The strategic dimension of public engagement in tackling scholarly isolation

Within the articulated debate on science-tech universities’ Third Mission, the article inquires into the role and potential of engagement initiatives practiced by planning scholars. In particular, the author addresses the question of scholarly isolation: a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, deeply connected to academic hyper-specialization along with the risks of delegitimating the expertise. By defining a conceptual framework, enriched by theoretical and epistemological reflections on the strengths and limits of public engagement practices, the article aims to contribute to the debate on scholarly isolation (and on possible strategies to tackle it).