Abstract
Attention to relationality is core to much interdisciplinary work. For this paper we share how we as a team of non-Indigenous interdisciplinary researchers are incorporating relational approaches into outcome-oriented bioeconomy research whilst also advocating for social science concerns of democratic participation, equity, and empathy. We are doing this despite what feel like headwinds that seek to shut down and exclude these key concerns from publicly funded research in NZ. We address the challenge of moving from describing social phenomena, to actively intervening and catalysing change – particularly in relation to people and nature. The relational lens offers us, and our collaborators nuanced perspectives on research impact, and therefore research practices. We share our struggles, practices and experiments in catalysing socio-environmental change through multiple projects and approaches. Digging deeper, we reflect on the competencies required to remain open to possibility, despite increasing pressures that seek to close and reduce research to particular ways of working and thinking.
Presenters
Alison GreenawaySenior Researcher Social Science, Landscape Policy and Governance, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Bioeconomy Science Institute, New Zealand Suzanne Vallance
Lincoln University, New Zealand
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
SOCIAL LEARNING, DEEP LEVERAGE POINTS, RELATIONAL ONTOLOGY, REFLEXIVE, BIOECONOMY
