Knowledge mobilization?
September 27, 2014 5:19 PM   Subscribe

I recently happened to come across a job posting (at a university) in the area of "knowledge mobilization." I'm interested in learning more about this career.

I'm not planning on applying for this particular job for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that this is the first time I've ever heard of such a field. But, reading the description piqued my interest and I'm curious to know about what one who works in "knowledge mobilization" does.

I have a PhD in English Literature and currently work in a communications-type role, and it seems to me that I do have a number of skills and affinities that seem to be valued in knowledge mobilization. At this point, though, I want to know more about it.

What should I read to find out more? What kind of credentials does somebody who works in the area typically have? What doe the day-to-day look like? And what are the prospects of the field for somebody who is deeply interested in advocating on behalf of the humanities in particular? What don't I know that I don't know?

Thanks!
posted by synecdoche to Work & Money (7 answers total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
reading the description piqued my interest

Could you share with us the nutshell version of the description you read? This sort of sounds like a dressed-up term for something mundane, kind of like 'sanitation engineer' instead of janitor. (I'm not in any way casting aspersions upon said jobs/careers).
posted by SpecialSpaghettiBowl at 5:25 PM on September 27, 2014


Response by poster: Sure, I'll share the whole ad. As I said, I'm not planning to apply for it; I just came across it on a Twitter-friend's feed. The job is "Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator." I think it is certainly a dressed up term (knowledge mobilization being one of those things that seems to be "hot" in higher ed right now, at least in Canada, where all research is being weighed in terms of its value to the economy.)
posted by synecdoche at 5:37 PM on September 27, 2014


Looks like a PR job to me.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:29 PM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]


It sounds like a PR/ liaison type occupation where you'd be the go-between for the community and the social sciences dept. at Guelph. Sounds like the main focus is on pinpointing where/how research money is raised/spent based in part on community feedback. You'd be helping drum up the research $$ and disseminating info using various media. There would be the selling of the idea to the community/public as well.

I'm not in academia so take my guess with a grain of salt, but that seems to be the main gist of it, I think. I hope someone who knows what they're talking about chimes in :-)

I wish everyone, everywhere would stop using obfuscationist, bullshitty language in their job postings. Save the acronyms for the military and the church of scientology. *shakes fist*
posted by SpecialSpaghettiBowl at 6:32 PM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]


At my media buying firm 15 years ago we had a 'knowledge management' department, which was very closely affiliated with my department of research. Basically it was the library for the firm; they were in charge of putting out the company's media yearbooks and forecasts for various markets at home and abroad.

Like the others here, I think this sounds like a liaison job for the social sciences faculty. You'd be forwarding the agenda of the faculty with respect to private firms that could perhaps implement various a) research studies, b) community plans and definitely c) any prospective commercialisation moves.

This page from York University sounds like it explains how that the field relates to that specific position, but when I clicked on the lower left segment relating to their 140-odd projects it came up short. But definitely, explore things further -- despite the clear bullshit leanings, it does sound like it'd be a good move.
posted by northtwilight at 7:56 PM on September 27, 2014


I agree with northtwilight that this looks like a Knowledge Management job description, which has some overlap with PR but which is definitely not just that. That terminology may give you more to search for than "knowledge mobilization," which I haven't heard widely use (though heck, maybe it's the next up and coming thing). For instance. Full disclosure: I'm a big fan of "knowledge management" becoming a widely-known term, I think it's an area of expertise that is often overlooked (though it is not my own, as a project manager I do try to incorporate it).
posted by solotoro at 8:53 PM on September 27, 2014


This is.not a PR job, it is related to Canadian government CURA research grants, which Link academic research to community organizations.

Typically the university researcher and an organization often a non profit, or perhaps a native band- will work jointly on the grant proposal, and the community partners may be active research partners.

The knowledge mobilization will relate to Community Based Research... The knowledge is intended to come from both the academic and community partners... The mobilization is the practice of making research active in the community.

Uvic has an office of community based research that has been around for years and has hosted some cobferences on the practice if you are looking for an information interview.
posted by chapps at 12:30 AM on September 28, 2014


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