This presentation was prepared as an introduction to the workshop 'Connecting ivory towers: triangulation of knowledge from practice, research and policy-making' at the the Ceres Summer School on 3 July 2009. The workshop was convened by Wenny Ho, Josine Stremmelaar and me.

1. The Dutch knowledge landscape
An introduction
Sarah Cummings

2. Problem definition (1)
The domains of policy, research and
practice work in isolation focusing on
their own domain-related interests
- Researchers want publications in top rated
journals, and the interventionism of their
approach is not acknowledged
- Practitioners are to much in ‘do’ mode and have
little theoretical underpinning
- Policymakers are focused on political
imperatives and deadlines, often ‘cherry-
picking’ to support predetermined decisions

3. Problem definition (2)
Learning across the knowledge system
takes place only on an ad hoc basis
- Most approaches to learning and
knowledge have an organisational focus
- Efforts to systematise sectoral learning
(water, agriculture) are in their infancy
- Very little emphasis on the knowledge
system

4. Problem definition (3)
Southern voices have difficulty getting a
hearing
- Authors in key journals are predominantly
from the North
- Imbalance in power relationships

5. Why should domains cooperate?
(1)
• Efficiency, effectiveness argument
• Duplication, reinventing the wheel
• Conception of the Triple Helix with
innovation at the intersections
(Loet Leydesdorff and colleagues)

6. Why should domains
cooperate? (2)
• Development as a wicked problem
or a group of interlinked wicked
problems
• Wicked problems are without any
solution but nevertheless urgently
require and answer
• Resolved with knowledge of
different sorts and not solved
(Brown, Engel)
• Require a unified response

7. Knowledge landscape
Policy
ECDPM
IS-
Academie
Research Practice
Hivos’knowledge
programme

8. Knowledge architecture
• Working styles are different
• Knowledge architecture different: journals
and publications
• Meeting places are limited
• How to bring about cross-fertilisation?

9. Ivory towers…
Definition
A place or attitude of retreat, especially preoccupation with
lofty, remote, or intellectual considerations rather than
practical everyday life. Free Online dictionary
A pre-occupation and isolation in domain-related
considerations in the knowledge landscape

10. Next…
• Policy (Wenny)
• Practice (Josine)
• Research (your reflections….)