Transformation of the Collaboration Pattern and Knowledge Utilization between Citizens and Experts, Concerning the Future Plan of the Estuary Weir of the Yoshino River

Abstract

　 The purpose of this case study on the collaboration between citizens and experts, dealing with the future plan of the estuary weir of the Yoshino River is to understand how we can create renewed public knowledge for solving the social problems associated with science and technology as first step of the study. In order to analyze the case, the collaboration patterns were classified based on the condition of information/knowledge-sharing and the relationship between citizens and experts. The condition of information/knowledge-sharing was classified into two types as unshared condition or shared condition, whereas the relationship between citizens and experts was classified into two types as soft relationship (relationship of trust) or hard relationship (conflicting relationship). The process of collaboration was classified into four phases as making issues, forming hypothesis, confirming by experiment, and synthesizing and practicing future scenario. In addition, the utilization of the citizens' and experts' knowledge was analyzed based on a scheme applied Johari's Window. The results were as follows. a) The collaboration pattern between citizens and experts transformed itself as the process of collaboration made progress. b) The citizens' and experts' knowledge learnt in the past experience was utilized in order to make common context required for increasing mutual understanding of the issue. Based on these results, the conceptual model for collaboration between citizens and experts was discussed.