Citizen Science for Sustainability Research and Support Network

Completed

Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial)
Energy Efficiency(Transport)
Not Energy Related

Basic and strategic applied research
Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (General Engineering and Mineral & Mining Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Civil Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Architecture and the Built Environment)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Town and Country Planning)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Education)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Policy and regulation)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Technology acceptance)

Professor M Eames
Architecture
Cardiff University

Standard

EPSRC

01 December 2006

31 May 2009

30 months

£305,060

Management & business studies

Wales

Sustainable environments and communities -- Process Environment and Sustainability

Professor M Eames, Architecture, Cardiff University

The proposed action research and networking activities are designed to build links - to promote engagement, dialogue and collaboration - between EPSRC scientists and engineers, local professionals (such as Local Authority officials, business people, voluntary sector and community workers, officials from the Environment Agency, etc) and most importantly lay citizens, particularly those from marginalized and excluded groups (old people, young people, people with disabilities and from minority ethnic backgrounds, etc).The overall aim of the research is to provide local communities with a greater say in helping to define future priorities for environmental and sustainability research (on energy, transport, waste, urban infrastructure, land use, etc) so as to ensure that such research more effectively addresses their needs. Previous experience suggests that promoting participation by excluded groups and meaningful dialogue with professionals and scientists presents considerable challenges. This research will therefore develop and test a range of techniques for facilitating participation through an extensive series of workshops with separate panels of lay citizens and local professionals in three case study communities. The research will provide for structured interaction and dialogue between these panels and a group of approximately 30 EPSRC scientists and engineers recruited for the purpose.Key outcomes from the research will include:1) Guidance and training for the EPSRC and wider science and engineering communities on engaging with excluded communities;2) An example of a local community-led research agenda for the environment and sustainability based upon the case study research, and an analysis of how this differs from the EPSRC's current priorities in this area; 3) A Citizens Science for Sustainability Network which will foster on going dialogue and collaboration between these groups

14/05/07