Knowledge in Action: Co-Creating Research for Local Impact

This session explores how academic research supports SDGs localization through collaboration among multiple stakeholders. Drawing on the Knowledge and Scientific Network (KSN) initiative in Irbid and Aqaba, researchers received targeted training and mentorship to develop policy briefs based on field research and preliminary analysis, which were then presented to local decision makers, technical experts, and local and international academia for review. This “reality-check” phase ensured that research findings were grounded in institutional priorities and practical constraints.

Researchers utilized diverse methodologies, including automation and simulation. Attention was given to engaging underrepresented stakeholders such as the fishermen, an economically and environmentally vulnerable group, whose insights enriched the results on coral reef degradation, coastal contamination, and marine biodiversity, and complemented the work of the local government on governance analysis and participatory interventions.

The other policy papers here addressed recycling, energy efficiency, air quality, climate-resilient planning, and water use in agriculture.