Panel 33

Organizers: Helena Solman (1); Julia Kirch Kirkegaard (2)

1: Wageningen University, Netherlands, The; 2: Danish Technical University, Denmark

Topics: Knowledge co-creation, citizens science, co-design processes, material publics and grassroot innovation

Keywords: citizen science, knowledge co-production, co-design of technologies, research and innovation, material participation

Solving key contemporary sustainability challenges, such as climate change, energy transition or biodiversity loss requires firm evidence-base, robust definition of the environmental problems and innovative solutions. Research and innovation however tend to prioritize expert definition of problems and technological innovation as means to solve these problems. At the same time, the outcomes of research and innovation often impact the lives of citizens or require committed action from them.  Expert knowledge alone is not sufficient in tackling the complex social and environmental challenges, but what tools and methods can help to engage citizens to contribute own knowledge, to share their concerns and to participate in processes of research and innovation? What tools or (digital) technologies can be used to generate a citizen science evidence base? Can (digital) technologies help in connecting the different kinds of expert and lay people expertise? How citizens can and experts can co-design new technologies, co-produce new definitions of environmental problems or to co-create research projects?

This panel brings together experiences, ideas, reflections and observations about ways of doing research and innovation with citizens to arrive at science and innovation that is supported by citizen data-driven, that focuses on socially relevant problems and that leads to socio-technical innovation and hance to socially robust solutions that can make an impact on addressing the sustainability challenges of our times.

Key references:

Antal, A. B., Hutter, M., & Stark, D. (Eds.) (2015). Moments of valuation: Exploring sites of dissonance. Oxford University Press.
Asdal, K., Coïnte, B., Hobæk, B., Reinertsen, H., Huse, T., Morsman, S. R. & Måløy, T. (2021). ‘The good economy’: a conceptual and empirical move for investigating how economies and versions of the good are entangled. BioSocieties, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41292-021-00245-5.
Turnhout, E., Metze, T., Wyborn, C., Klenk, N., & Louder, E. (2020). The politics of co-production: participation, power, and transformation. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 42, 15-21.
Jasanoff, S. (2005). Technologies of humility: Citizen participation in governing science. Wozu Experten?, 370-389.
Chilvers, J. (2008). Deliberating competence: Theoretical and practitioner perspectives on effective participatory appraisal practice. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 33(3), 421-451.
Funtowicz, S., & Ravetz, J. (2018). Post-normal science. Companion to environmental studies, 443-447.
Irwin, A. (2006). The politics of talk: coming to terms with the ‘new’scientific governance. Social studies of science, 36(2), 299-320.
Helgesson, C-F. & Muniesa, F. (2013): For What It’s Worth: An Introduction to Valuation Studies. Valuation Studies 1(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.3384/vs.2001-5992.13111.