Melissa Robson-Williams
Biographic Data
| ID | 4462234 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Melissa Robson-Williams |
| GIVEN NAMES | Melissa |
| FAMILY NAME | Robson-Williams |
| SIGNATURE | ROBSON-WILLIAMS M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0318-3933 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 9 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 5 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 9 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Enabling nature’s participation in research: An Experiment in Empathy
The sustainable development construct has failed to arrest environmental decline, mitigate species extinction, slow climate change and reduce enormous global waste streams. Many argue this is because sustainable development retains and reinforces society–nature binaries and configures that relationship primarily for our human benefit. A good partner in a reciprocal, respectful and empathetic relationship would act very differently. The research w…
Toolkitting: An unrecognized form of expertise for overcoming fragmentation in inter- and transdisciplinarity
A growing number of inter- and transdisciplinary (ITD) toolkits provide methods, processes, concepts, heuristics, frameworks, and other resources for designing and implementing ITD research. A brief overview of the currently fragmented toolkits landscape is provided, fleshed out through descriptions of four toolkits. Fragmentation means that researchers are unaware of, and do not have access to, the full array of tools that could benefit their in…
Achieving societal collaboration and impact in Aotearoa-New Zealand through transdisciplinarity
Aotearoa-New Zealand (A-NZ) faces growing complex environmental challenges and a persistent knowledge-action gap that leaves many social and environmental problems unresolved. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, a major science funder, has called for transdisciplinary modes of research to address increasingly complex problems in an integrated and collaborative fashion. We explore what is needed for transdisciplinary research (TD…
Co‐designing a research programme for impact: Lessons learned from practice by Aotearoa New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho
Doing co‐design and co‐production is challenging, resource intensive, and outcomes do not always translate into action. Evaluations of processes are needed to identify what enables and constrains ‘co’ efforts. This paper draws on the findings of an evaluation of a co‐design process undertaken by Aotearoa New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho (BHNSC) in 2019. The independent evaluation, commissioned by t…
Where to for collaboration in land and water policy development in Aotearoa New Zealand? Guidance for authorising agencies
For the past decade, collaboration has been the preferred method of devising land and water policy in Aotearoa New Zealand to achieve agreed outcomes. However, the use of collaboration in policymaking is at a crossroads, as some argue it is unrealistic to expect stakeholders and tangata whenua with competing interests to work in partnership on contentious policy issues. To help clarify the future direction of collaboration, this paper provides au…
A close examination of the role and needed expertise of brokers in bridging and building science policy boundaries in environmental decision making
Knowledge brokers are often portrayed as neutral intermediaries that act as a necessary conduit between the spheres of science and policy. Conceived largely as a task in packaging, brokers are expected to link knowledge producers and users and objectively translate science into policy-useable knowledge. The research presented in this paper shows how brokering can be far more active and precarious. We present findings from semi-structured intervie…
Designing transdisciplinary projects for collaborative policy-making: The Integration and Implementation Sciences framework as a tool for reflection
Collaborative policy-making has increased in New Zealand, and with it has brought new demands for supporting research. As a tool for reflection of projects where both research and societal outcomes of policy and practice change are pursued and multiple knowledges are recognised, we use the Integration and Implementation Sciences framework. We present insights for the design and implementation of transdisciplinary research from the Selwyn Waihora …
Assessing research impact potential: Using the transdisciplinary Outcome Spaces Framework with New Zealand’s National Science Challenges
Calls for science to have impact as well as excellence have been loud and clear from research funders, policymakers and research institutions for some time. Transdisciplinary research (TDR) is expected to deliver impact by connecting scientists with stakeholders and end users to co‐produce knowledge to respond to complex issues. While New Zealand’s science system is geared to deliver excellence, its capability to also deliver impact beyond academ…
The Changing Role of Scientists in Supporting Collaborative Land and Water Policy in Canterbury, New Zealand
In this case study, we examine the role of science and scientists in community-led collaborative policy processes. We outline the shift from science-led linear policy processes to community-led science-informed policy processes. This case study illustrates how practice evolved to ensure that scientists provided reliable, credible, and salient evidence to help community decision-makers. From this experience, a set of principles for scientists work…
Assessing research impact potential: Using the transdisciplinary Outcome Spaces Framework with New Zealand’s National Science Challenges
Calls for science to have impact as well as excellence have been loud and clear from research funders, policymakers and research institutions for some time. Transdisciplinary research (TDR) is expected to deliver impact by connecting scientists with stakeholders and end users to co‐produce knowledge to respond to complex issues. While New Zealand’s science system is geared to deliver excellence, its capability to also deliver impact beyond academ…
