K*Star – expanding the knowledge sector
K*Star was coined as the collective term to address the burgeoning terminology associated with the knowledge field, terms including: Research Communication, Knowledge Mobilization, Brokering, Translation, Exchange and Intermediation, have gained currency in the past decade. The meaning of others has evolved, notably Knowledge Management.Focusing on different terminology has masked one important point: that the actual functions described are all systemically related to each other and that the functions can provide real value in improving the efficiency, and accelerating the impact, of various initiatives.
The first global K*Star conference was convened by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) in April 2012: it brought together key experts from across the world, and from different sectors, to: try and reach mutual understanding; stall the fragmentation of the knowledge field; and avoid potential serial re-invention of the wheel.
PiPP executive director, Derek Brien, delivered the keynote address at the conference, which focused on the divide separating practitioners and policy-makers in how they interpret and use knowledge. For some, navigating the knowledge-policy interface should focus on process. In this case, the K*Star process is key to helping people to make the best possible decision – an approach focusing on supporting people so that they can better access, use and understand knowledge in their decision-making process. It is not about offering solutions. For others, however, outcome reigns supreme – and in this case it is trying to influence people to make the ‘right’ decision (i.e. one that we agree with). Subtle, but a crucial difference.
Following the conference, Louise Shaxson, ODI research fellow and PiPP associate, led the team of collaborators to produce a concept paper on K*Star in an attempt to expand our understanding of of knowledge, and drawing on experiences and case studies shared by conference participants, including: Louise Shaxson (ODI), Alex Bielak (UNU-INWEH),Ibrahim Ahmed (General Department of Agriculture, Um Ruwaba, Sudan), Derek Brien (Pacific Institute for Public Policy), Bernadette Conant (Canadian Water Network), Catherine Fisher (Institute of Development Studies, Impact and Learning Team), Elin Gwyn (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs), Laurens Klerkx (Wageningen University), Anne Middleton (Health Canada), Sarah Morton (University of Edinburgh), Laxmi Pant (University of Guelph), and David Phipps (York University).
The K*Star concept and conference was born out of a previous workshop on improving the impact of development research through better research communications and uptake, which was co‐hosted by the Australian Government Aid Programme, UK Department for International Development and the UK Collaboration on Development Sciences on 29-30 November 2010, in London. Bringing together 80 participants from across the globe to share ideas and knowledge, the workshop was addressed by PiPP chair, Nikunj Soni, who reminded participants that it is vital to always ‘be in the live debate’ – in order to maintain engagement you must be in the room and you must constantly engage with both sides; and for this to work you need to retain your neutral, independent status as a knowledge intermediary: you can’t be seen to be taking one side or the other. This remains our ethos at PiPP and is why we have successfully established a network that traverses the policy/research divide.
