Email: R.K.Neumann2@newcastle.ac.uk

Supervisors: Prof Mark Reed and Prof Jeremy Phillipson

Project overview

The research will address the following research questions:

To what extent is knowledge exchange viewed differently from a policy maker perspective compared to other actors in the science-policy landscape in peatland conservation?

• How does knowledge currently reach policy makers?
• How does the decision maker request and expect knowledge and evidence?
• In which format/language/mode of communication does knowledge currently reach policy makers?
• Through whom does knowledge currently reach policy makers?
• In what way have scientists and policy makers communicated directly with each other and when did this encounter take place? Initiated by whom?
• What are best practices and lessons learnt in selected case studies?

How does the network structure of science-policy interfaces matter for the implementation/adoption of peatland ecosystem service knowledge in conservation policy?

• What do successful network structures look like?
• Who are the necessary network actors and what are their roles within the network?
• Who is responsible to set-up, maintain and facilitate the desired network structure?

What roles can bridging agents and mechanisms take on to improve international evidence-based peatland policy?

• Where are bridging agents currently being successful, and how, using what mechanisms and through whom are they interspersed in networks?
• What skills of bridging agents are particular useful to achieve knowledge exchange and resulting evidence-based action?

To answer these questions, the following objectives will be met:

1. Expand and refine literature review.
2. Complete stakeholder analysis and identify interviewees for each case study.
3. Design and pilot social network analysis questionnaire and semi-structured interview check-list, and then conduct and analyse interviews with case study participants.
4. Design and pilot national/international policy-maker questionnaire, and then distribute and analyse.
5. Carry out additional analysis of social network analysis and interview data focussing on knowledge brokerage and interview additional respondents as necessary.
6. Design, conduct and analyse case study workshops to help evaluate findings.
7. Disseminate findings e.g. via policy briefs, blogs, newsletter items and ongoing communication with case study teams.