The challenge of meaningful knowledge mobilization of climate change research in the Canadian Arctic for early-career researchers

Abstract

Communication of research related to climate change in a way that is meaningful and respectful to Indigenous Peoples is challenging. While engagement with Indigenous communities is now increasingly incorporated into the expected standard of research processes in academia, early career researchers face challenges such as funding limitations, extensive regulatory processes, and timeframes that exceed the duration of a normal graduate-level degree. To better understand the obstacles that early career researchers are faced with, and subsequently provide some guidance on how these barriers can be mitigated, six interviews with practitioners of knowledge mobilization in the Canadian Arctic were conducted. Participants suggested that, while communicating knowledge purposefully depends largely on the research context and communities involved, researchers are encouraged to be well-informed, resourceful, and flexible in their research approaches. By applying these recommendations outlined by experienced practitioners, and reviewing academic literature, early career researchers can mitigate logistical and cultural barriers and communicate knowledge in a more culturally sensitive manner. More community-based research is needed to continue to enhance the understanding of how to mobilize knowledge on climate change in a meaningful way, to create more informed guidelines and support systems, and to make them widely accessible to researchers at all stages of their careers.

Keywords

• climate change
• Arctic
• community-based research
• knowledge mobilization