EcoHouse Research

Prof Ash Amin

Department of Geography, University of Cambridge

 

This discussion session was led by Professor Amin who introduces this session by raising various questions on the current practices of knowledge transfer. He draws our awareness to the inter-disciplinary research, the respect for disciplinary knowledge, and the benefits and limitations of co-production.  In the process, Professor Amin raised questions about the shifting but necessary line between experts and communities, asserting that the politics of knowledge itself is deeply implicated in the discussion of slum futures.

 

What is the nature of academic practice in slum research? And how can we rethink the academic practice? Research in this topic is performed by people with differing backgrounds and expertise. Their findings cross the boundaries of individual disciplines, and therefore, sharing and transferring information amongst each other is essential for a complete and accurate understanding of the subject. Yet once information has been collected, consolidated – co-produced, how to proceed with it? Is this information relevant beyond its academic context? In that sense, the value of co-production, community participation and knowledge production add to the discussion of slum futures. The importance of getting information from and sharing with the communities is key to the relevance of slum research, to say the very least. 

The knowledge division between experts and sources is intrinsic and at the end of the process of gathering information, the expert seeks to have the understanding he set out to have. However, the knowledge tends to leave with the expert. So how can academics effectively transfer the information back to the users and local governments? Will this information be intelligible and of practical use? Further, the knowledge generated through research should be validated and transformed in order to create a genuine common awareness. For this purpose, keeping an active contact base and information up to date, new technologies can play a crucial role. 

 

In the discussion, questions were raised on knowledge necessitating actions by decision makers: How is it possible to get municipalities and local governments to listen and want to adopt the changes proposed? How can experts break the status quo in which slum dwellers find themselves and achieve real impact? A common knowledge base is seen to be crucial. To have a shared and simplified language of urban, structural and universal rights can assist in the public debate, in conjunction with an archive of knowledge and escalating the topic in higher education. 

 

The interest of researchers for practising research on these matters was challenged. Despite their direct access to information, validated by theoretical frameworks and peer reviewed publications, information is seldom transferred to the communities and local authorities. Moreover, research is led by researchers’ interests, which may not overlap with local interests or communities’ needs, resulting in no practical outcomes. Is it ethical to conduct research about ‘the poor’ from a distance, and benefit primarily the credentials of research institutes of wealthy universities? What to do next? is a question difficult to answer, but academics can start by practising what they preach and share information and include the co-production of knowledge into the academic process.