In recent decades, sustainable development has received increasing attention in the social sciences and humanities (SSH). The new anthology of the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences “Wege zu einem nachhaltigen Konsum | Vers une consummation durable”, shows the diversity of perspectives and approaches in the SSH in Switzerland that can contribute to more sustainable consumption. The anthology is just one example of the wealth of knowledge about past and present challenges and possible approaches to a more sustainable future. However, despite this wealth of knowledge, scientific findings often receive little attention outside of academic circles and are not always translated into action and policies.
The workshop therefore raises the question of how and in what ways scientists can engage with broader societal issues, particularly in sustainability research that has a normative goal. It aims to bring together established and early career researchers working on sustainable consumption and other sustainable development goals to reflect on their role(s) and responsibilities in the sustainability transformation, to share experiences in collaborations with non-academic stakeholders and transdisciplinary projects, and to discuss further research needs.
Date: Monday January 29, 2024, 13:30 – 17:00
Venue: Haus der Akademien, Laupenstrasse 7, 3008 Bern (room «Cantina» on the lower floor)
Language: English
Registration is open until January 22, 2024
Program
WELCOME
13:30 Coffee & Registration
13:45 Welcome & Introduction, Sara Elmer, Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences
14:00: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF RESEARCHERS IN SUSTAINABILITY TRANSFORMATIONS
Just one piece of the cake: About equal dialogue in society, Jeanette Behringer, University of Zurich
There are various hats in my wardrobe. The many roles of a scientific consultant, Marius Christen, University of Basel & SusCon
Moderation: Marlyne Sahakian, University of Geneva
15:00: COFFEE BREAK
15:20: SHARING EXPERIENCES AND EXPLORING FUTURE PATHWAYS (PART I)
1st round of parallel group discussions. Participants choose a topic according to their interest.
Group 1: Transdisciplinary research: exchange experiences in collaborating with non-academic actors in your research
Moderation: Antonietta Di Giulio, University of Basel
Group 2: What hat do I wear to achieve what kind of research impact? Let’s reflect on the options we have of playing different roles in society
Moderation: Anne Zimmermann, University of Bern
Group 3: Where do we go from here? Identifying gaps and priorities in sustainable consumption research
Moderation: Marlyne Sahakian, University of Geneva
16:00: SHARING EXPERIENCES AND EXPLORING FUTURE PATHWAYS (PART II)
2nd round of parallel group discussions on the same topics. Participants choose another group according to their interest.
16:40: WRAP-UP IN PLENARY
Moderation and closing: Sara Elmer, Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences
17:00: END OF THE WORKSHOP & FAREWELL DRINKS
Speakers
Jeannette Behringer, University of Zurich
Jeannette Behringer holds a doctorate in economics and social sciences (Dr. rer. pol.) and a master's degree in applied ethics. She has worked in various institutions of socio-political and ethical education for the design of transdisciplinary processes. Since 2020 she is responsible for sustainability in research and teaching at the University of Zurich. She is also the founder and director of the «Forum Demokratie und Ethik».
Marius Christen, University of Basel & SusCon
Marius Christen holds a PhD in philosophy. He is affiliated at the Sustainability Research Group, University of Basel as a senior researcher and lecturer and studies the meaning, relevance, and implementation of sustainability in public administration and the state. His further research interests lie in sustainability theory and inter- and transdisciplinarity. Since 2015 he additionally runs a consultation firm which supports public administrations in implementing sustainability.
Antonietta Di Giulio , University of Basel
Antonietta Di Giulio holds a PhD in philosophy. She is head of the research group Inter-/Transdisciplinarity (FG Id/Td), which is affiliated to the Program Man-Society-Environment (MGU) of the Department of Environmental Sciences and to the Social Transitions Research Group (STR) of the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Basel. She is a founding member of SCORAI Europe, a network for research and action on sustainable consumption. Her research and teaching interests include inter- and transdisciplinarity as well as sustainability and quality of life in consumption.
Marlyne Sahakian, University of Geneva
Marlyne Sahakian is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Geneva, specializing in consumption from a sustainability perspective. She coordinates research projects on energy, food, open spaces and the good life. She is a founding member of SCORAI Europe, a network for research and action on sustainable consumption, and is co-chair (since 2019) of the European Sociological Association’s Sociology of Consumption Research Network (RN05). She is also co-editor of the BUP journal, Consumption and Society.
Anne Zimmermann, University of Bern
Anne Zimmermann holds a PhD in Literatures in English (Dr. phil.). She retired from her position as Head, Education for Sustainable Development Cluster at CDE, University of Bern in 2021 and has since engaged in fostering transformative learning at the crossroads of science and society. She is currently co-president of saguf and board member of Legacy17.org, as well as advisory board member of the COPERNICUS Alliance and the journal Mountain Research and Development.