Actors and interpretations in an environmental controversy: the Swedish debate on sewage sludge use in agriculture

This study examines the Swedish debate on the sustainability of using sewage sludge as fertiliser in agriculture. Although the use of sludge as fertiliser presents potential resource and environmental advantages, it can have negative effects on people and soil productivity. Both proponents and opponents of agricultural application of sludge use environmental arguments to support their positions. By 1990, the Swedish parliament stressed the importance of recycling nutrients from wastewater; however, despite low levels of contamination, compared to other countries, little sludge is used in agriculture today. During the last few decades, a large amount of research has addressed the risks and benefits of using sludge as fertiliser, but the central actors have not been able to reach lasting agreements. This study, which is based on document analysis, direct observations, and interviews, analyses the beliefs, preferences, and arguments of major actors in the national debate on sludge. The study investigates how actors define problems and interpret the risks and benefits of sludge use. Specifically, the study concentrates on the role of science in the sludge controversy. Two distinct ways of thinking - a precautionary frame and a proof-first frame - are identified. These frames are shown almost immune to factual claims and arguments from opponents. It is concluded that actors in the controversy need to address explicitly value judgements and beliefs that go beyond scientific information. In addition, the study concludes that there is a need for policy makers to further develop process leadership skills. \ua9 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Towards an ethical jewellery business

This report presents the results of phase 1 of research which is intended to identify the main social, environmental and ethical issues in the jewellery sector and to assist industry bodies in identifying how to integrate ethical considerations into their activities. The phase one report is based on an extensive review of literature related to ethical issues in the jewellery sector, covering ethical issues throughout the jewellery supply chain, from extraction of jewellery materials by mining processes, through to the retail of finished jewellery. In addition to highlighting established existing knowledge and literature in this field, our report highlights gaps in the literature and understanding that will influence the form and focus of more applied research to be proposed for phase two of the project

Northernness

Proceedings Series 2022-1: Northernness\ua0Proceeding-publications, gold open access:\ua0htltp://arkitekturforskning.net/na/issue/publishingThis anthology is the proceedings publication from the 2020 NAF Symposium “Northernness”. The book wishes\ua0to\ua0revisit, expand, and question the canon of architectural history and historiography by raising questions about\ua0‘Northernness’ in the discourse of architecture, architectural education, and architectural research.Editors:\ua0Anne Elisabeth Toft and Magnus R\uf6nn\ua0Contributing authors:Thordis Arrhenius,\ua0Turid Borgestrand 8ien,\ua0Minna Chudoba,\ua0Stine Dalager Nielsen, Peter MacKeith, Magnus R\uf6nn, Birgitte Tanderup Eybye, Anne Elisabeth Toft, Carlotta Torricell

Northernness

The Northernness symposium reflected a shared interest between The Nordic\ua0Association of Architectural Research (NAF/NAAR) and the Oulu School\ua0of Architecture, University of Oulu. This interest pertained to architectural\ua0research and its knowledge production. It involved the two institutions’ positioning in the discourse of architectural education and architectural research,\ua0what it means to be Nordic in that context, and what narratives and images\ua0we attach to that

Becoming dependent: How is eldercare implemented in France and Sweden ?

The communication discusses results from a comparative project on the implementation of eldercare in France and Sweden. The entrance into dependence is understood as a process, and eldercare is seen as a part of the organisation of social care in society thus reflecting different welfare traditions. An overview of eldercare on the institutional level in the two countries is supplemented by an interview study identifying ways of cooperating between actors such as public eldercare, family members and help provided by profit and non-profit organisations departing from elderly persons' everyday experience. The interview study includes about twenty elderly persons in each country as well as a limited number of administrators and adult children. The study sheds light on how policies actually are implemented on the local level and puts the focus on who actually do what and when for the elderly persons. The different roles played by the state, the family, the market and civil society clearly appear in the elderly persons' everyday experiences. Family members in France take on a more active role both as coordinators of care and as actual caregivers. The study further shows that gender and class background still have implications but that such differences are much larger in France than in Sweden

Leadership is the essential non-technical skill in the trauma team - results of a qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Trauma is the leading cause of death for young people in Norway. Studies indicate that several of these deaths are avoidable if the patient receives correct initial treatment. The trauma team is responsible for initial hospital treatment of traumatized patients, and team members have previously reported that non-technical skills as communication, leadership and cooperation are the major challenges. Better team function could improve patient outcome. The aim of this study was to obtain a deeper understanding of which non-technical skills are important to members of the trauma team during initial examination and treatment of trauma patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted at four different hospitals of various sizes and with different trauma load. At each hospital a nurse, an anaesthesiologist and a team leader (surgeon) were interviewed. The conversations were transcribed and analyzed using systematic text condensation according to the principles of Giorgi's phenomenological analysis as modified by Malterud.</p> <p>Results and conclusion</p> <p>Leadership was perceived as an essential component in trauma management. The ideal leader should be an experienced surgeon, have extensive knowledge of trauma care, communicate clearly and radiate confidence. Team leaders were reported to have little trauma experience, and the team leaders interviewed requested more guidance and supervision. The need for better training of trauma teams and especially team leaders requires further investigation and action.</p

Approaches and Methods in Architectural Research

This anthology is the proceedings publication from the 2019 NAF Symposium “Approaches and Methods in Architectural Research”.Addressing what methods and approaches architects, landscape architects,and urban designers use in their work, why and how, this publication initiatescritical reflection on their relevance, qualities, pitfalls, representations, anddiscursive positionings. \ua0Editors: Anne Elisabeth Toft, Magnus R\uf6nn and Morgan AnderssonContributing authors:Abdulaziz Alshabib, Morgan Andersson, Isabelle Doucet, Susanne Fredholm, Freja Fr\uf6lander, Kiran Maini Gerhardsson, Ellen Kathrine Hansen, Mette Hvass, Thomas H. Kampmann, Karl Kropf, Ann Legeby, Nils Olsson, Jarre Parkatti, Sam Ridgway, Magnus R\uf6nn, Mari Oline Giske Stendebakken, Tony Svensson, Anne Elisabeth Tof

Call for Papers: Creation of New Knowledge Dialogues inside and between Disciplines

NAAR/NAAF Symposium 2+2