4. dr jochim schmerbeck
TRANSCRIPT
Research and Practice
• Different contexts /perspectives• Different language• Lack of trust• Implementation can fail due to
→ Practitioners do not express their research needs→ Researchers see research needs that may not apply to “real world”→ Research outcomes are not accessible / understood
Case 1The role of embankments in the livelihoods of the local people in the Sundarbans of West Bengal
Context
• Project on disaster preparedness in the Sundarbans• Partners: Local NGO and international NGO• Donor: EU• Research component to support the project aim:Role of Embankment in the livelihood of local people
Context
• Project on Disaster preparedness in the Sundarbans• Partners: Local NGO and international NGO• Donor: EU• Research component to support the project aim:Role of Embankment in the livelihood of local people
→ Vulnerability analysis (combination of spatial and social data)
→ Role of embankment maintenance for income generation
Conditions
NGO University
Need the research to be done, but Wanted to use the research option, but
‐ Uncertainty what all this is about ‐ Had to handle the very limited funds
‐ Funds will be wasted ‐ Fear to be misused
‐ Fear university will steal results ‐ Not mentioned on the report as author
No direct contact No joint actionNo (joint) publication
Context
• Debate in the 1970’s and 80’s why the Mixed Mountain Forest of the Bavarian Alps does not regenerate
• University sets up long term observation trials• Results show clearly, that high deer population supresses regeneration
Context
• Debate in the 1970’s and 80’s why the Mixed Mountain Forest of the Bavarian Alps does not regenerate
• University sets up long term observation trials• Results show clearly, that high deer population supresses regeneration
• Recommendation: Increase of hunting contingent• Large areas under hunting lease of influential people• Changes only at some places where forest department is in charge of hunting
Capacities
Politicians Hunters ForestDepartment Researchers
Understanding ecology of forest ‐ ‐/+ + +
Access to research outputs
+ (‐) ‐ (+) + +
Political influence + + ‐/+ ‐
Conditions
Politicians Hunters Forest Department Researchers
Need to be electedHunting as relaxation, need success ‐> high deer population
Need to perform multipurpose forestry
Want to have a scientific and policy impact
Depend to some extent on groups represented by hunters
Foresters interest in low population is not understood
Can not afford extra cost due failure of regeneration
Provide findings as peer reviewed articlesas well as media
Are hunters Ignore/neglect scientific knowledge
Act in a political environment
Act in a political environment
Deer population still high
• Contribute to a betterment of society
• Prosper• Be efficient
• Difficult to understand scientific approaches
• Need to be informed by researchers
• Difficult to get an overview on different scientific perspectives
• No scope to get down to scientific details
Policy makers
• Need to fulfil policies• Have to serve multiple
stakeholders• Limited capacity (time, funds,
man power) to carry out research
• Limited access to scientific knowledge in their own language
Implementers (Gov, NGO’s etc)
Researchers
• Have bulk of special knowledge• Research questions are often
born out of this • Implementation is a different
world• No credits for outreach beside
peer reviewed publications
Common Aims
Aims and limitations for
sound implementation
How to ensure sound implementation of research findings?1. Join forces2. It is a process and will take time3. Learn about each other context ‐ ownership
• Players should learn about each others context on all levels• Learning should be based on common objectives• Budget in research/development projects to create common ground
4. Education• It needs “connectors”, specialist who know both fields• New curricula for Master programme• Career designs that provide both experience