4.7. Transformation

For the full version and the original text go to Knowledge Transfer Economies by Jara Rocha.

Temporality is key when it comes to understanding and grasping the forms of knowledge that are relevant at each specific moment. As such, the research group should formulate questions in regard to the frequency and durability of these forms:

- How frequently should we consider reforming transfer methods and objects? 

Transformations can also take place at the level of recognition and legitimacy: - What are the implications of configuring a particular form of knowledge around an idea of legitimisation or delegitimisation?

Other key aspects include the dimensions of the epistemic zones, and the scales that should be used to approach them. - What remodelling mechanisms are included in a knowledge-generation project? How can we facilitate re-scaling between macro and micro zones?

Even when dimensions remain unchanged, processes of distortion may arise, so it becomes necessary to design strategies to account for them, possibly in advance, but also retroactively. For example, “track changes” in an example of a tool that keeps tabs on distortions in an onto-epistemic body. What are the motives by which each project/process accounts for its own distortions and/or the distortions of its environment?

In recent times (perhaps due to the proliferation of certain specific methods and/or tools), we have witnessed a rise in the practice of forking in knowledge-generation projects. While this can be a very useful, decisive practice in high-conflict moments, at other times it neglects the power of transformation, which can include a process of decision-making to bring about change, without going as far as a split.

Lastly, we should consider a type of transformation that takes place when knowledge is published/made explicit/released: dissemination/dispersal/information.

-Regardless of the duration, legitimacies, scales, and changes in an epistemic zone, are its means of dissemination necessarily a transformation (because of the interpretations or adaptations that take place after its dissemination)? What should be embedded in the zone, in order to facilitate, challenge, or prevent this phenomenon from occurring?