An interface is a point of interaction between systems or groups. As a theoretical concept, social interface was first defined by Long in 1989*.

SwedBio uses the term “knowledge interface” to describe its role in facilitating and organising meetings among different knowledge systems and knowledge holders. These meetings may bring together scientific knowledge, policy makers’ knowledge and local and indigenous knowledge, with the intention to contribute to mutually improved understanding and implementation in practice.

SwedBio contributes to this by collaborative learning platforms, for example through multi-actor dialogue seminars. This also includes joint learning, knowledge generation and capacity building, both of the target groups of partners in developing countries and inevitably also of SwedBio and SRC colleagues. Capacity building is further achieved through knowledge dissemination about the learning that takes place under the knowledge interface.

 

* In 2001, Long’s revised definition was: “a social interface is a critical point of intersection between different life worlds, social fields or levels of social organisation, where social discontinuities based upon discrepancies in values, interests, knowledge and power, are most likely to be located”.