2,825 research outputs found
Multiple carbon accounting to support just and effective climate policies
Negotiating reductions in greenhouse gas emission involves the allocation of emissions and of emission reductions to specific agents, and notably, within the current UN framework, to associated countries. As production takes place in supply chains,increasingly extending over several countries, there are various options available in which emissions originating from one and the same activity may be attributed to different agents along the supply chain and thus to different countries. In this way, several distinct types of national carbon accounts can be constructed. We argue that these accounts will typically differ in the information they provide to individual countries on the effects their actions have on global emissions; and they may also, to varying degrees, prove useful in supporting the pursuit of an effective and just climate policy. None of the accounting systems, however, prove 'best' in achieving these aims under real-world circumstances; we thus suggest compiling reliable data to aid in the consistent calculation of multiple carbon accounts on a global level
Identifying the science and technology dimensions of emerging public policy issues through horizon scanning
Public policy requires public support, which in turn implies a need to enable the public not just to understand policy but also to be engaged in its development. Where complex science and technology issues are involved in policy making, this takes time, so it is important to identify emerging issues of this type and prepare engagement plans. In our horizon scanning exercise, we used a modified Delphi technique [1]. A wide group of people with interests in the science and policy interface (drawn from policy makers, policy adviser, practitioners, the private sector and academics) elicited a long list of emergent policy issues in which science and technology would feature strongly and which would also necessitate public engagement as policies are developed. This was then refined to a short list of top priorities for policy makers. Thirty issues were identified within broad areas of business and technology; energy and environment; government, politics and education; health, healthcare, population and aging; information, communication, infrastructure and transport; and public safety and national security.Public policy requires public support, which in turn implies a need to enable the public not just to understand policy but also to be engaged in its development. Where complex science and technology issues are involved in policy making, this takes time, so it is important to identify emerging issues of this type and prepare engagement plans. In our horizon scanning exercise, we used a modified Delphi technique [1]. A wide group of people with interests in the science and policy interface (drawn from policy makers, policy adviser, practitioners, the private sector and academics) elicited a long list of emergent policy issues in which science and technology would feature strongly and which would also necessitate public engagement as policies are developed. This was then refined to a short list of top priorities for policy makers. Thirty issues were identified within broad areas of business and technology; energy and environment; government, politics and education; health, healthcare, population and aging; information, communication, infrastructure and transport; and public safety and national security
Employing AI to Better Understand Our Morals
We present a summary of research that we have conducted employing AI to better understand human morality. This summary adumbrates theoretical fundamentals and considers how to regulate development of powerful new AI technologies. The latter research aim is benevolent AI, with fair distribution of benefits associated with the development of these and related technologies, avoiding disparities of power and wealth due to unregulated competition. Our approach avoids statistical models employed in other approaches to solve moral dilemmas, because these are âblindâ to natural constraints on moral agents, and risk perpetuating mistakes. Instead, our approach employs, for instance, psychologically realistic counterfactual reasoning in group dynamics. The present paper reviews studies involving factors fundamental to human moral motivation, including egoism vs. altruism, commitment vs. defaulting, guilt vs. non-guilt, apology plus forgiveness, counterfactual collaboration, among other factors fundamental in the motivation of moral action. These being basic elements in most moral systems, our studies deliver generalizable conclusions that inform efforts to achieve greater sustainability and global benefit, regardless of cultural specificities in constituents
Agents of change :the perceived impact of engaging in action retsearch on teacher action researchers
EdD ThesisThis study focused on a small sample of teacher action researchers (TRs) to explore their perceptions of the impact of engaging in classroom-based action research on their professional identity, agency and the ecology in which they conducted the research. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to conduct a narrative inquiry using interviews with semi-structured questions. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) through the conceptual lens of my own experience.
Main findings explored three emerging themes and the participantsâ perceptions of them. Perceived professional identity is constantly evolving from even before a teacher enters the classroom, and is iterational â strongly influenced by past experiences, rooted in current circumstances, and shaped by future aspirations. Professional identity is also linked to personal identity, but there is no guarantee that any teacher will naturally become a TR, as other factors need to be present for this to be become a dimension of their identity. Successful research project outcomes can heighten sense of agency, and therefore agency is linked to an awareness of the practitionerâs ability to effect change. A stronger sense of agency can strengthen the innovative and experimental dimension of professional identity, and vice versa.
