Ecological Citizens: Tools, technologies and means to enable sustainable digital citizens
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal College of Art
Department Name: School of Design
Abstract
To realise the transformational impact of digital technologies on aspects of community life, cultural experiences, future society, and the economy, the RCA proposes to host a DE Network+ focused on digital interventions that would create 'the conditions to make change' towards a sustainable post-industrial society - where the 'product' is the experience, where experiences promote human wellbeing and personal resilience, where the digital interventions are sustainable and promote societal resilience.
To achieve a sustainable society, citizens require agency to control the impact they have on the natural environment. Therefore, an Ecological Citizens (EC) Network+ sustainable digital society would use digital technology to: Decouple the use of materials resources from economic development; add value to products through experiences and services; give citizens agency to take care of their environment (relating to waste reduction and reuse, energy generation); give citizens agency to design their own experiences involving products, which promote wellbeing, learning, self-advancement; enable experiences that empower citizens to do, to make, to repair, to learn, to create, to connect, to communicate, to interact, to understand, to share, to enjoy.
This Network+ foresees the next move in technological interventions is in creating and implementing "the conditions to make change", i.e. the experiences and interactions, and digitally networked societal actors that enable sustainable transitions for societies and communities. To enact this vision, this proposal focuses on a model of 'distributed everything' - knowledge and know-how, design, materials flows, fabrication and hacking, energy generation - as the fundamental societal transformations that are needed to achieve sustainability require a re-examination of how knowledge is produced and used. Co-production of research is a key mechanism for improving the knowledge required for the fundamental societal transformations needed to achieve sustainability [1], and is central to the approach of the EC Network+.
With leading partners, we will inform a truly sustainable 'digital society', built within communities, ensuring legacies through ambassadors, and setting agendas for future transdisciplinary research teams. The EC Network+ will provide a scaffolding to spawn new projects about sustainability at a range of scales (Village, Town, City). This collaborative trans-disciplinary approach is essential for tackling our unprecedented environmental challenges. The network will be built through activities including pump priming, collaborative residentials, learning webinars, strategic roundtables, media and communications, reports, podcasts, and a micro funding scheme. The academic consortium covers the core areas of computer science, sustainable engineering, human-centred design and citizen science. Led by the Royal College of Art (RCA), this proposal builds on Dr Phillips' My Naturewatch, a DIY wildlife camera project that engaged 3 million+ people with UK based wildlife, the circular economy work of the RCA's Materials Science Centre (Prof Baurley), the sustainable engineering and physical computing expertise of the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology at Wrexham Glyndwr University (Prof Shepley), and expertise in citizen science and policy of the Stockholm Environment Institute at The University of York (Dr West).
To achieve a sustainable society, citizens require agency to control the impact they have on the natural environment. Therefore, an Ecological Citizens (EC) Network+ sustainable digital society would use digital technology to: Decouple the use of materials resources from economic development; add value to products through experiences and services; give citizens agency to take care of their environment (relating to waste reduction and reuse, energy generation); give citizens agency to design their own experiences involving products, which promote wellbeing, learning, self-advancement; enable experiences that empower citizens to do, to make, to repair, to learn, to create, to connect, to communicate, to interact, to understand, to share, to enjoy.
This Network+ foresees the next move in technological interventions is in creating and implementing "the conditions to make change", i.e. the experiences and interactions, and digitally networked societal actors that enable sustainable transitions for societies and communities. To enact this vision, this proposal focuses on a model of 'distributed everything' - knowledge and know-how, design, materials flows, fabrication and hacking, energy generation - as the fundamental societal transformations that are needed to achieve sustainability require a re-examination of how knowledge is produced and used. Co-production of research is a key mechanism for improving the knowledge required for the fundamental societal transformations needed to achieve sustainability [1], and is central to the approach of the EC Network+.
