Learning from the Transformations to Sustainability programme
An open session at the Sustainability Research and Innovation (SRI) congress 2022
13h30 – 16h30 SAST/CEST (11h30 – 14h30 UTC), Monday 20 June 2022
This session is open to the public.
Those who are not registered for the congress can register for a ‘free ticket’ to SRI open sessions here.
After registration, join the session by clicking the session link here.
Abstract
This participative session is an occasion for twelve international research projects in their final stages to present and discuss their contributions to knowledge about and for transformations to sustainability, with special attention to understanding the relationship between research, policy and actual social change. The session will also afford an opportunity to look ahead to emerging needs and opportunities for social science research to contribute to transformations to sustainability. Academics, practitioners, funders and policy makers are warmly invited to participate in the discussion. The session will be a key moment in the process of synthesizing learning about how research can contribute to practice and policy, and vice versa.
The Transformations to Sustainability (T2S) programme supported social scientists to lead inter- and transdisciplinary research on and for sustainability. Between 2018 and 2022, building on an earlier programme that supported three large international projects, the second generation of twelve international projects studied transformation needs and opportunities, as well as barriers and pathways to transformation, in diverse, complex and highly dynamic socio-environmental settings across the Global North and South. Research took place before and during the massive disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in unexpected obstacles and insights in the transformation process. The projects drew on political, social, economic, geographical, institutional, organizational, and ecological perspectives and integrated knowledge from scientists, engineers, practitioners, policy makers, artists, communities, Indigenous peoples and other stakeholders. They identified, studied, and tested novel, hybrid approaches to change-making at local, national and international scales. They contended with the politics of sustainability, issues of equity and justice, and the relationships between power, knowledge and governance in addressing sustainability challenges.
Agenda
Facilitator: Susi Moser
Brief introduction to the T2S programme: Sarah Moore
Keynote talk by Heila Lotz-Sisitka (15 mins): ‘Research, theory, practice and policy in transformations to sustainability – where are we and where are we going?’
Panel 1: Contributions to theory and methods of transformations to sustainability research
Moderator: Eleanor Fisher
Flash presentations by projects, followed by discussion.
Break: Preview of short film series on transformations to sustainability
Panel 2: Contributions to practice and policy in/for transformations to sustainability
Moderator: Marjo de Theije
Flash presentations by projects, followed by discussion.
Open discussion (30 mins): How can research on transformations to sustainability contribute to policy and practice, and vice versa?
Closing remarks from Emerald Network and Susi Moser
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