Most significantly, TRs seem to be most influenced in terms of agency and identity development by a noticeable impact on their immediate ecology and are less influenced or interested in replicability or impact outside their ecology. An unsupportive ecology does not necessarily lead to lower sense of agency or weaker identity as a TR. Even if a practitioner is no longer in an active TR role, professional identity retains aspects of this and has been shaped by past experiences, so it is difficult to extract that dimension of the self. This means that once a TR identity is established, it is difficult to step back into a non-research mindset and teach âoff the shelfâ. Perceived professional identity as a TR is therefore constantly evolving, accumulating past experience to adapt to new educational situations and requirements
Head, Heart, and Hands: A Relationships First Approach to Indigenizing and Decolonizing Education
Student engagement within District X is at an all-time low. As District X strives for more equitable learning opportunities, they also work to serve the unique and varying needs of students despite the rising physical and mental health concerns, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that shook students and adults alike, resulting in a global collective trauma and led to the shutdown of schools worldwide in March 2020. These issues are especially prevalent within our most underfunded and underserved populations, such as Indigenous populations. As Canadians, Indigenous relations and calls to adopt Indigenous ways of knowing and being are at the forefront as we work toward adopting the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action, precisely actions 62-65 as they pertain to education. The Indigenization and decolonization of our teaching and learning practices are essential to reconciliation; however, an Indigenous resurgence can only be accomplished when we begin to put our relationships first. Head, Heart, and Hands: A Relationships First Approach to Indigenizing and Decolonizing Education is relational, restorative, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, brain-aligned, and an approach where students are engaged in deep and liberating learning opportunities where power is shared with all. It supports the Indigenization of and decolonization of our curriculum, policies, teaching and learning, and assessment practices. Therefore, Head, Heart, and Hands: A Relationships First Approach will be at the forefront of this Organizational Improvement Plan, as it is only when our physiological needs are met, that we feel safe, we feel an innate sense of belonging, and others believe in our ability to learn, that we can be genuinely engaged and there can be learning for all
The law and economics of bargaining: an examination of the bargaining model employed by South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Transitional justice methodology has emerged as an alternative to traditional retributive justice schemes when political transitions necessitate an accounting for human rights violations during prior regimes. As regimes move from illiberal to liberal, post-transition justice methodology has developed from the restorative justice model to engender truth and reconciliation. These normative concepts have evolved into a policy of creating truth and reconciliation commissions that trade civil and criminal amnesty with applicants in exchange for information. This bargained-for exchange can be analysed as an imperfect information game, where the commission attempts to maximise information(truth) while the applicant seeks amnesty for the lowest possible price. The game is similar to other bargaining games in law and economics, specifically plea-bargaining and bid-rigging during government auctions. Applying lessons learned from these problems, and employing game-theoretic analysis, this dissertation analyses the Truth-Amnesty game and puts it squarely within the law and economics framework. The analysis demonstrates that to maximise information gathering given the truth-reconciliation trade-off lexicographic ordering leads to an optimal Commission strategy
Linking Research and Policy: Assessing a Framework for Organic Agricultural Support in Ireland
This paper links social science research and agricultural policy through an analysis of support for organic agriculture and food. Globally, sales of organic food have experienced 20% annual increases for the past two decades, and represent the fastest growing segment of the grocery market. Although consumer interest has increased, farmers are not keeping up with demand. This is partly due to a lack of political support provided to farmers in their transition from conventional to organic production. Support policies vary by country and in some nations, such as the US, vary by state/province. There have been few attempts to document the types of support currently in place. This research draws on an existing Framework tool to investigate regionally specific and relevant policy support available to organic farmers in Ireland. This exploratory study develops a case study of Ireland within the framework of ten key categories of organic agricultural support: leadership, policy, research, technical support, financial support, marketing and promotion, education and information, consumer issues, inter-agency activities, and future developments. Data from the Irish Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc), and other governmental and semi-governmental agencies provide the basis for an assessment of support in each category. Assessments are based on the number of activities, availability of information to farmers, and attention from governmental personnel for each of the ten categories. This policy framework is a valuable tool for farmers, researchers, state agencies, and citizen groups seeking to document existing types of organic agricultural support and discover policy areas which deserve more attention
The use of systems thinking to deal with managing change in the context of the new South Africa
The case study afforded an opportunity to demonstrate how divergent opinions of various stakeholders could be harnessed and synthesised to provide input to resolve perceived problematical situations. In the case study of the hard systems method, ISM, divergence of the stakeholder views was through the process intended to achieve convergence (consensus) in order to solve the problem situation. In the case of the soft systems method, SSM, divergence of views were synthesised to produce an all embracing solution Of the perceived situation. No attempt is made to produce consensus. Systems thinking, therefore, is able to deal with issues that have given known-to-be desirable ends (hard systems) and where known-to-be desirable ends (soft systems) cannot be taken as given. This research has attempted to address the issue of managing the complexity of development in the context of the recently democratised South Africa. It has basically suggested that, as a point of departure, developmental issues should be approached holistically and systematically. It is important to select an appropriate methodology in seeking to solve the problem of managing change. The quality of the outcome of the two case studies reviewed has been affected by the quality of the inputs, particularly with respect to availability of time, availability of stakeholder inputs and the status of the research (that is, as an academic exercise)
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