Practice-near research can be conducted within one’s own professional domain or in collaboration with other fields. This means the researcher may operate in a context that is either familiar or unfamiliar. Developing knowledge in such settings requires close collaboration and dynamic interaction between the researcher and practitioners. This, in turn, demands the ability to navigate the delicate balance between closeness and distance - a complexity that researchers must learn to manage thoughtfully.
At the Molde Symposium, we delve into the nuances and challenges of practice-near research and its significance in advancing knowledge about professional practice. What defines a “field,” and how do we understand the diversity within it? These questions raise important ethical, methodological, and practical considerations. From 20–23 October 2025, the symposium aims to foster a broader, deeper, and more reflective understanding of the field itself, the researcher’s central role, the dynamics of collaboration, and the ethical and epistemological implications of knowledge production.