice in two-way interactions, which could increase clarity and understanding in the field of knowledge exchange.