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Right Turn: Some knowledge sharing about Knowledge Translation – Part 1

by | Jun 23, 2017

I’m delighted that, despite the title, you’ve decided to read this post! For some academics, knowledge translation is not the most exciting aspect of their job, but it is a requirement that must be fulfilled as part of their funding obligations. No offense to those who are professionals in the field and embrace the importance of this practice. Even you know that knowledge translation isn’t always popular (but I think that’s because it isn’t really understood).

So what is it? Knowledge Translation, or Knowledge Translation and Exchange, or Knowledge Mobilization…although the terms are slightly different and the definitions change too, the philosophy behind each is to move research from those who discover and develop it into the hands of end users who will put it to some practical use, especially for public policy. There is clearly great value in this, but it requires using tools that may be somewhat foreign to researchers and that’s why there is sometimes ambivalence or fear of getting started.

The KTExchange says that “the concept of translating research knowledge into action, ‘knowledge translation (KT),’ can be traced to the field of agriculture at the beginning of the 20th century.” People verbally shared their agricultural research findings so farmers and ranchers would benefit from the discoveries.

Various disciplines developed their own models of KT and by the 1990s, the U.S. government was requiring that funded researchers employ KT activities. The Canadian government followed suit in 2000 with the chartering of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). According to the KTExchange, CIHR has the distinction of developing the most widely used definition of KT:

“Knowledge Translation (KT) is defined as a dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically-sound application of knowledge to improve the health of Canadians, provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system.”

There is a great deal more to say on the subject of KT, but that will have to wait for a future post. For now, here is Knowledge Translation Australia with an explanation of KT. Months ago I went to a lecture by Dr. Tamika Heiden, Principal and Founder of KT Australia, and I like this easy to understand video on the topic. I hope you do too. (I also like the fact that the definitions used to describe KT come from Canadian institutions!)

 

Our regular feature, Right Turn, appears every Friday and we invite you to submit your own blog to info(at)ccrm.ca. We encourage you to be creative and use the right (!) side of your brain. We dare you to make us laugh! Right Turn features cartoons, photos, videos and other content to amuse, educate and encourage discussion.

As always, we welcome your feedback in the comment section.

 

 

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Stacey Johnson

Stacey Johnson is the editor of Signals and a contributor. For 25 years, Stacey has been providing strategic communications counsel to government, corporate, technology and health organizations. She began her career at the CTV Television Network and then moved to Hill & Knowlton Canada where she advised clients in a variety of industries and sectors. Stacey is the Vice President, Communications and Marketing for CCRM, a leader in developing and commercializing regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies. She has a Master's degree in Public Relations. You can follow her on Twitter @msstaceyerin.

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