Sustainability-oriented labs in transitions: An empirically grounded typology
Journal article, 2022

Sustainability is high on the political agenda, with its analytical and practical importance underscored in the field of sustainability transitions. Experiments, arenas, and laboratories are frequently highlighted as real-world objects to investigate sustainability in place. Despite existing lab studies, attempts at comparison at the empirical level remain unconvincing. Here, sustainability remains oversimplified, warranting further investigation to unpack how labs compare in their orientation towards sustainability. This article presents a rigorous and transparent empirically grounded typology, intended to discern ways to engage with sustainability. We outline and elaborate upon six distinctive types entitled: 1) Fix and control, 2) (Re-)Design and optimize, 3) Make and relate, 4) Educate and engage, 5) Empower and govern, and 6) Explore and shape. This study highlights similarities and differences between labs, and across different types. These findings are discussed with reference to ongoing conceptualizations on directionality, providing a fruitful point of departure for ongoing transitions research.

Transdisciplinarity

Labs

Experiments

Case-based

Sustainability transitions

Typology

Author

Gavin McCrory

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Johan Holmén

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Niko Alexander Schäpke

University of Freiburg

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

John Holmberg

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions

22104224 (eISSN)

Vol. 43 99-117

Subject Categories

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified

Information Systemes, Social aspects

DOI

10.1016/j.eist.2022.03.004

More information

Latest update

4/7/2022 1