There are many titles and phrases for anyone who works in information, communication, and knowledge brokering in the world of evidence. The roles are as varied as the types of people who fulfil them.

What unites them, however, is an ambition to make research and evidence more accessible, available, and useful to anyone who could -and should – be using it to make decisions.

A recent article looks more closely at a specific sub-group working in the UK: knowledge brokers. (As opposed to knowledge intermediaries and boundary spanners, if you’re familiar with the jargon).

In essence, knowledge brokers act as bridges between the producers of knowledge, such as researchers, and those who use it to make decisions. They perform multiple roles in the spaces between different communities to improve the uptake and use of evidence. To do this effectively, they harness problem-oriented and interdisciplinary approaches in their work. Equally important is building relationships between people, so that information is shared more effectively. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the art of knowledge brokering, read here.