All Tri-Council granting agencies (SSHRC, CIHR and NSERC) require applicants to include knowledge dissemination plans within their applications for research funding. Other non-Tri-Council sponsors may also require knowledge dissemination plans to be included in the application. Knowledge dissemination takes on various forms: Knowledge mobilization (KMb) is the standard term used by SSHRC, Knowledge Translation (KT) is commonly used by CIHR, and NSERC has been known to use both terms interchangeably. Differences do exist between KD concepts, but all have a common goal in moving research from the “lab” to the social sphere through direct communication and exchange between researchers and the public. KMb/KT/KD is typically carried out through reports, policies, practice, meetings, and conferences. But research findings can be communicated and disseminated in many other creative and non-traditional ways. Internet-based communications and social media channels have created additional (and immediate) avenues for getting research findings out to a wider audience.
Examples of KMb/KT include:
- publications (e.g., journal articles, books);
- events such as workshops and conferences;
- teaching curricula; and/or
- various forms of knowledge synthesis and networking.
If feasible, research results should be made available to the public through websites, databases, or institutional repositories in accordance with many Tri-Council Open Access policies.
KT/KMb/KD plans do not have to be formulaic. They can be integrated as a part of the proposed research study, and as part of an “end of study” dissemination plan, or both.
The following sites provide useful information and insights into the world of KMb/KT and KD:
Institute for Knowledge Mobilization
SSHRC Community Engagement and KMb