Nature Interpretation Lab (NiLab)

A bridge for trans-disciplinary research

Nature interpreters, working in diverse contexts, often act as bridges between these contexts, aligning with curious transdisciplinary researchers. We perceive a great need to connect these bridge-builders and elevate research integration with the practice of nature interpretation.

A living lab for collaboration

Through a critical living lab approach, NiLab encourages researchers and nature interpreters to explore emerging questions together through collaborating on practical cases that address common challenges.

What will NiLab do?

NiLab was resulted from CNV’s collaboration with Mistra Environmental Communication. With more than 15 years’ experiences of helping and supporting the development of knowledge and methods for nature interpretation in Sweden, CNV has a goal of further developing “reflective practices” in nature interpretation field. To do that we need both researchers and interpreters. NiLab is the perfect platform for that.

Within Mistra Environmental Communication, NiLab functions in several different ways. The first and foremost function is that it invites professionals from the nature interpretation field to take part in the Lab as a reflective sounding board for different workpackages (WPs) the program sets out to work on, and during that process emerging research questions will be identified. Secondly, the lab will adapt to potential needs for connecting with practitioners and disseminate research results from the programme. Finally and consequently, the Lab will provide space for mutual learning among researchers and interpreters. Click and read more about Mistra Environmental Communication and contact us to learn about possibilities to collaborate!

A research symposium

22-23 April CNV arranged a research symposium to start the NiLab. Here is documentation from the symposium (in Swedish).

NiLab received seed money funding from SLU Urban Futures to further develop the space with a critical living lab approach.