Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SUSPLACE (SUSPLACE)

Teaser

Places face all sorts of sustainability challenges such as inequalities between places, exclusion of people, poverty, economic decline, resource depletion, ecological hazards and food insecurity. Often a narrow approach of sustainable development limited to efficient resource...

Summary

Places face all sorts of sustainability challenges such as inequalities between places, exclusion of people, poverty, economic decline, resource depletion, ecological hazards and food insecurity. Often a narrow approach of sustainable development limited to efficient resource use is promoted, whereby development is understood as economic growth. Such a ‘place-less’ approach is not sensitive to differences in contexts and the relations between places.

SUSPLACE, the acronym for ‘sustainable place-shaping’, assumes that the ability to adapt effectively to the current environmental and social challenges calls for an inherently ‘place-based’ approach. A place-based approach builds on the specific resources, assets, capacities and distinctiveness of places. Specifically, sustainable place-shaping is seen as a way to strengthen the capacities and autonomy of people in places. The assumption is that place-shaping supports their participation, collaboration, and collective agency.

The overall aim of the Marie Curie ITN programme SUSPLACE was to train 15 Early Stage Researchers (or fellows) in innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to study sustainable place-shaping practices. A selection of European initiatives and cases were analyzed under the heading of five themes: Inclusive Places, Resilient Places, Connected Places, Greening Economies and Pathways to Sustainability. The central questions that guided SUSPLACE research were: What are place-based resources? What are place-shaping practices that can support the transformation to sustainability? How can the full potential of places and capacities of people be utilized to spur place-shaping processes? How can researchers support such processes?

Work performed

The MSCA ITN SUSPLACE ran from October 1 2015, till September 30 2019. April 1 2016, all 15 fellows started with their projects at the respective host institutes. Every six months a consortium meeting was organized, combined with training and supervision sessions. The first 9 months they worked on their Research Design, and after approval started the data collection and analysis. Next to the individual research and outputs, the co-creation of joint outputs started. The project ended with an engaging and vibrant Final Event in May 2019 in Tampere, Finland.

TRAINING:
A joint Research Training & Networking (RTN) Session took place each half year. In total, 6 RTN sessions were organized. These Joint RTN Sessions had two components:
a) a SUSPLACE Seminar of 2-3 days, in which fellows and supervisors discussed individual progress and overall issues regarding a common theoretical framework, methodologies, joint outcomes, communication and dissemination, (potential) impact;
b) SUSPLACE Training of 5-7 days, during which basic and advanced courses and training in professional skills have been offered by both academic and non-academic partners and visiting scientists.
Besides, all fellows took part in a diversity of elective training activities offered by their host institute or others.

RESEARCH:
The 15 fellows investigated a range of cases and practices in different European contexts. Some fellows focused on one place-shaping initiative in particular, while others looked at practices in various places or compared places/regions. Most fellows carried out participative research or applied elements of action research.

OUTPUT:
• Videos of inspiring examples of place-shaping practices across Europe, see www.susplace.net
• Open Access Toolkit with “Arts-based Methods for Transformative Engagement”
• “Creating Sustainable Places Together. A quick start guide for policy-makers and practitioners to place-based working and co-production”
• Seven peer-reviewed articles have been published and several more are in review or submission. See www.susplace.net for an overview.
• The SUSPLACE Children’s book “Once Upon the Future” is forthcoming

IMPACT:
• Through blogs, videos and reports published on the SUSPLACE website, a diverse audience of academics, students, policy-makers and practitioners has been reached.
• Scientific impact has been realized through the participation in conferences and workshops and the publication of peer-reviewed articles that will be continued.
• All SUSPLACE fellows engaged in public outreach activities, ranging from school visits to community events.
• The SUSPLACE Arts-based Toolkit was received enthusiastically by academics and practitioners all over the world and is being implemented in settings varying from education to governments and community projects.
• Insights from the research projects have been integrated into graduate and undergraduate education at the hosting institutes.
• The SUSPLACE Final Event brought together 80 participants from a diversity of backgrounds to discuss and experience the use of transformative methods.

Final results

PROGRESS:
• Insights in the importance of ‘inner’ dimensions - such as mindsets, motivations, attitudes and values- in place-shaping processes.
• Detailed case-studies of place-shaping in practice; insight in how place-shaping can contribute to community resilience e.g. through practices of commoning and green care.
• Development of arts-based methods for transformative change that can help people visualize alternative futures and new narratives for the future.
• Development and use of visual methods to give voice and empower people in place-shaping practices.
• Insights in the way researchers can contribute to place-shaping processes in their capacity as a knowledge broker, facilitator or change-agent.

POTENTIAL IMPACT:
• The Synthesis Report provides an accessible summary of the project’s key findings for academics, practitioners and policymakers.
• The forthcoming Children’s book will help to communicate research findings to a wide audience and to children in particular.
• The Arts-based toolkit will be further developed and made available through an interactive website that will contribute to the development of a wide network of change agents and the development of training and curricula.
• The SUSPLACE website will be continued on a new website on sustainable place-shaping open to other scholars and practitioners.
• Partner RoyalHaskoningDHV has integrated experiences and research findings in their training on facilitation of place-based development and will offer this training to graduate schools.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.sustainableplaceshaping.net/.