Research Centres as evidence-providing resources for planners and policy makers

Abstract

In this field note, I look at three of the 17 research centres at Lincoln University. These three could be providing evidence to inform planners and related policymakers. Two of these centres, the Centre for Land Environment and People (LEaP) and the Waterways Centre, were established more than a decade ago. The other, the Sustainable Property Research Centre (SPRC) is very new. Each is quite different in character and activity. This note is essentially a critical reflection, based on being a researching member of all three centres, but viewing them from my planning and policy analyst practitioner perspective. My intention is to draw these centres to the attention of planners and policy-makers and encourage them to consider how they might best utilise such centres, while at the same time taking a critical look at the nature of the centre activities and what they may need to do to be more relevant.