Co-Production of Knowledge Initiative

The Co-Production of Knowledge Initiative grew out of the conviction that there is a fundamental need for research to be conducted in partnership with and under guidance from affected communities. While researchers often cite benefits to local communities in their grant proposals, the communities are seldom involved in the design of the project and their participation is often in the form of data gathering. Even those researchers with the best intentions often bring in community members after the research plan is already in place. Forming more appropriate and individualized community-based solutions established by new research efforts requires the use of co-production frameworks. 

What is Co-Production of Knowledge?

Knowledge co-production requires deep collaboration and the establishment of trusted relationships between those with the scientific, social, and/or policy expertise, and community members who have “lived experience” within their natural, social, and cultural environments. To produce equitable knowledge-based solutions, it is critical that communities are able to express their member’s priorities, and share known understandings of the environmental intricacies and challenges they face. In this way, co-production replaces exclusionary or extractive relationships and seeks to redistribute power and resources in university-community research dynamics that have historically been unequal.

Initiative Goals

• Build an interdisciplinary community of Columbia faculty, students, and staff and community members doing community-driven outreach, advocacy, research, and curriculum development.
• Foster co-production projects through grant funding programs open to Columbia University affiliates, university partners, and community groups.
• Develop and share a set of guidelines for good practices of co-production of knowledge
• Host interactive knowledge- and community-building seminars and support residencies for Indigenous knowledge holders.

The Initiative in Action

Co-production at the Center is fostered by community building both within and outside the university, through

• Grant giving. Please see our grant overview page to learn more.
• Monthly Initiative lunches. Sign up to join via the form below
• Publication of the Good Practices in the Co-Production of Knowledge guidance document
• Other programming, including Indigenous Knowledge Holders residencies, book clubs, and small workshops.