Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | RES-332-25-0005 | |
| Title | Supporting and harnessing diversity? Experiments in appropriate technology | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy) 15%; Not Energy Related 65%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts) 20%; |
|
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Policy and regulation) 40%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Technology acceptance) 40%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 20%; |
|
| Principal Investigator |
Dr AP (Adrian ) Smith No email address given Science Policy Research Unit University of Sussex |
|
| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | ESRC | |
| Start Date | 01 January 2003 | |
| End Date | 30 June 2005 | |
| Duration | 30 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £149,569 | |
| Industrial Sectors | No relevance to Underpinning Sectors | |
| Region | South East | |
| Programme | ESRC Energy | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Dr AP (Adrian ) Smith , Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex (100.000%) |
| Web Site | https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=RES-332-25-0005 |
|
| Objectives | Objectives not supplied | |
| Abstract | Technological choices are influenced by a logic that derives from the accumulated knowledge, past investments and established technological practices. This tendency is called the technological regime. Regimes lead innovations along particular trajectories. Studies into past regime shifts (creating a new selection logic) identify the importance of novel niches in the development and use of the radically-different techniques that became the succeeding regime. A tension between diverse niches andthe tendency for regimes to reduce diversity has been recognised by analysts. Maintaining a degree of diversity has been recommended on positive and normative grounds: diversity promotes innovation, and insures against unsustainable technological ‘lock-in’. However, little has been saidabout howdiversity could be supported and harnessed. It is a gap in knowledge which this proposal intends to fill. The proposal uses a novel methodology (niche experiments) to test theory inthe Strategic Niche Management (SNM) of transitions toward sustainable technological regimes. Real-world experiments in appropriate technology (AT) are analysed as though they were deep green niches existingwithin unsustainable technological regimes. Three sustainable niche case studies will be analysed: local organic food initiatives; low-impact housing; and wind energy. The evolution of these niches will be analysed. Evidence of niche influence on the incumbent regime will be assessed by examiningniche growth and/or links with the incumbent regime. To this end, SNM techniques will be used criticallyto assess whether technological, organisational and institutional reforms could help the niches flourish and become practised more widely, and to test the viability of using niches in transition management to sustainable technological regimes. If viable, practical, policy-oriented recommendations about methods for supporting and harnessing diversity will be a key project output. | |
| Publications | (none) |
|
| Final Report | (none) |
|
| Added to Database | 24/11/09 | |
