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practices are linked to particular outcomes such as the subjec-

tive sense of connectedness and belonging in a multicultural

society. Along similar lines, the institute currently undertakes

a number of significant projects that, in collaboration with

national and international universities, international agencies

and philanthropic organizations, explore the complex problem

of minority rights across the globe focusing on issues such as

Islamic religiosity in Australia, France and the United States,

intercultural understanding in educational institutions, local

governance of cultural diversity, and sectarianism in the Middle

East among others.

However, while the institute recognizes the need to engage

with both local and international societal actors, it is also aware

that this represents only one part of the challenge of effective

uptake and optimal outreach of its research findings. Two

additional essential ingredients relate to how best to effect the

research-policy nexus and how to utilize non-traditional and

innovative dissemination methods. Such strategies can raise

public awareness of these critical issues and in the process lead

to sustainable positive change in public policy and practice.

The research-policy nexus is the critical intersection

between the scholarly endeavour of identifying, inter-

rogating and exposing social ills and injustices, and

academic outreach which entails effecting positive change

through awakening and capturing the public imagination.

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to knowledge

translation, one of the more effective means is to take a non-

adversarial approach and work with government agencies,

rather than simply and strictly lobby against them. Yet, part-

nerships with government departments present their own

unique challenges in that there is often a dissonance between

actionable priorities of researchers and policy makers.

Nevertheless, as the aim is to promote tangible social

transformations, cultural rights (the right to participate in

cultural life, enjoy one’s own culture and so on, in accord-

ance with international law) and intercultural/interfaith

dialogue, the institute firmly believes that this can only be

achieved by overcoming these difficulties and bridging the

existing gap between research, policy and practice. A key

is to work within the different strictures under which the

public sector operates. With the advent of a world that is

increasingly dominated by global forces and transnational

issues that feed into a 24-hour news cycle, the salience

of issues is often transitory, which makes it essential to

communicate research findings and recommendations

more efficiently. Indeed, the institute strives in every

project to produce two streams of outputs. Naturally,

there is the academic output in the form of refereed papers

and authored monographs. But institute researchers also

seek to consistently produce ancillary outputs in the form

of reports and briefs that provide succinct analysis and

recommendations in accessible language. Importantly,

these reports and briefs, in line with element two of trans-

formative action, are not done in isolation. Rather, they are

co-produced with external stakeholders and partners such

as government agencies and CSOs.

Image: Museum Victoria. Photographer, Benjamin Healley

An interactive touch panel at the IYMO exhibition

gree

iffer