Co-Production of Knowledge Grant Overview
The Co-Production of Knowledge Initiative is home to two grant programs. Both programs grew out of the conviction that there is a fundamental need for active and equal partnerships of Indigenous and historically marginalized communities with academia in research and advocacy. Grant projects support efforts towards the redistribution of power and resources to counteract historically unequal research dynamics.
Community-Driven Co-Production of Climate Knowledge Small Grant
Announced in fall 2023, this grant funds collaborative climate projects between community members and Columbia University affiliates. Funds support climate change projects that foster community and mutually beneficial collaboration in line with this vision. See the call for application for more details.
Created as part of the Community-Driven Co-Production Earth Network (funded by the Columbia Climate School).
Co-Production of Knowledge Grant
Announced in fall 2024, this grant program is not limited to climate-based co-production projects. Additionally, the needs of the community partner were further centered, funds were directly awarded to the community organization, and the Columbia affiliate served in an affiliate role. In the inaugural year of the grant, the focus was on the process of co-producing knowledge, rather than any products resulting from the collaboration. See the call for applications for more details.
Funded by the Mellon Foundation.
Applications for the third round of co-production of knowledge grants are due September 30, 2026. Please view the call for applications for more details.
2025 Co-Production of Knowledge Grants Awardees
Recipients
- Community Organization: Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity
- Alana Danieu, Programs Manager at Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity
- Lea Kramberg, Youth Programs Coordinator at Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity
- Erin Mulholland, Native Plant Nursery Manager at Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity
- Jason Leung, graduate student in ecology, evolution, and environmental biology at Columbia University
Description
- Facilitate a resident and youth-led evaluation of local dune restoration projects.
- Collect oral histories that document the lived experience of residents through environmental and social change from the effects of Robert Moses's urban renewal to Hurricane Sandy to the present.
Recipients
- Community Organization: Majelis Adat Sasak
- Arimbi Alessandra, graduate student in public and urban policy at the New School
- M. Zainul Firdaus, employee at Majelis Adat Sasak
- Xin Gao, graduate student in historic preservation at Columbia University
Description
- Project will create a living repository of Sasak architectural, cosmological, and ecological knowledge in Lombok, Indonesia.
- This resource is designed to counteract extractive research and policy practices that are common in disaster responses and help center community decision-making power.
Recipients
- Community Organization: Rural Development Association
- Nandini Basu, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer at Rural Development Association
- Dibyendu Mahata, Field Coordinator and Community Mobilizer at Rural Development Association
- Sara Haris, Research Staff Assistant at Columbia University
- Maya Moore, Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Columbia University
Description
- Project will co-produce localized strategies for sustainable rice cultivation in West Bengal, India that are scientifically sound and culturally grounded.
- Activities will include participatory research, farmer-to-farmer learning, and
co-creating educational materials.
2024 Co-Production of Knowledge Grants Awardees
Recipients
- Community Organization: Kawerak
- Stacey Lucason, Tribal Research Coordinator at Kawerak
- Nora Neiminski, Coastal Hazards Program Manager at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources
- Margaret Rudolf, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Hailey Scofield, Climate Change Mitigation Director at Kawerak
- Casey Brayton, Graduate Student in Earth and Environmental Sciences
Description
- Supports community-led monitoring of and response to coast erosion, flooding, and permafrost thaw in Shishmaref, Alaska.
- Data will be integrated with oral histories and historical information from community members to build a database of flooding impact and inform climate adaptation strategies.
2023 Community-Driven Co-Production of Climate Knowledge Small Grant Awardees
Recipients
- Selene Galindo, Filmaker
- Renata Ruiz Figueroa, Graduate Student in Latin American and Iberian Cultures
Description
- Supports knowledge-sharing sessions and screenings at the Sierra O'dam gio Art Film Circuit.
- Screenings will envision potential futures in response to climate change.
- Sessions will explore the local and spatial history of agriculture, trade, and war in O'dam, Mexico.
Recipients
- Annie Carforo, Climate Justice Campaigns Coordinator at WE ACT for Environmental Justice
- Rex Koenig, Undergraduate Student in Sustainable Development
Description
- Supports the expansion of community-led workshops on climate justice and disaster preparedness in Northern Manhattan.
- Residents will have the opportunity to share current experiences with climate-related disasters and collaboratively build resilience for future disasters.
Recipients
- Lucas Cidreira, Co-Coordinator at Ilé Axé Torrun Gunan temple
- Reginaldo de Oliveira, Co-Coordinator at Ilé Axé Torrun Gunan temple
- Rafael Mota, Co-Coordinator at Ilé Axé Torrun Gunan temple
- Chazelle Rhoden, Graduate Student in Anthropology
Description
- Creating a digital archive documenting the ecological relations between urban forest ecosystems and practitioners of the Candomblé religion in Brazil.
- Studies the connection between forests, ritual, religion, and climate.
- Funds will also support native tree planting and nursery maintenance.
Recipients
- Moraima Pichardo, Executive Director of Cabarete Sostenible
- Alfonso Peralta, Founder of Taino Studies
- Elizabeth Milagros Alvarez, Graduate Student in Urban Planning
Description
- Fosters and facilitates small-scale agricultural production practices rooted in Indigenous understandings of sustainability.
- Documents experiences in Monumento Natural, Dominican Republic through workshops, community gatherings, and oral history projects.
- Knowledge gathered will be transformed into educational materials.
Recipients
- Joe Baker, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Lenape Center
- Rachel Talbert, Lecturer in Early Childhood Education
Description
- Supports the completion and dissemination of a land-based curriculum for K-12 classrooms.
- Lessons help students understand what it means to live on Lenape Land/s and future opportunities for better land stewardship and climate change mitigation.
- Funds will support a community learning day and teacher outreach.