GROUP PROJECT DETAILS

As part of their participation in the Sustainability Training Academy, Early Career Researchers will be asked to work in groups addressing a topic related to the overall theme of the Training Academy, namely ‘Enabling Inclusive, Green and Just Transitions’. The theme responds to both COP29 discussions and a crucial element towards advancing sustainable futures. To this end, our participants will have a chance to collaborate with researchers from different countries and geographic areas, build their networks, combine their interdisciplinary knowledge, skills, and expertise to critically reflect on pressing global challenges of our time. Venice as the venue for our STA lends itself beautifully to this endeavour presenting itself at once as a beautiful globally renowned and historically steeped tourist destination and a place where the effects of climate change may be viscerally observed and engaged with.

The ultimate goal of the group project work is to catalyze inter and transdisciplinary research as a pillar for enabling just and inclusive transitions across the globe. Thus, we particularly encourage group projects that aim to:

• • • Provide an overview of theoretical and practical understandings of concepts such as just transitions, the dark side of just transitions, justice, equity and inclusion, and intersectionalities associated with green and just transitions

• • • Promote interdisciplinary approaches to addressing complex sectoral challenges with the aim of securing just and inclusive transitions within them.

• • • Highlight the importance of just transitions and in emerging global agendas for sustainable development, such as the COPs, SDGs and beyond.

• • • Critically reflect on past examples of (un)successful application of resilient approaches, policies, or practices in the context of a disasters/pandemics/global or regional disruptions

• • • Creative/participatory and inclusive approaches towards researching or designing policies and interventions that enable just transitions

To this end, each ECR group will be asked to develop a group project, focusing on a major contemporary sustainability challenge (in any sector of their choice, or focusing on theoretical perspectives) and emphasizing the central role of inclusivity and justice in assisting individuals and local communities to enable resilient, adaptive and just transitions. After breaking into groups, ECRs will have a chance to discuss their project ideas with tutors from last year’s School, who will assist in the selection and development of the topic. Although some time has been allocated for the development of the group projects, groups are asked to work on their own schedule throughout the duration of the Academy. Indicative project ideas based on the themes of the Academy are listed below but are by no means limiting

• • • Inequalities related to sectoral challenges that hamper progression to just transitions

• • • Enabling cultures of care and solidarity in building resilience

• • • Place-based ideas to enhance the resilience of communities in the Global South & North.

• • • Climate change and the impact on social ecological systems

• • • Historical perspectives informing present day pathways to enabling just transitions

• • • Inclusive urban and regional adaptations to climate change

Depending on the chosen topic, tutors will discuss available resources for the ECRs to explore. In general, an emphasis on participatory methods, which will be emphasized throughout the event, will be encouraged. Presentations can take a variety of forms, including but not limited to:

• • • Power point presentations.

• • • Poster or video presentations

• • • Panel group discussions

• • • Interactive discussions with the audience

• • • Podcasts

• • • Storytelling, poetry, art or other forms of innovative expression