With leading partners, we will inform a truly sustainable 'digital society', built within communities, ensuring legacies through ambassadors, and setting agendas for future transdisciplinary research teams. The EC Network+ will provide a scaffolding to spawn new projects about sustainability at a range of scales (Village, Town, City). This collaborative trans-disciplinary approach is essential for tackling our unprecedented environmental challenges. The network will be built through activities including pump priming, collaborative residentials, learning webinars, strategic roundtables, media and communications, reports, podcasts, and a micro funding scheme. The academic consortium covers the core areas of computer science, sustainable engineering, human-centred design and citizen science. Led by the Royal College of Art (RCA), this proposal builds on Dr Phillips' My Naturewatch, a DIY wildlife camera project that engaged 3 million+ people with UK based wildlife, the circular economy work of the RCA's Materials Science Centre (Prof Baurley), the sustainable engineering and physical computing expertise of the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology at Wrexham Glyndwr University (Prof Shepley), and expertise in citizen science and policy of the Stockholm Environment Institute at The University of York (Dr West).
Organisations
- Royal College of Art (Lead Research Organisation)
- Woodmeadow Trust (Project Partner)
- The Restart Project (Project Partner)
- OpenStructures (Project Partner)
- Smart Design (Project Partner)
- Hammersmith Community Gardens Assoc. (Project Partner)
- Dark Matter Laboratories (Project Partner)
- Field Ready (UK) (Project Partner)
- Local Works Studio (Project Partner)
- AzuKo (Project Partner)
- University of Brighton (Project Partner)
- Abierto by Cuartielles (Project Partner)
- Glasgow School of Art (Project Partner)
- London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (Project Partner)
- Priestman Goode (Project Partner)
- Royal Society of Arts (Project Partner)
- Local Trust (Project Partner)
- British Science Association (Project Partner)
- Wildlife Trusts (Project Partner)
- Open Data Institute (Project Partner)
- DuPont (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Slow Ways (Project Partner)
- Crafts Council (Project Partner)
- Design Council (Project Partner)
- Sport England (Project Partner)
Publications
Gooding L
(2024)
What Do We Mean: The Language Of Design For Sustainable Practices.
Paneels I
(2023)
In Our Hands: Nepali nature inspired climate solutions in the Anthropocene
in Indian Ocean Craft Triennial-IOTA24
Phillips R
(2023)
Craft 3.0 Positioning Craft and Design Practice(s) within 'Reduction'.
in Craft Research (Journal)
| Title | 'A day in the life of an ecological citizen', comic strip / illustrations |
| Description | Following a round table discussion involving professional practitioners from across core industries that explored 'What could a day in the life on an ecological citizen look like?', the discussions, thoughts and future visions of what the day-to-day activities were turned into a series of 8 annotated comic strips that illustrate what a day in the life of an ecological citizen might look like in a preferable future. The illustrations were drawn by Amber Anderson (who was contracted by the project to turn written descriptions into visuals) |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | These comic strips / illustrations have been key assets for describing the project (and its breadth of possibilities) to wider audiences. They were used printed out extra-large for the launch of the EC project, have been used throughout presentations and talks about the EC project and feature on the project website. |
| Description | A Future Vision for York: VCSE focused workshop (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | This first, in person workshop to explore the desired sustainable futures of VCSE organisations within the York and Yorkshire region. Our goal was to provide a space for participants to formalise their visions and collaborate with their peers in the VCSE sector to turn these visions into actionable plans through creative facilitated activities including headlines of the future, future visioning exercises and collaborative discussion. This workshop has helped informed the next steps for crafting a York-specific future vision and Theory of Change. Participants mentioned that the workshop had made them reflect on their work (as part of VCSE / 3rd sector organisations) and think more creatively and positively about how to shift things towards preferable futures. The workshop also helped us expand the local Ecological Citizens network around York and the Yorkshire region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Application support sessions for the Ecological Citizens Funding Call #1 (weekly from November 2023 - January 2024) (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Informal, drop-in online sessions [running from 29/9/23 to 26/01/24] to assist individuals planning to submit an application for EC grant funding. These sessions covered application requirements, terms and conditions & potential suitability of proposed projects. These online sessions cumulatively reached more the 150 individuals, all of whom have now joined the EC Network. The success of these sessions meant that we received 92 applications for our first funding call and helped foster academics and non-academic partners to collaborate on applications for the funding call. Some attendees decided not to apply this year but have requested collaborative activities for the future or are planning on applying to future funding calls. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Crafting an EC Toolkit Version 2, Workshop with John Nussey from The Smithery (RCA / York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In person workshop to collaboratively critique the Ecological Citizens Toolkit and co-create the next iteration of it with John Nussey and the Ecological Citizens Research team. This workshop lead to the creation of the 2nd iteration of the Ecological Citizens toolkit and expanded the Ecological Citizens Network+. