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Local-wise

(Urban participatory research & knowledge loops)

 

Method & platform

 

A pilot platform for ‘knowledge co-production’ is now up – local-wise-fly-tipping-issue – comment & feedback is welcome.

The content so far is based on previous discussions. The format is a ‘causal mapping’ of a complex system, with layers for the material flow, social issues, economic issues, policy issues, and info / research.

Participants are invited to put in new tabs, comments & queries on existing, blogs, slides, papers, links, media etc.  (To make a comment on a tab, click on the lower right icon: to start a new tab, double click anywhere: to connect to another tab, click on the upper right menu: to import a link / file / image, move onto the space).

As this grows and develops, it provides a dynamic map of a complex problem, with different viewpoints from different stakeholders, with links to related knowledge, ideas, links etc.  The applications go both ways –

  • policy & community applications: we see the joined-up picture of the problems – and in the next phase, how solutions / responses can be developed & co-created from this.
  • research applications: with the system mapping as a highly accessible navigation tool, we can better locate sources of knowledge & data, resolve differences and form integrated research agendas.  
  • teaching / learning applications are also enhanced, where student projects on a ‘service learning’ basis can be situated in a bigger picture context.
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Background

The ‘Local-wise’ program, (funded by ESRC via UOM), has two main aims:

  • External – knowledge exchange / co-production between UOM and the wider community policy / service providers, locally and the GM city-region;
  • Internal – promote the practice of ‘participatory research’, with the skills and resources needed, within UOM & partners.

These will be provided via three main actions:

  1. Demonstration: highlight the principles and practice of knowledge co-production / participatory research, via a short pilot project, which sets up further funding;
  2. Training: provide an outline of good practice in participatory co-production, for future research proposals and funding programs;
  3. Evaluation: outline assessments of some example recent projects, with a framework which builds on the above, and validates the agenda for institutional learning.

 

Actions

We propose to work with local stakeholders, via the MCC ‘Team Around the Neighbourhood’ (TAN) for Hulme /  Moss Side / Rusholme (the location of UOM main campus).  We will address some very practical and topical ‘local grand challenges’ – bundles of systemic problems beyond simple analysis or solution:  

  • Fly tipping & endemic waste / pollution culture:
  • Street safety / security: fragmentation vs cohesion  
  • Cost of living crisis: local livelihood / public services gaps

For each of these, the Local-wise approach can be the key to moving forward.  And with its visual thinking / cognitive mapping methods, we can look beyond the normal boundaries of fields or departments:  

  • further upstream causes & downstream effects of the problem;
  • wider extended community of stakeholders, their interactions & agendas;
  • deeper layers of value (social, technical, economic, environmental, policy, culture etc)

Why do this? Overall we think there is great potential for ‘doing things better’ –

  • each of these ‘local grand challenges’ shows typical barriers, inertias, knowledge gaps, skills and resources gaps etc;
  • to move beyond the gaps, towards potential synergies and collaborative action (‘co-production’), we need ways of mapping (just as a map helps to plan a journey), and ‘co-design’;
  • this project is a small pilot and demonstration of an inter-connected ‘knowledge co-production’ platform to follow.

 

 

Outcomes

The expected benefits and outcomes include:

  • for policy-makers / service providers: mobilize research knowledge to address ‘local grand challenges’;
  • for researchers / knowledge managers: explore & learn from the complexity of ‘local grand challenges’, with knowledge co-production & participatory research methods.

 

More on www.manchester.ac.uk/synergistics/city-wise-urban-loop/

Source: Deeper-City: Collective-Intelligence-and-the-Pathways-from-Smart-to-Wise

 

Project launch

30th March 1300 – (lunch from 1230 ) 

General aims of the launch:

  • Introduce the Local-wise approach & pilot platform
  • Explore how this can help to address ‘local grand challenges’ – with practical case studies
  • Explore how policy can learn from research – and – research learn from policy & local challenges on the ground.
  • (1130 – coffee / lunch )
  • 1300 – Introductions
  • 1315 – Welcome to the communiversity: Julian Skyrme, UOM Dir. Social Responsibility & Patrick Hanfling, Manchester City Council, neighbourhoods team.
  • 1330 – Local-wise – aims, challenges, methods: Joe Ravetz, UOM / MUI
  • 1340 – Case study A: fly-tipping in Hulme-Moss Side-Rusholme (sub-groups): what do we know & how?
  • 1410 – Case studies B-D in Hulme-Moss Side-Rusholme (sub-groups)
  • 1425 – discussion & ways forward
  • 1445 – close & refreshments

 

This session is mainly focused on the problems & challenges.  A follow up session in June will focus more on solutions, responses and ways forward.

  • Case study A is on the fly-tipping / illegal waste problem, endemic in some areas, with complex causes and effects.
  • Case studies B-D may include – community safety / policing: cost of living crisis: low traffic neighbourhoods: (tbc)

 

 

To register please contact joe.ravetz@manchester.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

The University of Manchester