Knology

Knology approaches culture as a way of understanding the world, interpreting reality, and communicating that reality to others. We share ways of being that are constantly expanding – through shared perceptions, beliefs, language, and actions. We study how culture shapes the standards that define our scope of justice, the systems that govern how people can thrive, and societal codes of conduct. We explore how cultures are the expression of shared cumulative meaning or significance. At the same time, we appreciate how culture has a context-specific practice or form of participation that evolves as it grapples with change. When we think of Culture, we ask: How can exploration of cultural participation and practices advance positive social change? How can cultural institutions support a thriving society?
In 2015, NewKnowledge partnered with the Girl Scouts of Greater New York (GSGNY) and Vidcode to work on this opportunity. We are studying a novel afterschool program, called Breaking the Code, that combines creative filmmaking, coding in JavaScript, and Girl Scout-style leadership development, including mentoring from computer science professionals.This program, aimed at middle school girls enrolled in under-resourced schools in New York City, uses original art projects, such as customizing Instagram or music videos, to engage teens in writing their own code using the online Vidcode platform. Ultimately, we aim to understand how combining video coding projects with leadership development and mentoring helps girls to develop the skills and confidence to apply pursue opportunities in the real world.

Breaking the Code has made an impact for New York City teens.

We approach wellness from a holistic perspective, examining all aspects of health from the personal to the societal to the institutional, and how these realms intersect. Our research explores the major factors that influence health attitudes, behaviors, and policies. To do so, we work with museums, medical centers, libraries, community health and social justice organizations to support self-efficacy. We are particularly interested in the processes and intermediaries that can be leveraged to bring about wellbeing. When we think of Wellness, we ask: what aspects of health, from the personal to the societal, to the institutional influence individuals’ opportunities to thrive? How does understanding grow around personal choices that we make in life to ensure both longevity and physical well-being?

Knology takes a broad and inclusive approach to media: we study many aspects of large-scale communication, including diverse technologies, channels, and platforms. One of the things we investigate is the affordances of these technologies and channels, particularly for education and lifelong learning. We also explore how media shapes public discourse: how particular ideas come to be seen as normal and reasonable—or not—due to their presence or absence in mass media. We reflect on circulation and participation, too: how different media content moves through the world, and whether those who engage with it are invited to respond and interact or simply to consume it. When we think of Media, we ask: What role can – and should – media play in challenging social narratives about people? What makes media effective at getting large groups of people to take action? What are the most effective ways to capture – and hold – the attention of different groups of people in order to support their learning and their access to learning?

We often talk about large-scale outcomes, such as sustainable cities, inclusive cultural institutions, accessible media, and more. These outcomes emerge from many repeated interactions among individuals. Such iterated behaviors are often subtle, rarely linear, and never inevitable. At Knology, we study the behaviors, mechanisms, and processes that generate widespread social outcomes. When we think of behaviors, we ask: Who are the people interacting, including their characteristics as persons, their relationships and obligations to each other, and their histories? How do people's choices enable or preclude future choices, shape their values, and reinforce or interrupt behaviors? At what point do repeated interactions between individuals recognize themselves as a community, with shared goals and practices, to which they are willing to hold one another accountable?

We approach systems as sets of interrelated rules and practices within which each individual’s life and life plan is embedded. These systems are nonetheless built, sustained, and reproduced by individuals over time, often acting in concert. As the operations and effects of systems are often public and powerful constraints on individuals, they are exquisitely subject to comparison against notions of justice, fairness, or equity. When we think of Systems, we ask: What are the formal and informal rules that govern, or help us to make sense of, the law, economy, society, and polity? Which rules promote or inhibit human well-being and flourishing? Under what circumstances do these rules change?