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EC post- participatory design workshop with Jon Alexander from the New Citizenship Project (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In person workshop to collaboratively work on the models to describe 'What is ecological citizenship in post-participatory design?' with Jon Alexander, author of Citizens and co-founder of the New Citizenship Project. This in depth workshop / expert dialogue explored defining ecological citizenship and has been written up as a paper that was submitted and accepted to the Cumulus Budapest 2024 conference and turned into a series of illustrations that have been used across the Ecological Citizens social media channels. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Ecological Citizens Network+ project launch and panel discussion, September 2023 (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This event marked the official launch of the Ecological Citizens Network+ Project and was held as a hybrid (in-person and online) event at the Royal College of Art. The main aims of this event were to publicly introduce Ecological Citizens to a wider audience and to spotlight some of our project partners, to introduce some core collaborators/ partners of the project and discuss with them, 'How should we be designing for sustainable, preferable futures and to share information about the seed-funding opportunities available and how to apply. We coincided this activity with London Design Week and picked up some themes during the panel discussion that related to other things happening across Design Week. The panel discussion was recorded (viewable on the EC YouTube Channel and the EC website) and opened up contrasting opinions from core project partners about 'What Ecological Citizenship is'. This event also marked the public launching the EC website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ecologicalcitizens.co.uk/#panel-discussion-21-09-23 |
| Description | Ecological Citizenship in schools Webinar with Crafts Council (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | To collectively unpick 'What should Ecological Citizenship in schools look like?' via the means of a public zoom webinar, in collaboration with the Crafts council and their upcoming Craft School programme. Whilst environmental sciences and awareness of the climate crisis in contemporary education has begun to trickle through, in order to enable a truly empowered generation, what should EC in schools and across all levels of education look like? What skills must we as a population equip our young people with if they are to adapt and flourish in our changing world? How can we take a transdisciplinary approach to our education, encouraging more holistic, interconnected curriculums that are far more representative of 'real life'? How can we inspire, in a time of deep climate anxiety? In order to unpick these questions further, this webinar invited experts, groups and educators from across the education system in the UK to discuss what is going well, what needs work and where we could be in the future. As well as expanding the Ecological Citizens Network+, this has prompted positive collaborative future plans with the Crafts Council. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://youtu.be/aX2ZSFapVb4?si=9jfVrVO6IDGaTnPe |
| Description | Facilitation of a EC toolkit testing workshop with cross-disciplinary MA students (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | In a workshop titled 'How do we address relationality in a complex polycrisis to find hope?' the aim was to unpick and map individual and collective knowledge around relationality and the interconnectedness of everything. Charlotte Nordmoen and Emily Boxall facilitated a 2.5hr session with cross-disciplinary MA stidents from the RCA's School of Design starting with ways of identifying what we know, what we don't know and the complexity of everything (systems, materials, politics, people, impact etc.) that surrounds an object / tool. We then then zoomed-in to specific issues, themes or topics that the students were interested in exploring and used this as a starting point to test out the 7th iteration of the Ecological Citizen(s) brief making toolkit we have been creating as a team. This session led to invaluable feedback from the students dn gave us a chance to test the 'game-play' of the toolkit with a large group whilst also inviting them to join the EC student network and engage in the work we are doing. Students reported that the workshop was interesting and offered new ways of thinking and points of view that they weren't expecting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Facilitation of the York Climate Commission relaunch (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A relaunch of the York Climate Commission bringing together anyone working on climate action in the city of York. This session (which involved 92 individuals in person and was broadcast on BBC Radio York) was facilitated by Sarah West for the existing commission. The results of the discussion from the event were live illustrated and it helped expand the Ecological Citizens Network+. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.yorkclimate.org.uk/ |
