ZEF's Uzbekistan project follows the innovation: Workshop on participatory approaches to innovation diffusion
In a four-day workshop on ‘Concepts of Agricultural Innovation and Interdisciplinary Research’, the interdisciplinary team of ZEF’s Uzbekistan Project addressed key issues of participatory learning approaches, inter and trans-disciplinary research methods as well as concepts of innovation.
Facilitated by Dr. Wolfgang Bayer and Ms. Chesha Wettasinha from ETC Ecoculture, three topics playing a key role in the current third project phase were discussed:
1) Inter and trans-disciplinary research set up, 2) definitions of and approaches to innovation diffusion, and 3) stakeholder involvement.
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/fileadmin/webfiles/downloads/zefnews/DSCF0876.JPGThe workshop offered its around 25 participants a mixture of conceptual input sessions, working groups, plenary discussions and innovative games encouraging self-reflection, as well as concepts of multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research. These formed the basis for formulating project-specific concepts. Interesting was the discussion on potential problems and difficulties arising in interdisciplinary research teams as well as on how to overcome them. Besides, different conceptions of agricultural innovation were presented and discussed.
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/fileadmin/webfiles/downloads/zefnews/DSCF0878.JPG‘Technology transfer’ approaches were contrasted with ‘process’ approaches. Specific attention was given to the ‘Follow the Technology’ approach developed by Douthwaite as adopted and adapted for the project, as well as the social dimensions of technology. Through workings groups and plenary discussions the participants defined their main stakeholder groups, existing contacts and those to be extended.
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/fileadmin/webfiles/downloads/zefnews/DSCF0890.JPGAs the first workshop in a series of five on ‘Implementing, improving and adapting with target groups: ‘Follow the Innovation’’, the workshop put a strong emphasis on developing a team spirit and team building activities. Beside from achieving the general objectives of the workshop, this goal was successfully achieved and a positive basis for interaction was built for the current third project phase, which just started.
