Abstract
Expertise in research integration and implementation is an essential but often overlooked component of tackling complex societal and environmental problems. We focus on expertise relevant to any complex problem, especially contributory expertise, divided into ‘knowing-that’ and ‘knowing-how.’ We also deal with interactional expertise and the fact that much expertise is tacit. We explore three questions. First, in examining ‘when is expertise in research integration and implementation required?,’ we review tasks essential (a) to developing more comprehensive understandings of complex problems, plus possible ways to address them, and (b) for supporting implementation of those understandings into government policy, community practice, business and social innovation, or other initiatives. Second, in considering ‘where can expertise in research integration and implementation currently be found?,’ we describe three realms: (a) specific approaches, including interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, systems thinking and sustainability science; (b) case-based experience that is independent of these specific approaches; and (c) research examining elements of integration and implementation, specifically considering unknowns and fostering innovation. We highlight examples of expertise in each realm and demonstrate how fragmentation currently precludes clear identification of research integration and implementation expertise. Third, in exploring ‘what is required to strengthen expertise in research integration and implementation?,’ we propose building a knowledge bank. We delve into three key challenges: compiling existing expertise, indexing and organising the expertise to make it widely accessible, and understanding and overcoming the core reasons for the existing fragmentation. A growing knowledge bank of expertise in research integration and implementation on the one hand, and accumulating success in addressing complex societal and environmental problems on the other, will form a virtuous cycle so that each strengthens the other. Building a coalition of researchers and institutions will ensure this expertise and its application are valued and sustained.
Highlights
Expertise in research integration and implementation is an essential but often overlooked component of tackling complex societal and environmental problems
It is tempting to blame reviewers for assessment problems, labelling them as hostile or ignorant. We argue that those researching complex societal and environmental problems must ensure that expertise in research integration and implementation is well articulated, accessible and useable
We argue that some team members must have expertise in research integration and implementation to effectively harness the contributions of the full team
Summary
Pre-nuptial agreement for research collaborators Know-that expertise includes understanding that collaboration can be assisted by addressing expectations and areas of potential conflict at the outset, considering (1) overall goals and outcomes; (2) who will do what, including how personnel decisions are made, supervision is provided and data are managed; (3) authorship and credit, including giving public presentations, responding to media inquiries and managing intellectual property; (4) contingencies and communication, including management of team communication, new collaborations and spin-off projects, departures or changes of key personnel and modification of the research agenda by new discoveries or unexpected outcomes; and 5) identifying and addressing conflicts of interest (Bennett et al, 2018) This expertise is useful for: opening discussion about issues that could cause conflict in collaboration and setting in place proposed resolutions. ● build institutional support for using and further developing the knowledge bank, manifested in funding to sustain it, training for users, and recognition of expertise in research
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