| Description | Hosting a Wales- focused Ecological Citizenship networking event (Wrexham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A networking event held at Wrexham University to introduce the idea of ecological citizenship to a local / regional audience and to enter a discovery phase to reveal existing practices, develop links and partnerships. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Key Note Speech at the World Craft Council, European Conference: The Future of Crafting (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered keynote speech at the World Crafts Council Europe Annual conference at the at the University of Malta, Valletta Campus on the 6th July 2023. This years conference looked at 'Crafting the Future: New Skills & Opportunities for Crafts'. Dr Rob Phillips (PI) was the 3rd keynote speaker in a discussion chaired by Elaine Falzon from the WCC which unpicked "Crafts & Sustainability: New Skills & Opportunities for Ecological Citizens" to an in person and online, international audience. Speaking at this has expanded our network beyond the UK and lead to collaborative work with various other organisations and industry members including the UK Crafts Council and new has expanded knowledge of the Ecological Citizen Network+ Project to a wider audience as members of the general public were able to attend this conference free of charge. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://wcc-europe.org/whats-on/news/world-crafts-council-europe-annual-conference-crafting-the-futu... |
| Description | Online Talk for the Environmental Platform Wales: Insights Wales series (RCA / Wrexham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Hosted by Environmental Platform Wales Director Andy Schofield and EP Wales Partnership Officer Catherine Arnold, these weekly talk series provide a new platform to illuminate the research taking place throughout Wales and also the requirements for research and evidence to support environmental policy decisions by Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales. On the 8th November 2023, the EC team spoke about what we mean by ecological citizenship and the concept of a preferable, accessible, sustainable future for the UK and how we, as a collective - as a community, might get there. The impact of this event was an expansion of the Wales and national (UK) network and introduced us to policymakers within the Welsh Government as well as new community groups and organisations that were otherwise unaware of the EC project. This session was recorded and is viewable on the EP Wales online platform as part of their archive of talks and presentations in the 'Insights Wales' series. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://epwales.org.uk/2023-24-insights-wales-cipolwg-cymru-recordings/ |
| Description | Open Data Institute (Roundtable), What is Ecological Citizenship, within the context of Data (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Open Data Institute is an NGO that lobbies and informs policy around; data collection, data handling and was integral to the GDPR. This roundtable was an event that covered a number of scenarios about data handling, good practice and citizen participation. The event was run by the ODI with a small group and invited some of the EC team to participate. This has led to a more strategic relationship with the ODI as a existing partner for the EC network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Panel discussion at Weave / Gwehyddu Arts & Mental Health Conference 2023, Lysaght Insitute, Newport (Wrexham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This panel discussion focused on the role of arts, creativity, culture and innovation in our local and regional partnership landscape, including public service and regional partnership boards. It explored how North Wales is seeking to help the region's residents lead happy, healthy and connected lives. Weave took place on 4 October 2023 at Newport's Lysaght Institute. It focused on the positive impact of the arts and creativity on Wales' mental health and wellbeing and how expanding networks and cross-disciplinary collaboration is happening across the EC+ Project. The free event was designed to build on the country's pioneering arts and health partnerships, progress and successes in recent years - including the six-year-old MoU between the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh NHS Confederation. This event reached a new disciplinary group of organisations and individuals and looked at localised / regional examples of Ecological Citizenship around the health of societies and communities. It exapnded the Network + into new themes and locations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://wahwn.cymru/conference |
| Description | Part of prototype / workshop group for 'First Hand: Small Beer Brewery Tour' by Forth (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Focused on manufacturing and production in food and beverage and consumer goods, Forth are exploring how places of production can be leveraged to accelerate climate engagement and action. Its called 'First Hand' - as it's focused on the kinds of knowledge, understanding and skills that benefit from first hand / hands on engagement. This was the second in a series of prototype tours and workshops around skills required to catalyse positive climate action. The EC team were part of the prototype group and particpated in the subsequent workshop for this tour around Small Beer Brewery. Alongside building the Ecological Citizens network+, this event also introduced us the Small Beer who we are collaborating with for an event in May. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://wegoforth.org/first-hand-learning-experiences-to-advance-green-skills-for-industry/ |
