Bridging Research Praxes Across Pluralities of Knowledge

Abstract

How can researchers working both within and external to academia in all disciplines and areas of research recognize knowledge produced in other spheres and engage more ethically and collaboratively with that knowledge and those who create and circulate it? This was the central question behind the Bridging Research Praxes Across Pluralities of Knowledge conference held at Linkoping University in Sweden and on Zoom in April 2022. At the heart of the conference was the recognition that searching for answers to this question cannot be left to arbitrary and haphazard engagements and encounters but must be motivated, reflected on, and formulated clearly in ongoing discussions. This special issue of Culture Unbound continues the discussions begun at the conference. Both the conference and this special issue have served as a platform for researchers to engage in open dialogue about the challenges and opportunities of bridging research and praxes across pluralities of knowledge. Organized around three principal areas of discussion – research ethics and shared authority, citizen science/research, and metrics, value, and recognition – the conference involved researchers working both within academia and outside of the academy (such as journalists, artists, practitioners, etc.) and from a variety of disciplines, research fields, and geographical locations, with one or two moderators. Working from videos and transcripts from the conference, some of the conference participants have reflected and written on the discussions started at the conference in the contributions published in this issue. Through the unique format of this issue, the contributions reflect the continued discussions and collaboration that have taken place as other contributors have read and commented on others’ contributions.