This website brings together ideas on how to improve sustainability science research. It was created by combining interviews with 15 researchers from the Stockholm Resilience Centre with personal reflections. More information on the sample here.
Goals of sustainability science
In asking researchers why they do sustainability science research and what they consider as being its purpose, three aspects emerged : understanding and action, as well as some personal motivations. More information on how these results were obtained : here.
Conducting rigorous evidence-based science, in an integrated way that has consideration for a system approach of social ecological and economic matters.
Getting an understanding of the world : ecological and climatic processes, related to human activities, at global and local scales, and predict or explain reality.
Changing our way of looking at things, break established way of thinking and make the important things visible.
Informing policy making, and valouring urgent topics for the political agenda.
Finding collaborative, ethical and just way to engage into a transformation and have an impact in the world. Making the system more sustainable and allow for earth to remain liveable.
Fostering collaboration, mutual trust and constructive feeling : inspiration, hope, motivation, desire to act…
A researcher might be motivated after having seen the consequences of climate change, and other ecological collapses, on communities.
They might be motivated by the desire of making something relevant for society, doing their part, and contributing to a larger purpose, such as making the world more sustainable and making it a better place for all, acting both for future and current generations.
They might be driven by curiosity and intellectual stimulation. Doing research is an opportunity to learn and understand the world better. You might have pleasure in doing the research, have fun and good time.
A compass for better research ?
The following framework was developed by Erwan Gardies. It was drawn up on the basis of a literature review and a synthesis of the various elements often discussed in sustainability science research. When researchers were asked about the challenges of sustainability science research and some potential criteria for evaluating sustainability science research, all the following elements were also mentioned.
Scientificity
– Addressing a meaningful question, that is not overesearchered
– Building on existing knowledge, not reinventing the wheel
– Having good and rigorous reasoning and respecting the basic tenants of scientific quality
Ethic
– Being transparent and clear about the assumptions, methods…
– Being respectful of all participant included in the research, and of what they are bringing to the table
Value orientation
– towards social justice
– towards historical justice and intergenerational equity
– towards environmental sustainability
Inclusivity, diversity and representativity
– regarding diversity of identity characters (race, genders, sexual orientation, age…)
– regarding diversity of worldviews, knowledge and cultural backgrounds in the context of application
– regarding non human-being stakes
Complexity and transdisciplinary
– Respectful of complexity and systemic considerations
– Bringing together various approaches
– Comprehensiveness regarding the addressed problem and purpose
Reflexivity
– On personal and cultural assumptions brought in the research process
– On the limits of the research process and the results
– On power asymmetries in research and society
Usefulness and effectiveness
– Make work that is useful and relevant
– Getting engaged and informing policy making
– Having a societal impact, and real influence on society
Contextual relevancy and generalizability
– Grounded in practitioners practical needs and knowledge
– Adapted to framed context specificities
– When realized for a specific context, transferability and scalability for another
Communicability and understandability
– Ability to be communicated to and understood by the stakeholders and policy makers
– Contributing in changing the way they look at a topic
The research process
The following research process framework was built using two sources and some personal thinking. The interviewees were asked about their approach in doing each of the following research step. More information on how this framework was obtained : here.
A framework (general, dynamic aspects, challenges, internal, outside, criteria, collaboration) was created to organise the responses inside each of the research step. It emerged during the analysis of the responses. More information on how the insights for each of these steps were obtained : here.
Two potential tools
Two stages in the research process were not always considered by the researchers, but were seen as useful tools by some of them: the formulating of hypotheses and the theorising.
Other steps to consider ?
The researchers proposed other important steps in the research when questioned about the limitations of the above framework.
Daily life
Daily life also contributes in the research process (finding relevant ideas…)
Teaching
Teaching involves more than just providing information to students, it also encompasses a constructive co-evolution
Reviewing
Peer-reviewing is necessary but also very useful in research making. It might lead to constructive interactions.
Doing
For knowledge to be relevant and useful, it is good to experience what you are talking about.
Engaging in society
The influence of one scientist’s work might depend on how committed he is with it in research and in society.
Last considerations
Being coherent
Doing research for saving the planet is good, but doing it without destroying is better (e.g. plane use)
Respecting collaborators
All work deserves proper pay (e.g. interns). Do not take an intern or phd that you cannot supervise.
Share the research space
Give the space and means to the under-represented. Especially when dealing with their areas.