02/12/2024
Citizen lab Co-production is key to Involve
“Co-production is about equal partnerships, and NGOs play a very important role in mediating between academics and individuals,” began Mary Murphy, emphasizing that “trust, respect, communication, and language” are crucial for this process to work. The professor from Maynooth University, Ireland, pointed out
that “co-production can take time to materialize, as it often takes years to establish certain relationships.” The secrets to “surviving” this long process? “Being consistent, persistent, and flexible,” revealed Mary Murphy at the “Citizen Lab Lisbon: Co-production” conference, held at the Centro Cultural de Carnide, Lisbon, on November 6. This event marked the conclusion of the “Involve” project consortium meeting, which took place at Fórum Cultural de Alcochete, over the previous two days.
Following Mary Murphy’s speech, the Executive Director of Rede DLBC Lisboa reiterated the relevance of NGOs in the co-production process. “These are the organizations that work with people, that give them a voice. Everyone has the right to participate,” she reminded the audience. Maria José Domingos argued that
“it is the alliance between academic knowledge and people that enables us to have a stronger society.” Although it’s not an “easy process,” she added, “it requires researchers and NGOs to work as equals. That is exactly what happens in ‘Involve.’ A joint discussion. This is co-production!”
Jean-Michel Bonvin echoed a similar perspective: “Typically,
academics/scientists live ‘in an ivory tower,’ detached. Their work is very important, but it is not the only thing. Experiential knowledge must be taken into account.” The professor from the Université de Genève, Switzerland, described this “citizen science” as “a major challenge,” emphasizing the need to “convince academics that it has scientific value.” Co-production presents numerous
challenges, particularly “finding a common language with understandable concepts.” The Swiss sociologist stressed the importance of “sharing knowledge, crossing perspectives, and co-producing concepts, tools, and methodologies,”clarifying that “it is essential to step outside Academia and collaborate. If academics merely define the methodologies and implementation is left to
NGOs, that is not co-production!” To achieve this, he said, everyone must “move in the same direction, working together while respecting diversity, differences, and challenges.” He added, “Many academics will say this is not science, it’s activism! No! This is science! But different!”
In the second panel, several practical cases were presented. The event featured contributions from Lara Fraga (Associação Renovar a Mouraria), Lúcia Oliveira (AEIPS), Ana Gama (Universidade Nova de Lisboa), and Maria João Vargas Moniz (ISCSP)
