Building research links

Following our recent article on the links with academia, Sheffield academic Clare Rishbeth offers her top ten approaches to engaging with professional practice.

Clare Rishbeth

University of Sheffield

In a recent article for Landscape, Alison Galbraith explored the potential of academic research to inform professional practice, and some of the limitations around how this happens in reality. I agree that peer reviewed papers do not make for very digestible reading to gain insights for practice but would argue that in nearly all cases this is not the intent of that particular writing output, just as contractors’ drawings are not expected to be accessible for local residents.

Whether practitioner or academic, we all have to be skilled in creating opportunities for communication and learning that are meaningful for different audiences. Alison’s article started me thinking of all the different ways university research shapes practice. Two key points are that much of our ‘knowledge exchange’ isn’t even in written form, and that primarily it is directed ‘outward’ of the profession itself – representing landscape architectural values and applying landscape skills and approaches within interdisciplinary and inter-sector settings.

Below I outline the ‘top 10’ ways in which academic research engages with professional practice. Examples are from the Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield because this is where I am based and chosen for broad representation rather than providing a conclusive list. Of course, academics from other institutions will also be involved in many of these activities. Evidence of planning for ‘Impact’ or ‘Knowledge Exchange’ is required for most grant funding and derives directly from the findings of these projects. However, time is always tight, with these roles fitting in alongside our commitment to teaching and learning, research fieldwork and management, and academic writing.

1. We collaborate with non-academic stakeholders on designing and running research projects, including producing non-academic outputs such as reports, training etc. (Improving Wellbeing through Urban Nature with Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, outputs included practice guides (1) , a three year long series of open access seminars, with the findings intrinsic to SRWT successful bid as a Green Prescribing national pilot (2) ).

2. We contribute to advisory boards for national and international organisations (Natural England Social Science Expert panel, International Play Association: access to play for children in situations of crisis. (3) ) and are involved in internationally significant events (Chair COP26 panel: Nature for Climate & Biodiversity in Cities).

3. Academics provide commissioned and collaborative expertise in design projects and competition entries. Sometimes as a design lead (Bergamo Green Square, Italy. (4) ), sometimes as specialist contributors (community engagement Camden Highline shortlist (5) ), often on a consultancy basis.

4. Our department initiates and facilitates cross sector events on current debates (Street Trees and Politics conference 2019 (6) , in 2022 to be published in book form as ‘The Politics of Street Trees’. (7) ).

5. Academics often deliver Landscape Institute CPD (e.g. Healthy Plants, Healthy Places: Embedding biosecurity in landscape projects 2019 (8) and Inclusive Environments 2021 (9) ).

6. Academics contribute in various ways to local and national events on place to raise the profile of landscape architecture expertise (Big Local Learning workshop ‘Demystifying the world of built environment design’. (10) ). We occasionally provide a ‘landscape architecture’ voice on TV and radio programmes. Recent ‘talking head’ slots include climate sensitive design, comparative tree cover and the value of benches.

7. We write articles, blogs and reports for both public and specialist audiences. Some are linked from our homepage under ‘Hopeful Greener Futures’ and ‘Equality Matters’ (11) , and more are featured in the ‘Research for Landscape Practice’ brochure mentioned by Alison (12) . We also publish in The Conversation, for example, young people valuing nature in cities (13) , microbes and trees and disease protection (14) .

8. More specialist than a blog and packed with CPD? Writing books (and usually getting them published at non-academic prices) is core to some of our research dissemination (Nigel Dunnett: Naturalistic Planting Design The Essential Guide (15) , Ross and Hitchmough: Environmental Horticulture: Science and Management of Green Landscapes (16) , Clayden: Natural Burial: Landscape, Practice and Experience (17) ).

9. Influencing policy is largely behind the scenes but vital. Academics have served as expert witnesses in the House of Lords, recently on the evidence session for Neighbourhoods and Housing (18) , but policy is also changed through long-term research collaborations such as with EU-Brazil policy sector dialogue on Nature- Based Solutions (19) .

10. Lastly, but probably the most important in terms of core landscape architecture practice, our alumni. Landscape architecture students enter the profession having engaged with research informed teaching and have scope to then apply and communicate this in their places of employment. Some return to our studios to give guest lectures, providing case studies on how their engagement with research during their education continues to inform their approach and practice. We have global reach with our many international PhD graduates who then practice or teach within academia across the world.

Sheffield University Department of Landscape.

© Credit Clare Risbeth

Dr Clare Rishbeth is a senior lecturer in the Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield and has led a number of research projects on social inclusion in public open space. Her research focus and social values are focused on profiles of marginalisation – shaped by intersections of ethnicity, class and gender – and how these should inform the civic ambitions of our shared environments.