Poszerzao

Poszerzao is a theoretical concept in social epistemology and knowledge management that describes the deliberate widening of the problem space and its epistemic boundaries by incorporating diverse knowledge sources and stakeholders. The term blends the Polish verb poszerzać, meaning to widen, with a neologistic suffix used to form abstract process terms.

Definition and scope: Poszerzao refers to systematic efforts to expand who can contribute to knowledge production, what counts as valid knowledge, and where questions are asked. It emphasizes inclusive governance of knowledge, boundary-spanning collaboration, and reflexivity about underlying assumptions. The aim is to produce more relevant, legitimate, and robust outcomes by integrating tacit and experiential knowledge alongside formal research.

Origins and usage: The term emerged in online discussions and speculative design notes in the early 2020s as a response to disciplinarity and gatekeeping in science, policy, and education. It is primarily used in theoretical or exploratory contexts rather than as a consumed methodology.

Process and methods: Core mechanisms include cross-disciplinary teams, participatory design, citizen science, open data platforms, and deliberative forums. Poszerzao typically employs iterative cycles of co-creation, prototyping, and evaluation, with attention to power dynamics and ethical implications.

Applications: It has been proposed for use in research programs, urban planning, education reform, and policy development to broaden impact, enhance legitimacy, and improve relevance to diverse communities.

Criticisms: Potential drawbacks include tokenistic participation, information overload, unequal influence among participants, and the challenge of assessing outcomes across heterogeneous knowledge forms.

See also: interdisciplinarity; citizen science; participatory design; open science; social epistemology.