The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology - Indigenous and Local Knowledge and Science: From Validation to Knowledge Coproduction

When considering the relationship between science and local knowledge, the issue of validation inevitably arises. Today, this concern, which has been addressed differently in different contexts and at different times, is as present as ever in the context of, for example, assessments by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Even though everyone proclaims their respect for these "other" knowledge systems, they nevertheless remain a subject of heated debate. Will the natural sciences continue in their historical role as the only legitimate means of apprehending "reality"? If science sets the norm, then is it legitimate that it validates all other sources of knowledge? Or is scientific validation inevitably top down and a product of asymmetrical relations of power? This entry examines various forms of validation and proposes that coproduction of knowledge may provide one way out of the validation dilemma.