Co‐designing a research programme for impact: Lessons learned from practice by Aotearoa New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho
Doing co‐design and co‐production is challenging, resource intensive, and outcomes do not always translate into action. Evaluations of processes are needed to identify what enables and constrains ‘co’ efforts. This paper draws on the findings of an evaluation of a co‐design process undertaken by Aotearoa New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho (BHNSC) in 2019. The independent evaluation, commissioned by t…
The Changing Role of Scientists in Supporting Collaborative Land and Water Policy in Canterbury, New Zealand
In this case study, we examine the role of science and scientists in community-led collaborative policy processes. We outline the shift from science-led linear policy processes to community-led science-informed policy processes. This case study illustrates how practice evolved to ensure that scientists provided reliable, credible, and salient evidence to help community decision-makers. From this experience, a set of principles for scientists work…
A close examination of the role and needed expertise of brokers in bridging and building science policy boundaries in environmental decision making
Knowledge brokers are often portrayed as neutral intermediaries that act as a necessary conduit between the spheres of science and policy. Conceived largely as a task in packaging, brokers are expected to link knowledge producers and users and objectively translate science into policy-useable knowledge. The research presented in this paper shows how brokering can be far more active and precarious. We present findings from semi-structured intervie…
Designing transdisciplinary projects for collaborative policy-making: The Integration and Implementation Sciences framework as a tool for reflection
Collaborative policy-making has increased in New Zealand, and with it has brought new demands for supporting research. As a tool for reflection of projects where both research and societal outcomes of policy and practice change are pursued and multiple knowledges are recognised, we use the Integration and Implementation Sciences framework. We present insights for the design and implementation of transdisciplinary research from the Selwyn Waihora …
Assessing research impact potential: Using the transdisciplinary Outcome Spaces Framework with New Zealand’s National Science Challenges
Calls for science to have impact as well as excellence have been loud and clear from research funders, policymakers and research institutions for some time. Transdisciplinary research (TDR) is expected to deliver impact by connecting scientists with stakeholders and end users to co‐produce knowledge to respond to complex issues. While New Zealand’s science system is geared to deliver excellence, its capability to also deliver impact beyond academ…
Where to for collaboration in land and water policy development in Aotearoa New Zealand? Guidance for authorising agencies
For the past decade, collaboration has been the preferred method of devising land and water policy in Aotearoa New Zealand to achieve agreed outcomes. However, the use of collaboration in policymaking is at a crossroads, as some argue it is unrealistic to expect stakeholders and tangata whenua with competing interests to work in partnership on contentious policy issues. To help clarify the future direction of collaboration, this paper provides au…
Achieving societal collaboration and impact in Aotearoa-New Zealand through transdisciplinarity
Aotearoa-New Zealand (A-NZ) faces growing complex environmental challenges and a persistent knowledge-action gap that leaves many social and environmental problems unresolved. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, a major science funder, has called for transdisciplinary modes of research to address increasingly complex problems in an integrated and collaborative fashion. We explore what is needed for transdisciplinary research (TD…
Co‐designing a research programme for impact: Lessons learned from practice by Aotearoa New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho
Doing co‐design and co‐production is challenging, resource intensive, and outcomes do not always translate into action. Evaluations of processes are needed to identify what enables and constrains ‘co’ efforts. This paper draws on the findings of an evaluation of a co‐design process undertaken by Aotearoa New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho (BHNSC) in 2019. The independent evaluation, commissioned by t…
Toolkitting: An unrecognized form of expertise for overcoming fragmentation in inter- and transdisciplinarity
A growing number of inter- and transdisciplinary (ITD) toolkits provide methods, processes, concepts, heuristics, frameworks, and other resources for designing and implementing ITD research. A brief overview of the currently fragmented toolkits landscape is provided, fleshed out through descriptions of four toolkits. Fragmentation means that researchers are unaware of, and do not have access to, the full array of tools that could benefit their in…
Enabling nature’s participation in research: An Experiment in Empathy
The sustainable development construct has failed to arrest environmental decline, mitigate species extinction, slow climate change and reduce enormous global waste streams. Many argue this is because sustainable development retains and reinforces society–nature binaries and configures that relationship primarily for our human benefit. A good partner in a reciprocal, respectful and empathetic relationship would act very differently. The research w…
Political science (8 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Computer Science (6 works) · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance (5 works) · Ecology (4 works) · Engineering (4 works) · Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development (4 works) · Knowledge management (4 works) · Public relations (4 works) · Aotearoa (3 works)