Interventionen in Reallaboren : ein Handbuch für die Praxis

Für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung unserer Gesellschaft haben lokale Initiativen und deren innovativen Aktivitäten eine grosse Bedeutung. Eine systematische Beobachtung und Begleitung durch die Forschung kann dabei helfen, aus den Initiativen zu lernen, andernorts Ähnliches anzustossen und somit eine breitere Wirkung zu entfalten. Orte, wo eine solche Zusammenarbeit von lokalen Initiativen, anderen Praxisakteuren und Forschenden für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung stattfindet, sind sogenannte „Reallabore“. Das Anstossen, Durchführen und systematische Beobachten und Analysieren von konkreten Interventionen und deren praktische Umsetzung bilden den Schwerpunkt dieses Handbuchs. Es ist als ein Hauptprodukt des Reallabors im Hunziker Areal in Zusammenarbeit mit vielen anderen Reallabor-Forschenden aus Deutschland und der Schweiz entstanden

A novel root-to-shoot stomatal response to very high CO2 levels in the soil: electrical, hydraulic and biochemical signalling

Investigations were undertaken in the context of the potential environmental impact of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) transportation in the form of a hypothetical leak of extreme levels of CO2 into the soil environment and subsequent effects on plant physiology. Laboratory studies using purpose built soil chambers, separating and isolating the soil and aerial environments, were used to introduce high levels of CO2 gas exclusively into the rhizosphere. CO2 concentrations greater than 32% in the isolated soil environment revealed a previously unknown whole plant stomatal response. Time course measurements of stomatal conductance, leaf temperature and leaf abscisic acid show strong coupling between all three variables over a specific period (3 hrs following CO2 gassing) occurring as a result of CO2-specific detection by roots. The coupling of gs and ABA subsequently breaks down resulting in a rapid and complete loss of turgor in the shoot. Root access to water is severely restricted as evidenced by the inability to counter turgor loss, however the plant regains some turgor over time. Recovery of full turgor is not achieved over the longer term. Results suggest an immediate perception and whole plant response as changes in measured parameters (leaf temperature, gs and ABA) occur in the shoot, but the response is solely due to detection of very high CO2 concentration at the root/soil interface which results in loss of stomatal regulation and disruption to control over water uptake

Internet-based public debate of CCS: lessons from online focus groups in Poland and Spain

This paper makes three contributions to the developing literature on public opinion and understanding of CCS. The first is a discussion of online focus groups as a deliberative method in experimental and perhaps consultative contexts. The second is the role of anchoring and associative reasoning in the development of public opinion of CCS, illustrated through the coincidental timing of the investigation with the Fukushima nuclear accident. The third is a discussion of managing public-facing energy messaging in an age of public access to online information. Two multi-day, online focus groups or "dialogue boards" were held, one in Poland and one in Spain, with participants drawn from regions with active CCS development potential. The nature of the groups led to participants being subject to wider social influence through discussion of the topic off-line. They were also able to research and present evidence on the topic to the group, deepening debate and allowing the emergence of 'experts'. The study illustrates and affirms the importance of trust in message source, the difficulties of challenging pre-existing concerns and opinion and the challenge potentially posed by access to conflicting online information

Public perception of carbon capture and storage (CCS): A review

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is regarded as an important bridging technology to a sustainable energy production. Whether it will be deployed on a large scale depends on both technological advances and social processes. Public perception of CCS can be crucial, and research interest in this topic has been growing. This review analyzes the public perception research thus far (42 articles were identified). Laypeople's concerns and spontaneous reactions to the technology have been thoroughly analyzed, and the results form a good basis for risk communication about CCS. What deserves more research is the role of the context (particularly the social context) in which CCS would be deployed. More case studies are also needed to gain a clearer picture of what matters for CCS acceptance at the project level, as opposed to societal acceptability of CCS. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The effect of figures in CCS communication

Illustrations are an essential part of most CCS communication materials. This article looks at the role of illustrations in communication and education in general, and in CCS communication in particular. First, literature on multimedia learning is reviewed and general guidelines for designing graphical displays deduced. This is followed by a discussion of relevant mental models and their possible implementa- tion in pictorial form. The authors then report on an interview study in which illustrations with various implementations of CCS mental models are compared. No major differences were found regarding under- standing of CCS between the different illustrations. Graphical displays alone are not powerful enough to implicitly correct typical misconceptions about CCS. Such misconceptions should be stated explicitly, along with their correction

Designing interventions for sustainable change in a real-world laboratory

Real-world laboratories (RWL) aim to support transformations for sustainable urban development by producing outputs with practical and scientific relevance. To achieve these aims, the local community of which the RWL is a part should be in close collaboration from the start of a project. RWLs offer spaces for ‘thinking outside the box’ and for experimenting with new ideas through concrete interventions into the life world of the community. We provide methodological guidance for researchers on how to design interventions in RWLs that both affect change on the ground and contribute to scientific knowledge. This includes addressing issues important to local communities and generating transformation knowledge about how sustainable urban development can be actualised. We use the case of a project-based master’s course within an RWL in the city of Zurich in Switzerland to demonstrate how the use of design thinking supported the development of needs-based interventions, curbing emissions from food consumption while aiming to generate scientifically relevant output. We conclude that further improvements in methodology are needed in order to test the effectiveness of interventions. However, the outputs of the approach show its potential both for having an impact in the real world and building on existing academic concepts for advancing transformation knowledge.ISSN:1387-585XISSN:1573-297

Designing interventions for sustainable change in a real-world laboratory

Real-world laboratories (RWL) aim to support transformations for sustainable urban development by producing outputs with practical and scientific relevance. To achieve these aims, the local community of which the RWL is a part should be in close collaboration from the start of a project. RWLs offer spaces for ‘thinking outside the box’ and for experimenting with new ideas through concrete interventions into the life world of the community. We provide methodological guidance for researchers on how to design interventions in RWLs that both affect change on the ground and contribute to scientific knowledge. This includes addressing issues important to local communities and generating transformation knowledge about how sustainable urban development can be actualised. We use the case of a project-based master’s course within an RWL in the city of Zurich in Switzerland to demonstrate how the use of design thinking supported the development of needs-based interventions, curbing emissions from food consumption while aiming to generate scientifically relevant output. We conclude that further improvements in methodology are needed in order to test the effectiveness of interventions. However, the outputs of the approach show its potential both for having an impact in the real world and building on existing academic concepts for advancing transformation knowledge.Policy Analysi