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Action Research
for Sustainability
Social Imagination Between
Citizens and Scientists
Jonas Egmose
‘This book not only offers an important
conceptualization
of
sustainability
that
integrates both ecological and social
perspectives, but it also provides extremely
valuable insights into the creation of “free
spaces” in which citizens, scientists, and
practitioner can meet to jointly construct a
sustainable future. It is a must read for
researchers and practitioners interested in
exploring new ways of generating knowledge
for change.’ Victor J. Friedman, Max Stern
Yezreel Valley College, Israel
How can action research further new research orientations towards sustainability? This book,
empirically situated in the field of upstream public engagement, involving local residents,
researchers and practitioners in bottom-up processes deliberating on urban sustainability,
answers this question by analysing processes of social learning.
The book addresses the need to move towards sustainability at societal level as a democratic
challenge questioning the way we live on planet earth. By conceptualising sustain-ability as
an immanent and emergent ability of ecological and social life, continuously to renew itself
without eroding its own foundation of existence, it argues that since sustainability cannot be
invented but only supported (or eroded) by science, we need to reframe science in the role of
sustaining sustain-ability.
Through analyses of a three year action research programme, aiming to provide local citizens
with a greater say in the future of urban sustainability research, this book shows how action
research can make important methodological contributions to processes of social learning
between citizens and scientists by enabling free spaces in peoples everyday life and within
academia, where aspects of un-sustainability can be addressed and new imaginations of more
sustainable futures emerge.
Jonas Egmose works as an action researcher with a strong research interest for new
Reviews:
forms
of knowledge creation in the cross-field between sustainability and democracy. He
holds
the position
as Assistant
at theutopian
Department
Environmental,
Social andby showing
‘Egmose’s
ambitious
book Professor
links “critical
actionofresearch”
to sustainability
Spatial
Change
at
Roskilde
University,
Denmark,
where
his
teaching
in
particular
how we can only deal with our survival, the failures of research and policy systems to address
concerns
and urban sustainability.
Beingbut
part
ofpessimistic,
the Danish Centre
it, andcitizens’
the vitalparticipation
role of democratization
together. Critical
not
Egmose’s vision
for examines
Action Research
and
Democratic
Societal
Change
his
research
concerns
how
the role of critical reflexivity, multi-disciplinarity, and the “people’s voice” in
democratization
of knowledge
can help A
enabling
sustainable
ways of living.
addressing this
global and creation
local challenge.
truly exciting
book.’ Davydd
J. Greenwood,
Formerly
he
has
worked
as
a
researcher
at
the
Citizen
Science
for
Sustainability
project
at
Cornell University, USA
Brunel University West London, and in the field of cross-European citizen participation at
the ‘There
DanishisBoard
of Technology.
Jonas
a PhD
in Social
Master in discourses that
growing
understanding
in holds
both the
scientific
andScience,
broaderacommunity
Technological
and Socio-Economic
Planning and
Bachelor in Philosophy
and Natural
continued inaction
will only exacerbate
the aenvironmental,
social, economic,
and political
Science
Studies
from
Roskilde
University.
impacts we will face in the future. Egmose provides here a well-supported and richly illustrated
examination of this critical question and offers us both theory and practice designed to help us
to tackle these issues and, in doing so, to redefine the role of scientists in our societies as
partners in creating positive social and environmental change.’ Mary Brydon-Miller,
University of Cincinnati, USA (extract from the Foreword)
Contents: Foreword, Mary Brydon-Miller; Preface; Introduction;
My research interest; Case: Citizen Science for Sustainability; Methodology;
Democratising sustainability; Unfolding everyday life perspectives; Social learning
between citizens and scientists; Action research for sustainability; Findings and calls for
action/research; References; Index.
Jonas Egmose works as an action researcher
with a strong research interest for new forms
of knowledge creation in the cross-field
between sustainability and democracy. Being
part of the Danish Centre for Action Research
and Democratic Societal Change his research
concerns how democratisation of knowledge
creation can help enabling sustainable ways of
living. He holds the position as Assistant
Professor at the Planning Studies at Roskilde
University where his teaching in particular
concerns citizens’ participation and urban
sustainability.
View this title online at
www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781472442826
or contact directly
Jonas Egmose
Roskilde University, Building 10.1
Universitetsvej 1, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Mail: jem@ruc.dk
Web: www.jonasegmose.dk
LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/jonasegmose
Ashgate
February 2015 Hardback and eBook
152 pages
ISBN 978-1-4724-4282-6