| Description | Participation in a roundtable event discussing design research topics with AHRC (Wrexham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussion regarding potential collaborative projects around technology, data mapping, well-being scores, home insulation and heat-loss, possible funding for digital interventions, and KT hosted by the AHRC with attendance from all research deans form Welsh HEIs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Participation the Design Council's Net Zero Design Innovation, Leaders' co-development workshops, Leeds (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Six 'teams' of innovators, industry leaders, academics, designers, regional policymakers, and funders from York, Sheffield and South Yorkshire, Leeds and West Yorkshire, Newcastle and the Tees Valley, Humber, and Manchester met in Leeds for an in person workshop exploring collaboration and co-development / co-design across hyper-local, local and regional innovation groups and organisations. This event expanded the Ecological Citizens Network+ and further explored the York-specific cluster of organisations, events and disciplines that are already, or are keen to look into regenerative, positive climate action. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presented a talk at 'Dialogue 01: Sharing excellent practise across research, experience and teaching for those working within and beyond the RCA Community' (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Dialogue is a series of events organised by the People Development team in collaboration with the Assistant Deans and the Academic Development Office at the Royal College of Art to share excellent practices related to learning and teaching, student experience, research, knowledge exchange, or working within and beyond the RCA community. This first event focused on 'Share' in alignment to the College values of Curiosity, Inclusion, Collaboration and Integrity. Dr Rob Phillips talk at the first event around 'Sharing excellent practise across research, experience and teaching for those working within and beyond the RCA Community' referenced the Ecological Citizens Network+ and helped expand the network to postgraduate students and research and teaching staff within the RCA. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presented research for ARIs event (for Climate Change, Environment, & Infrastructure Committee of Welsh Senedd, Ty Hywel, Cardiff Bay (Wrexham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Welsh Parliament's 'Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee' invited Professor Alec Shepley to present their research at the 'Areas of Research Interest (ARIs)' event on Thursday 30 November at Ty Hywel, Cardiff Bay. Attended by academics from across Wales, various topics were presented as evidence for the committee to consider in policy and decision making with reference to the Future Generations Act. The Committee has also extended an invitation to relevant Senedd Cross Party Groups to attend the event and provide an opportunity for networking. Alec Shepley presented on three projects, including Ecological Citizen(s) Network+. This expanded the Welsh EC network and lead to requests for information and potential collaboration in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://business.senedd.wales/mgConsultationDisplay.aspx?ID=527 |
| Description | Presenting at 'Communicate Conference: Together with Nature - Moving beyond debate into action and solutions' (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Communicate is the UK's leading annual conference for environmental communicators running since 2004, bringing together a diverse group of delegates each year to develop their skills, share best practice and debate latest issues in science communication, nature conservation and engaging people with the natural world. Sarah West presented the Ecological Citizens Network+ project in a discussion with Peter Kraftl about moving beyond debate into action and solutions on 15th November 2023. This sparked conversations afterwards and expanded the EC project and network+ to new disciplinary areas and new audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.bnhc.org.uk/communicate2023 |
| Description | Presenting at 'Questions About Questions: towards a regenerative culture at the RSA', 16.11.24 (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Rob Phillips spoke at a hybrid discussion that brought design, arts, policy and industry practitioners together to creatively ponder on how we might get and the skills we might need to achieve regenerative culture / society for planetary and societal health and positive climate action. This event was held at the Royal Society of the Arts. As well as expanding the Ecological Citizens Network+, this event marked the creation of the STEPS collective, of which Dr Rob Phillips is a founding facilitator. The STEPS (Show The East Place To Start) Collective is a group committed to sharing provocations which get people thinking, doing and making in the regenerative space. Taking the action which works for you is easier when you see and hear how others started. We are helping people take their own first steps towards a regenerative future, not as experts or professionals but as parents, neighbours, colleagues and citizens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://buttondown.email/stepscollective |
| Description | Presenting at Farnham Maltings: Design For Sustainable Agency and Contemporary Practices in 'Ecological Citizenship' (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | "Design For Sustainable Agency and Contemporary Practices in 'Ecological Citizenship', Designer, inventor and futurist Buckminster Fuller coined the term 'Spaceship Earth' to describe our planet. Fuller felt that all human beings were passengers on 'Spaceship Earth', and, like a ship's crew, people unite to keep the planet functioning,. i.e., we each have active role(s), as good ancestors and 'citizens'.... The biggest challenge is not ""what you do""... but what you ""do not do"". During this presentation at the Farnham Maltings, Dr Robery Phillips reviewed values, sustainable approaches and touchpoints that can expand capacities, develop appropriate outputs and lead towards a roadmap that enables participants to make clearer approaches and define what they do. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://farnhammaltings.com/ |
