2012 project update: Science in the Field team launch 'Landbridge'
Landbridge is a new knowledge exchange network for rural professionals. By identifying effective approaches and techniques for knowledge exchange, the network aims to stimulate exchange and learning between different professions and improve linkages between rural professions and research communities. Landbridge has developed out of the findings from the Relu project ‘Science in the Field: Understanding the changing role of expertise in the rural economy’ and is funded through the ESRC’s Knowledge Exchange Follow-on Fund. This is an experimental project which will run from June 2012 to February 2014 and is designed to test the demand and value of such a network.
Science in the Field: Understanding the Changing Role of Expertise in the Rural Economy’
‘Science in the Field’ is a project exploring the working practices and expertise of three different groups of field-level advisors (farm animal vets, applied ecologists and land agents/surveyors). The research involves in-depth interviews with professional/ accreditation bodies, advisors and farmers as well as direct observation (work shadowing) of field level advisors. The project will reflect upon the current and potential role of advisors as knowledge brokers between research and land management practice, with a focus on how their knowledge and expertise are constructed and disseminated.
Project Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Project Investigator: Jeremy Phillipson
Staff involved: Andrew Donaldson, Philip Lowe and Amy Proctor
Project duration: June 2008 to July 2011
A Relu Policy & Practice Note published in July 2011 highlights key findings from Science in the Field and is available to download here (click on image below and document will open in new window):
