Frontline communities’ and academia’s differing norms, time frames, and practices
Environmental researchers are part of epistemic communities whose norms and time frames are often incompatible with the needs and cultures of more place- and trust-based frontline communities. Communities may value practical, immediate responses to urgent problems over abstract or long-term investigations into root causes. Conversely, community partners may have been tackling an environmental problem for generations (and will continue doing so after research partnerships have ended), while academics must target publication in journals or funding opportunities that prioritize novelty. Furthermore, academic norms around publication, scientific rigor, and problem-framing may not align with what communities see as urgent or valuable. These differing norms and timeframes can create tension between the urgency of community actions, academic incentives and constraints, and the time-intensive production of open knowledge.
Solutions
1.
Plan for an open-first approach
Prioritize transparency and accessibility, as well as disciplinary rigor. Acknowledge, resource, and plan for the necessity of an open-first approach. Apply methods and communication that are understandable and usable outside academia, even if that means temporarily setting aside formal academic outputs. Prepare templates for quick technical reports that can be shared quickly with communities.
2.
Train academic scientists in community-collaborative methods
Provide capacity-building for academic partners in participatory research, power-sharing, and culturally grounded engagement practices.
3.
Use participatory diagnostics
Jointly assess the limits and opportunities of the research with community members. Clarify which questions can be answered now and which ones may require longer-term work.
4.
Translate findings for action
Share results in accessible, digestible, and jargon-free formats. Clearly label what is conclusive, what is preliminary, and what is speculative.
5.
Align research outputs with community priorities
Let community-defined concerns guide how to frame questions and what constitutes a valuable outcome. Be transparent about what academic constraints may prevent or delay.
6.
Transform incentives within research institutions
University expectations of their faculty and research staff may limit the ability for academic partners to commit to long-term collaborations or implement deeper collaboration practices by prioritizing academic publications and conferences over more accessible outputs and communications. Requirements for tenure and promotion could be revised to value collaborative, open research. Institutions and funders could also offer seed funding and other support to enable researchers, especially those early in their career, to invest in community-based partnerships.
7.
Build intergenerational solidarity in pushing for norm change and institutional reform
Research institutions often see community engagement as secondary to publication in researchers' career advancement pathways. Senior academics are especially well positioned to support and advocate for the recognition of community engagement, open infrastructure work, and continuity in collaborations as meaningful indicators in degree conferral, hiring, promotion, and tenure processes. They can also help normalize community-centered practices by implementing them in research projects, including in collaborations with junior colleagues.
Know of another resource or solution?
Resources
Community-owned and Managed Research (COMR)
Community-owned and Managed Research (COMR) is a community-centered research model developed by the West End Revitalization Association to encourage methods that lead to "corrective action of environmental justice (EJ) problems in affected communities."
What is the Delphi Method and How Do You Use it In Surveys?
"What is the Delphi Method and How Do You Use it In Surveys?" outlines a participatory diagnostic method for surveys. This method involves conducting a series of surveys in order to reach a general consensus.
The Data Ethics Toolkit (Data Governance)
The Data Ethics Toolkit from the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences includes worksheets on data governance and report-outs that can help you think through and plan for possible risks associated with community data.
Community-Based Environmental Protection: A Resource Book
Community-Based Environmental Protection: A Resource Book for protecting Ecosystems and Communities offers practical approaches and tools for communities to protect local ecosystems and enhance environmental health. It includes case studies, strategies, and guidance on organizing, goal-setting, and evaluating community-based environmental protection efforts.