Seminar followed by Q&A and drinks – all welcome
Description: Conservation often takes place at the intersection of multiple knowledge systems. Efforts to “integrate” “translate” or “weave” these systems remain fraught with unresolved tensions around power, authority, and justice. Nearly three decades ago, Paul Nadasdy famously argued that integrating different knowledges is structurally impossible without distortion. Despite this critique and others, conservation science continues to pursue integration as an aspirational goal.
This work begins from a different premise: epistemic pluralism is not an aspiration in conservation, but an empirical reality. Knowledge systems already intersect, overlap, and collide in everyday conservation research and practice. Yet working across knowledge systems is not a trivial or innocent act; it requires reflection about one’s own worldview and obligations, strategic choices based on one’s goals and relationships, and accountability for the effects of one’s actions. Few tools exist to help people navigate this space with intention.
We introduce the concept of epistemic neighboring to encompass the many ways people can approach collaboration across knowledge systems. There are myriad ways to be an epistemic neighbor. We present a basic “menu” of strategies with associated tradeoffs, alongside a framework to help conservation actors identify strategies which align with their own knowledge system, goals, and obligations.
Rather than prescribing a single solution, this talk argues that being a good epistemic neighbor is a situated and iterative practice. It requires self‑awareness, accountability, and a willingness to deepen our understanding of not only those we work with, but also ourselves.
Biography: Chris’s research explores the politics of knowledge in conservation and global development. He explores how knowledge is produced, distributed, and applied in these fields, and why some ideas come to inform action while others get pushed aside or ignored. The goal of his research is to enable respectful, productive collaboration across cultures, disciplines, and knowledge systems. Chris also works in executive administration at ASU, helping manage ASU’s work in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. In this role, he works with community partners to advance navigation-based education and marine conservation initiatives. Chris holds a PhD in Innovation in Global Development, as well as a Bachelor’s in Sustainability and a Masters in Global Affairs and Management. He has previously worked as an entrepreneur, a consultant, a writer and editor, a middle school teacher, and a photographer.
The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery and the Nature Network are interested in promoting a wide variety of views and opinions on nature recovery from researchers and practitioners.
The views, opinions and positions expressed within this lecture are those of the author alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery/Nature Network, or its researchers.