| Description | Public Lecture 'People, place & purpose: publicly engaged art practice and why it matters' (Wrexham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In January 2024, Professor Alec Shepley delivered the first public lecture of 2024 with a talk on artists engaging the public on environmental and societal issues and why it matters. Alec kicked off the lecture with an overview of himself as an artist and some of the many global projects he been part of, including Pilot Hole, x-church, Tea Lights, Neon House and the Street Sweeping Residency. Alec also provided an insight into some of the varied reading he has undertaken over the years. The local contemporary art gallery Ty Pawb and some of the new initiatives that they are rolling out, formed part of the discussion. Projects include the conversion of a car park into a roof garden (Maes Parcio Creadigol) and the dedication of a gallery space to Arte Útil (useful art). Alec closed the lecture by touching on current funded projects, which include Ecological Citizens and Public Map Platform and the specific role Wrexham has in the projects. Ecological Citizens is a network plus project to develop a model(s) for a sustainable digital society by looking at ways of empowering citizens. The Public Map Platform project will develop a digital map of Anglesey which reveals data layers on climate, environment, society and culture. " |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://wrexham.ac.uk/research/wrexham-talks/past-lectures/ |
| Description | Research Professionals Op-Ed piece "Everyone, everywhere, all the time" (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Op-Ed piece for 'Research Professional News', a respected name in academic and research communities worldwide. With a dedicated audience of researchers, administrators and HE leaders covering the whole spectrum of academia. This piece, by Sarah West looked at how 'New sustainability research project [Ecological Citizens Network+] will get citizens involved at every stage'. This article expanded our Network across the research and academic communities globally. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-views-of-the-uk-2023-10-everyone-everywhere-all-... |
| Description | Scoping Round Table event: 'A Day in the Life of an Ecological Citizen' with cross-disciplinary industry experts (RCA / York / Wrexham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This workshop (which was held virtually on an invite only basis) united different, relevant organisations and industry experts working across disciplines (including materials scientists, open data specialists, local councils, nature conservationists, designers and architects) from across the growing EC network to sketch out what 'A Day in the Life' of an ecological citizen might look like. We used this as a starting point to scope out possible intervention or opportunity points from which to jump off and to signpost and highest accessible best practice. These discussions were turned into comic-book style illustrations to better communicate what we might mean by 'acts of ecological citizenship' from different perspectives. These have been used multiple times in other engagement and network activities as starting points to conversations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Speaking at "Research in Relation to Community: A Sustainable Framework for Creation" (@Festival of Research and Innovation 2023) Hosted at Kingston University (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A collective presentation to over 400 students from across different backgrounds at postgraduate level. The work, was part of a panel discussion around how we should design for sustainability & communities. This was a hi-level keynote that supported the work and catalysing the network across ecology and business networks outside of design. This led to an ongoing relationship with Kingston University and potential applications to the network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/research-in-relation-to-community-a-sustainable-framework-for-creation-... |
| Description | Speaking at 'Journal Club' at the RCA (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of the RCA's Journal Club, Charlotte Nordmoen presented and reflected upon the paper 'Power to, over and with: Exploring power dynamics in social innovations in energy transitions across Europe' by Flor Avelino et al. in relation to the work the research team are exploring within Ecological Citizen(s) project. This opened up a conversation around power dynamics when working to, for and with communities with post-doc colleagues in the college and led to request for more information about the EC project and reflections on best practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Speaking at the 'Local Cultures - Global Space', virtual Architecture, Media, Politics, Society (AMPs) conference (Wrexham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Alec Shepley et. Al presented their conference paper 'People, Place and Purpose: Place-based Approaches to Ecological Citizenship' at the AMPs virtual conference in December 2023 along with 8 other professional practitioners in a session themed around 'People, Design & Place' to an international audience. This has helped expand the international network and led to information requests about the Ecological Citizens project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://amps-research.com/event/local-cultures-global-spaces/schedule/people-design-place/people-pla... |
