University science in heterogeneous intellectual landscape

Our paper analyses intellectual landscapes, extensive dynamic non-linear intellectual communication network structures that penetrate present day societies and generate heterogeneous knowledge in various social arenas. We argue that it is heterogeneity of communication network structures covering various cultural environments create areas, where diverse knowledge is generated by various means. For instance, as our research shows the areas with low intensity of communication and low network density are more likely to produce novel breakthrough ideas, while the areas of intensive communication and high network density generate incremental knowledge developing the existing ideas. Highly centralized network areas generate well-structured knowledge fields, while decentralized structures create more diverse though internally contradictive knowledge fields. We show that various types of intellectual communication structures are necessary for the evolution of the whole body of knowledge. In this context the role of networked university science of the 21^st century is, we argue, to stimulate interaction between the different areas and types of structures to help them co-evolve promoting a balanced model of knowledge democracy based on multiple legitimacy. It means not to concentrate all knowledge processes within the “walls” of academic and research institutions to gain the only “True” knowledge and then “democratically” disseminate it through society, but to coordinate knowledge creation networks that penetrate society providing conditions for the variety of knowledge to emerge. It implies considering every actor a potential knowledge creator and every region as potentially significant for the evolution of the global intellectual landscape, creating loci of knowledge growth, as well as developing institutional tools to stimulate and coordinate intellectual communication networks in society.