Linking knowledge with action
Overview
The Sustainability Science Program at Harvard Kennedy School focuses on making research more useful for decision-makers. This includes understanding the needs of people who make decisions and connecting them with the work of researchers. By improving these connections, we can make sure research is relevant and helps solve today’s problems.
Key findings
- Knowledge is more likely to be useful and used by decision makers if they trust it. Trust is based on knowledge they find salient (i.e. relevant to their needs), credible, and legitimate (i.e. unbiased and respectful of other beliefs). This is what we refer to as “SCL” criteria.
- Research that is collaboratively produced is more likely to meet the “SCL” criteria. This research should also consider the full range of stakeholder concerns and existing knowledge on the topic.
- Linking knowledge with action is an inherently political process. It requires careful work and attention to prevent common pitfalls like irrelevance, corruption, and inequity.
Key projects and publications
Technology innovation
Overview
This initiative explores on how we can use innovation to create a more sustainable and equitable future. This includes:
- Individual technologies like ways to capture carbon, irrigate more efficiently, and purify water.
- Whole systems like how we produce and use energy, food, water, and other resources.
Key findings
- Fundamental changes in the way we produce and consume goods are essential for sustainable development.
- Innovation must be a central component of strategies for promoting these changes.
- Innovation has the biggest impact when it changes entire systems, not just individual parts.
- There is no single “silver bullet” solution for sustainability. We need a mix of policies from different sectors that work together to promote sustainable innovation.
- We must ensure underserved populations have voice in shaping those solutions and policies. We must also limit the influence of powerful groups that might act to prevent change.
- It is difficult to predict the results of our actions, so it is important to be flexible in how we approach sustainable innovation.