Research - local
sustainability strategies
GENERAL FRAMEWORK - this general framework is meant as a basis for discussion
Stage 1
Theoretical and empirical
research: what is the theory of local sustainable development strategies; what is the
practice of local sustainable development strategies; what obstacles are there for
sustainable development. May develop research together with local community
("bottom-up" development of hypothesis).
a. Environmental aspect
- Environmental Impact
Assessment (?)
- The state of the environment
- …
Research on
indicators of sustainability, for example:
- Good governance
- Access to information
- Way of development of transport infrastructure and local agenda 21
- How people perceive sustainability
- Mental models
- …
b. Economical aspect
- Analyse tools used to
achieve sustainable development (policy, participation, …)
- Green marketing practices
- Eco-labeling
- Sustainable financial flows (inside communities; between rural and urban areas)
…
c. Social aspect
- Interaction between
(among) various stakeholders
- Environmental attitudes (as possible obstacles for sustainable development)
- Participation rates, dynamics, structure
…
DATA
Stage 2
Critical interpretation
of gathered data and new knowledge: looking for guidelines for removing existing obstacles
(identified in the first stage)
Methods:
Comparative scientific analysis (statistical analysis and case studies (1))
Use simulation models for research
Communicating results in workshops, meetings, conferences
Working out and measuring indicators of
unsustainability and sustainability è thinking of ways for
improvement
Sketch an institutional
framework for local sustainable development and develop methodology of implementing and
monitoring local development plans.
Stage 3
Recommendations for policy makers
For example: service-learning;
community-based learning; organise conferences for different stakeholders in a region;
strengthening public participation; etc.
Organising new knowledge
for educational programs:
Presenting different simulation games / models for sustainable development(2)
Presenting a book or a manual
…
Stage 4 – new projects è new loop of the learning cycle
The learning cycle may be presented very shortly as follows: story è question è test experiments è policy è actions / practices è monitoring è story è question è test experiments è and so on …
1 For the Opole region an example could be
the Turawa lake. For example, show and explain causes of the deterioration of the
environment in this area. How to solve the problems, what can be done in the future. A
computer / simulation model can be created that explains / describes causes è can create scenarios for simulation games based on comparative
studies with other countries. Thus, develop computer models based on empirical data, and
then test the computer models on data.
2 Computer simulation games / models may be used to connect interactive
learning games to test empirical research. Simulation game may be used to get experience
and feedback on how to remove obstacles for sustainability.
