Knowledge and Social Innovation
Convenor: Dr. Czarina Saloma-Akpedonu (csaloma@ateneo.edu)
Description:
Knowledge mobilization, or the use of knowledge towards the achievement of goals, is
central to social change and development. This research cluster focuses on how
knowledge is produced, transmitted, received, evaluated, and integrated into existing
knowledge, thereby providing inputs for institutional and technological innovations that
generate social change and development. Thus, it takes activities (e.g., education,
training, research, consultancy, advocacy, science communication, social
entrepreneurship) in settings which play host to knowledge creation, management, and
utilization (e.g., universities, research institutions, international development agencies,
industries, business entities, “open source” communities, local communities) as objects of
study. The themes of specific interest to this research cluster include, but not limited to,
the following:

Epistemic cultures. Culture of universities and research institutions, think tanks,
government research agencies, knowledge-intensive firms, and communities.
Forms of knowledge mobilization (e.g., (inter-/trans-)disciplinary, technologymediated, participatory, living laboratories).

Policy research. Governance of scientific knowledge production and
management. Models of policy research, policy-making and implementation.

Innovation systems. Structures and agents of knowledge sharing and innovation
stimulation. Cultural and systemic contexts of national innovation systems.

Social development. Utilization of scientific knowledge and technology to address
poverty and social inequality. Role of development consultants and experts, social
entrepreneurs, science communicators, and other actors in promoting social
innovation and development.
Sample Publications:
Dela Cruz, L.J.R. (2013). Whose Expectations Matter? External Funding, Academic
Dispositions, and University Social Research Centers in the Philippines. Philippine
Sociological Review, 61(1), 147-173.
Saloma, C., Lao, M.E.J. and Lopez, L.A. (2013). How to make local government
institutions work: some lessons on social change. Philippine Political Science
Journal, 34(1), 83-96.