Science & Community Change:

Transcription

1 Science & Community Change: Tech Transfer, Urban Forestry & Local Government Policy Kathleen Wolf, Ph.D. Univ of Washington, Seattle

2 Into the Fog! Science studies Outreach products: technology transfer What happens? Who sees it? Community action?

3 Study is Underway what are messages that matter? how are they best communicated? how does science-based knowledge move around? how does science affect local urban forestry policy?

4 urban forestry... planning, planting, management science results for policy & programs across states, cities, towns, & communities

5 providers to receivers!

6

7 Outline

8 Background Theory & Principles Innovation Diffusion Everett Rogers Communities of Practice Etienne Wenger Social Marketing Persuasion Psychology

9 Principles & Practice Innovation Diffusion & Adoption Everett Rogers

10 Innovation Diffusion universal process of social change

11 Innovation Diffusion Main Elements an innovation, communication channels, time, a social system

12 Innovation Diffusion Adopter Types Innovators - venturesome Early adopters - respect Early majority - deliberate Late majority - skeptical Laggards - traditional change agent!

13 Innovation Adoption - Individuals

14 Cumulative Adoption Curve Late adopters C D Percent Take-off B Urban Forestry in U.S. cities? A Early adopters Time

15 Principles & Practice Communities of Practice Etienne Wenger

16 Communities of Practice 1. People form communities as they pursue shared enterprises over time 2. Engagement in social practice is the fundamental process by which we learn & become who we are

17 Communities of Practice community (belonging) practice (doing) LEARNING identity (becoming) meaning (experience)

18 local government communities planning parks executive legislative public works internal external NGOs pro groups media key citizens civic groups early adopters? change agents? interactions & knowledge transfer

19 Civic Groups Rotary International

20 Preserve Planet Earth Environmental issues such as desertification, land use, pollution, effective water governance, and sustainable development affect all nations. Rotarians are encouraged to live environmentally conscious lifestyles, raise awareness about environmental issues, promote sustainable land, water, and waste management, and improve access to safe water. Learn more about environmental issues: United Nations Environment Programme, Environment Fellowship of Rotarians, Development Gate

21 Urban Concerns By 2030 nearly five billion people will live in cities worldwide. As cities expand, the availability of adequate housing, employment, health care, safe water, and basic sanitation facilities decline and one out of every three city residents live in slums. From building homeless shelters to providing educational and vocational opportunities, Rotarians are tackling some of the most sensitive and difficult challenges facing urban populations. Learn more about urban concerns: United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UNESCO Urban Development Program, Urbanicity.

22 Identify Target Community planners transportation professionals public works elected leadership

23 Early Adopter Traits (Rogers 2003) more educated, higher social status, more resources greater empathy change agent! less dogmatic greater ability to deal with abstraction better able to cope with uncertainty and risk more social participation more interpersonal networks & channels more active information seekers

24 Outline

25 Two Research Phases assessment of technology transfer products analysis underway! social network analysis in cities methods? recent adopters of urban forestry 50K population acknowledgements: US Forest Service, National Urban & Community Forestry Advisory Council, local collaborators, UW grad student Jana Dilley

26 Assessment of Products Methods on line questionnaire national convenience sample professional distribution portals Response 96 tools recommended all formats science articles, web sites, fact sheets, brochures, CDs Content Analysis 8 categories of content

27 Products Categories (1 of 8) 1. Professional Best Practices traditional topics, industry jargon, on target support of professionals as experts.

28 Products Categories (2 of 8) 2. Tree Risk Identification & Action diverse audience, hazard ID and diagnosis, mitigation (pre/post), proactive response to threats

29 Products Categories (3 of 8) 3. General Audience Practice Guides citizen BMPs, readable, quality graphics, translate care at home to community

30 Products Categories (4 of 8) 4. Generalized Tree Benefits brief, portable, documents that summarize across themes of environmental, economic and social benefits

31 Products Categories (5 of 8) 5. Regional Analysis appraisal of benefits/services, defined geographic area, point in time or change over time, +/ economic valuation

32 Products Categories (6 of 8) 6. Local Initiatives recommended actions for community, brief, readable, high visual quality, produced & distributed by non science organizations

33 Products Categories (7 of 8) 7. Creating Capacity guiding a few to become many, guidelines for organization dynamics and operations, intent is to build a broader foundation of competent commitment Handbook for Tree Board Members NADF

34 Products Categories (8 of 8) 8. Crossover Content blending of purposes and content, including analysis + policy recommendations, contain multiple elements from other categories

35 Outline

36 Products Categories Professional Best Practices Tree Risk Identification & Action General Audience Practice Guides Generalized Tree Benefits Regional Analysis Local Initiatives Creating Capacity Crossover Content info for the pros info for the public partnering for action

37 InterpretaCons? Nurture the Networks science sources to community change agents, diversify authors?, recruit translators for target communities of practice Expand Models of Content capacity building is next phase (e.g. tools for the interested elected based on i Tree), modular content as base for champions, professional credibility! Craft the Ask what to do?, tasks & progression, utilize principles of persuasion psychology (Robert Cialdini)

38 InterpretaCons Open Source Products Development software precedent, e.g. Linux

39 Open Source Process Wikipedia

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41 WA D.C. Forest Canopy Assessment

42 Casey Trees (WA D.C.) science for public attitudes

43 NGOs

44 Savannah Tree Foundation (GA) science for public policy

45 Sacramento Tree Foundation (CA) science for regional public policy

46 Sacramento Tree Foundation (CA) science for regional public policy

47 Knowledge Co ProducCon role for government and private foundations in research sharing & networking? less technology transfer more technology exchange access to findings now easier how to generate co production of knowledge? Fischer, 2000; Citizens, Experts and the Environment

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49 Your Thoughts & Comments? Science for Community Change helpful ideas and principles? examples across U.S.? What are Next Steps? important communities of practice? how to support co-production?

50 local government communities planning public works parks executive early adopters? change agents? outside influences?

51 civic forests

52 sacred forests

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55 Namba Parks, Osaka private retail & residential complex

56 Additional ideas (to paper!) What, then, is the role for government and private foundations interested in supporting research, networking, and information clearinghouses? It seems to suggest that these agencies and funders could be encouraged to move away from the current model of technology transfer and more towards one of capacity building through technology exchange. The issue is less one of availability (due to ready access to information) of technical information and more one of co-production of knowledge. Fischer, 2000

57 Questions or Comments?

58 Principles & Practice Innovation Adoption by Organizations J.D. Eveland & E. Rogers

59 Organization Innovation Adoption Progress b. Redefining c. Structuring d. Interconnecting a. Matching T i m e

60 Innovation in Organizations Matching recognizing a problem, what might help? Redefining payoffs of the innovation are demonstrated, and it can be done Structuring begin to develop the individual and organizational relationships Interconnecting full and accepted adoption, ongoing systems in place

61 Professional Groups Realtors

62 local government communities planning parks executive legislative public works internal external NGOs pro groups media key citizens civic groups early adopters? change agents? interactions & knowledge transfer