A food security knowledge tracking workshop was held in Iqaluit, Nunavut on March 1 - 2 . Rachel Hirsch (York University, Toronto), a researcher interested in public views of and involvement in Canadian environment and health policy, hosted the workshop.
This work was inspired by the increased emphasis academics and policymakers have been placing on food security and climate change research across the Arctic. The question is: what happens next, after community members are involved in these projects?
Highlights from this workshop include a presentation from Noor Johnson (McGill University, Montreal) on her work tracking the movement of climate knowledge from Clyde River to Iqaluit to Ottawa, experience building ‘research-action bridges', and hands-on work building models of communication (photo top). Workshop attendees discussed how to get messages ‘out there’ and how to evaluate the success of these communications.
To explore possible obstacles/opportunities in knowledge sharing communication models were constructed using straws and connectors (photo right). This innovative exercise led to interesting discussions about who we share information with and how we try to protect our intended messages from misinterpretation. Attendees are now working together to produce a knowledge-tracking guidebook outlining how to assess the use and integration of local food (in)security knowledge in Nunavut climate change policymaking.
See event press release.
