Overcoming the Triple Helix Boundaries in an Environmental Research Collaboration

• Cross-sector interactions between university and other sectors are increasingly important to contemporary knowledge production. However, there are few guidelines for conducting such interactions at the micro-level of actor or research group. The aim of this study was to provide a better understanding of cross-sector collaboration by drawing upon the theory of knowledge boundaries. The main author worked as an action researcher, specifically an interactive researcher, within an environmental research group that was focused on solving on-site industry wastewater issues. Using this approach, we created arenas for dialogue between sectors. During this three-year European Union project, built on three years of previous research, there was an increased demand for the group to develop applied results and to interact with other sectors. Thus, the researchers were challenged to cross boundaries and share their knowledge with partners outside academia. We argue that difficulties are encountered when crossing information process-oriented, cultural, and political boundaries. These difficulties are related to the move between Mode 1 and Mode 2 of knowledge production and the triple helix approach. Solutions to these issues were solved, in part, by the use of boundary spanners and boundary management.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Sociologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Sociology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

triple helix

mode 2

interactive research

environmental science

usefulness of science

research collaboration

Ledarskap, entreprenörskap och organisation

Ledarskap, entreprenörskap och organisation

Sociology

Sociologi

Miljövetenskap

Environmental Science

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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