| Description | Talk / Hackathon at the Stockholm Environment Institute Science Forum on 'Leveraging Citizen Science for Energy Transitions' (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This hackathon brought together members of the SEI community, harnessing their collective expertise to develop innovative solutions for various energy challenges. The vision of this hackathon resides within a review (conducted by Luke Gooding (SEI-York) and Sarah West (SEI York))- detailing existing projects in the citizen science energy space, and the opportunities of future research and action. Importantly, it shows that citizen science holds the potential to impact a broad spectrum of indicators aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with specific SDGs having garnered more attention and engagement from citizen science initiatives. Presented to an international audience from the SEI's centres in Nairobi, Bogata, York, Oxford, Tallinn, Stockholm, Bangkok, US, this session was held in person at the SEI head offices in Stockholm and led to international network expansion and discussions around future activities around energy and citizen science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk at Department of Geography Seminar Series, University of York (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of EC and related themes to Dept of Geography staff and students by Luke Gooding at the University of York. This lead to enquiries regarding the EC project and more interest in individuals joining the network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talking as part of 'Contemporary Practice(s) in Engagement', webinar (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This session looked at the guiding principles of contemporary practices in community and public engagement work, as well as shine a spotlight on some of the great work happening in this space across the College, and internationally. This session was for RCA staff and doctoral students interested in community and public engagement, who are looking for new perspectives and innovative approaches to working with 'communities'. Dr Robert Phillips presented the Ecological Citizen(s) Network+ project and discussed contemporary practices towards positive climate action. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | What is Ecological Citizenship? defining this practice to students & academics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The Talk was organised by The Fashion and Lifestyle accessories Department, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Patna (India). The talk shared early concepts of what Ecological Citizenship is, how it can be used and what we are trying to achieve. Over 400 students were present in over 18 campuses over India with academics and leading experts. The talk lead to a vibrant Q&A, the sharing of research materials and the desire for further engagement in the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Workshop participants at the Design Councils, Design for Planet Festival, invited in-person participant, University of East Anglia, Norwich (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Over two days, 'we put planet at the heart of design.' The 3rd edition of the Design For Planet festival, hosted by the Design Council welcomed 50 in person attendees and more than 6,000 audience members online at the 2023 festival, live-streaming directly to 93 countries. Over 60 of some of the world's leading experts in design and sustainability and connected with a global cross-industry audience. The EC team were invited to participate and contribute to several workshops that looked at repairability, circular economies and regenerative futures. Involvement in this event expanded the Ecological Citizens Network+ and has lead to a larger piece of collaborative work directly with the Design Council and has invited many new industries, organisations and indivduals to the EC network (some of whom have applied for the years funding as a direct impact from meeting us at the festival). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-events/design-for-planet-festival/ |
| Description | Workshop: Relationally & Toolkit Testing, with Future Directions Elective at Kingston University (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | During this workshop, we explored "How do we address relationality in a complex polycrisis to find hope?' with a group of postgraduate students at Kingston University form visual comms (graphics, illustration, animation). The aim of the session was to unpick and map individual and collective knowledge around relationality and the interconnectedness of everything as a method of approaching the complexity of the climate and biodiversity crises. We then used this to identify what we know, what we don't know and the complexity of everything (systems, materials, politics, people, impact etc.) that surrounds an object / tool. Following this, we used these ideas of interconnectedness as a context through which to test the 6th version of the Ecological Citizen(s) brief making toolkit that we (as a team) are currently prototyping. Students who engaged in this workshop commented that it made them consider and explore objects and materiality in new, more abstract ways and helped them define their own projects. This workshop has led to planned further involvement with the Future Directions Elective at Kingston University. " |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | the Young Green Briton Challenge National Awards, Invitation for talk, House of Lords (RCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Short presentation to 160 people, half of them school students, for an event hosted by the Lord Bird MBE at the House of Lords. Less than a year ago the idea for the #YoungGreenBriton Challenge was born. Celebrating the first National Awards at the House of Lords together with our hosts Lord Bird and Dale Vince and our amazing ambassadors Chris Packham, Verel Rodrigues, Jessica Kleczka, Olivia Sweeney and Cel Spellman. This Green Britain Foundation initiative has been delivered as fantastic partnership across Volunteers for Future, I have a voice CIC and the Ministry of Eco Education. This lead to ongoing relationships with the ministry of eco education and social innovation for all, which is leading to plans for future activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.volunteersforfuture.org/ygbc |