Eutopians in the middle. Our proposed methodology for translating knowledge into use.

This working paper, published in 2026 by Associazione Culturale Eutopia, outlines the organization's construction method for building translation methodologies that bridge specialist domains and public audiences. The document argues that the frequent failure to translate expert knowledge into public value is not merely a problem of vocabulary that can be fixed by adding a communicator at the end of the chain, but rather a structural gap between professional communities holding incompatible models of truth, storytelling, and audience engagement. To address this, the paper proposes building concrete translation devices, metaphorically described as Wittgensteinian "slabs," which allow specialists and publics to establish a shared practice. This approach is grounded in an invariant architecture consisting of three vertical pillars—domain truth, narrative translation, and user experience—supported by three transversal clusters of skill: cooperation, mediation, and adaptability. While this underlying architecture remains constant, the operational tools produced are strictly domain-specific, varying significantly depending on the local context and questions. The document details a five-step construction method used to develop these tools. The process begins with identifying a specific domain and public , followed by designing an initial architecture , and conducting iterative validation through real production within multi-country cooperation projects. The method requires openly declaring the structural limits of each iteration before releasing the resulting toolkit. The paper illustrates this construction method through three instantiations: the completed HOP methodology for cultural heritage, the completed WWM methodology for accessibility in the performing arts, and the forthcoming THE SOURCE methodology for European water heritage. Each of these projects was co-funded by the European Union under the Creative Europe Programme and demonstrates how the same architectural framework yields different operational layers across different domains.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-05-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20271048
Primary Topic
Educational Tools and Methods
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Eutopians in the middle. Our proposed methodology for translating knowledge into use.

Associazione Culturale Eutopia
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Educational Tools and Methods
article

Eutopians in the middle. Our proposed methodology for translating knowledge into use.

Associazione Culturale Eutopia
article en

Abstract

This working paper, published in 2026 by Associazione Culturale Eutopia, outlines the organization's construction method for building translation methodologies that bridge specialist domains and public audiences. The document argues that the frequent failure to translate expert knowledge into public value is not merely a problem of vocabulary that can be fixed by adding a communicator at the end of the chain, but rather a structural gap between professional communities holding incompatible models of truth, storytelling, and audience engagement. To address this, the paper proposes building concrete translation devices, metaphorically described as Wittgensteinian "slabs," which allow specialists and publics to establish a shared practice. This approach is grounded in an invariant architecture consisting of three vertical pillars—domain truth, narrative translation, and user experience—supported by three transversal clusters of skill: cooperation, mediation, and adaptability. While this underlying architecture remains constant, the operational tools produced are strictly domain-specific, varying significantly depending on the local context and questions. The document details a five-step construction method used to develop these tools. The process begins with identifying a specific domain and public , followed by designing an initial architecture , and conducting iterative validation through real production within multi-country cooperation projects. The method requires openly declaring the structural limits of each iteration before releasing the resulting toolkit. The paper illustrates this construction method through three instantiations: the completed HOP methodology for cultural heritage, the completed WWM methodology for accessibility in the performing arts, and the forthcoming THE SOURCE methodology for European water heritage. Each of these projects was co-funded by the European Union under the Creative Europe Programme and demonstrates how the same architectural framework yields different operational layers across different domains.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Educational Tools and Methods
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