Emergent scholarship

A framework for scholarly engagement in a complex world

Connection

Knowledge emerges at the intersections of ideas, disciplines, and people, creating a networked ecosystem where understanding develops through relationships rather than isolation

Adaptation

Scholarly practices must evolve to thrive in complex, changing environments, embracing flexibility and responsiveness over rigid structures and predetermined outcomes

Ecology

Scholarship exists within broader systems and must respect natural limits, nurturing sustainable practices that enhance rather than deplete human and environmental resources

Figure: Principles of emergent scholarship

Core principles

Emergent scholarship is built on seven interconnected principles:

Knowledge through connection: Understanding emerges from relationships and interactions rather than residing solely in individual minds or isolated texts
Information flow through networks: Information moves through formal and informal networks, creating new patterns and insights
Identity through community: Professional identity forms through participation in multiple overlapping communities of practice
Innovation through openness: Innovation emerges from environments where ideas can flow freely and evolve through collaboration
Meaning through medium: The forms and formats we use to express knowledge shape understanding and learning
Value through engagement: Worth is determined through meaningful impact and stakeholder engagement
Sustainability through ecology: Learning environments must respect and enhance human and environmental resources