1. Testing the i2S framework

The ‘Collaboration Lab’ program (PDF 823KB), which is part of the New Zealand Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, tested the usefulness of the i2S framework in writing up a number of case studies. Apart from introducing the i2S framework, this test was undertaken independently of anyone directly involved in i2S. The examination found that the i2S framework helps researchers and stakeholders identify and articulate critical aspects of the research process in building a more comprehensive understanding of the problem and in taking effective action. The Collaboration Lab also provided training in using the i2S framework to other programmes in the Challenge.

This project resulted in the following publication: Robson-Williams, M., Small, B. and Robson-Williams, R. (2020). Designing transdisciplinary projects for collaborative policy-making: The Integration and Implementation Sciences framework as a tool for reflection. GAIA, 29, 3: 170-175 (Online): https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.29.3.7

Involvement in another part of the ‘Collaboration Lab’ program led to the publication: Kirk, N., Robson-Williams, M., Bammer, G., Butcher, L., Deans, N., Foote, J., Hrmsworth, G., Hepi, M., Lilburne, L., Nicholas, B., Small, B., Turner, J.A., Young, G. 2021 ‘Where to for collaboration in land and water policy development in Aotearoa New Zealand? Guidance for authorising agencies’ Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences 17 (2) 165-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083X.2021.1956979

2. Pilot project: Improving understanding of unknown unknowns to support defence decision making

Adverse unintended consequences and nasty surprises are two potentially devastating outcomes of not understanding and/or managing critical uncertainties, unknowns and ignorance. Particularly challenging is making decisions in the face of what we don’t know we don’t know (unknown unknowns).

This project aimed to:

• support decision making on complex problems in defence by building a more solid and comprehensive understanding of unknown unknowns
• stimulate synergies and fresh thinking about unknown unknowns by building connection, capacity and capability among researchers interested in such unknowns in defence-related and other areas.

The first stage of the project involved identifying potential participants with diverse, relevant perspectives on unknown unknowns. Potential participants also contributed their perspectives to i2Insights.

Subsequent stages (not funded) would have involved:

• A discovery-based dialogue process, developed to bring together experts with diverse disciplinary, professional and practice perspectives on topics where they have previously had little interaction. This process has been successfully used in previous projects on unknowns, change, dealing with uncertainty in policing serious crime, and knowledge brokering.
• Integration of the diverse perspectives, by expert synthesisers in defence, as well as in research on unknowns and cross-disciplinary, problem-based investigations.

Similar projects were proposed to investigate other aspects of unknowns including:

• communicating unknowns
• addressing unknowns through and in modelling
• culturally diverse (non-western) approaches to unknowns
• understanding and managing ignored unknowns arising in cross-disciplinary, problem-based investigations.

This project was a collaboration with Jane Holloway and Sharon Boswell, Joint and Operations Analysis Division at Defence Science and Technology, Department of Defence.

3. Research implementation publications

A number of projects led to publications about “Providing integrated research support for policy and practice change,” which is a key element of second version of the i2S theoretical framework (now superseded, see https://i2insights.org/i2s/i2s-publications/#i2s-theory).

Bammer, G., with Michaux, A. and Sanson, A. (eds). (2010). Bridging the ‘Know-Do’ Gap: Knowledge brokering to improve child wellbeing. ANU E-Press. This book is available free on-line. This book arose from a collaboration with the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth and the Benevolent Society.

Bammer, G., Strazdins, L., McDonald, D., Berry, H., Ritter, A., Deane, P.,  and van Kerkhoff, L. (2010). Expanding the deliberations about the research-policy gap: Useful lessons from the literature. In, Bammer, G., with Michaux, A., and Sanson, A. (eds), Bridging the ‘Know-Do’ Gap: Knowledge brokering to improve child wellbeing. ANU E-Press: 135- 155; (available on-line).

Ritter, A. and Bammer, G. (2010). Models of policy making and their relevance for drug research. Drug and Alcohol Review, 29: 352-357. This project was funded by Drug Policy Modelling Program.

Bammer, G., Ritter, A., Deane, P., Strazdins, L., McDonald, D., Berry, H. and van Kerkhoff, L. (2007). Improving research support for environmental policy making: lessons from the literature and issues for debate (PDF 112KB). Unpublished report prepared for the Global Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS) project.