Participatory research methods for sustainability - toolkit series

Participatory approaches play a particularly strong role in the sustainability sciences due to recognizing the benefits of integrating diverse knowledge for co-creating solutions. Their design and use vary based on research objectives, available resources, and social-ecological contexts. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; adaptability and creativity are key. This currently running toolkit series aims to provide a synthesis of emerging and consolidated participatory research methods in sustainability science, showcasing exemplary case studies.

The Participatory research methods for sustainability toolkit series has been edited by guest editors María García-Martín, Mario Torralba, Tobias Plieninger, and Claudia Bieling.

The following toolkits have been published so far in the current series:

Mario Torralba, Maria García-Martín, Claudia Bieling, Tobias Plieninger. 2022. Participatory research methods for sustainability. Editorial. GAIA 31/1: 1. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.31.1.1

Nora Fagerholm, Maria García-Martín, Mario Torralba, Claudia Bieling, Tobias Plieninger. 2022. Public participation geographical information systems (PPGIS): Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #1. GAIA 31/1: 46-48. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.31.1.10

Pamela Richardson. 2022. Participatory Video (remote, online): Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #2. GAIA 31/2: 82-84. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.31.2.4

Maike Hamann, Tanja Hichert, Nadia Sitas. 2022. Participatory scenario planning: Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #3. GAIA 31/3: 175-177. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.31.3.8

Herizo T. Andrianandrasana, Jessica Savage, Anselme Toto Volahy, Peter R. Nikoleta Jones. 2022. Participatory Ecological Monitoring (PEM): Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #4. GAIA 31/4: 231-233. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.31.4.7

Franziska Mohr, Susan Lock, Martin Stuber, Matthias Bürgi. 2023. Oral history interviews (OHIs): Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #5. GAIA 32/1: 91-93. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.32.1.4

Romina Martin, Udita Sanga. 2023. Participatory modelling: Participatory research methods for sustainability – toolkit #6. GAIA 32/2: 230-232. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.32.2.5

Katharina Gugerell. 2023. Serious games for sustainability transformations: Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #7. GAIA 32/3: 292-295. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.32.3.5

Jule Marie Huber, Claudia Bieling, María García-Martín, Tobias Plieninger, Mario Torralba. 2023. Photovoice. Participatory research methods for sustainability – toolkit #8. GAIA 32/4: 386-388. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.32.4.10

Mrill Ingram. 2024. Arts-based research. Participatory research methods for sustainability – toolkit #9. GAIA 33/1: 175-177. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.33.1.11

Christine Bosch, Lilli Scheiterle, Athena Birkenberg, Regina Birner, Viviane Guesbeogo Yameogo. 2024. Net-Map: Analyzing social networks and power relations. Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #10. GAIA 33/2: 250-253. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.33.2.20

Sarah Gottwald, Christian Albert, Gustavo Arciniegas, Marta Ducci, Sana Jajeh, Ron Janssen, Rory Taylor. 2024. Geodesign as a boundary management process: Co-creating and negotiating sustainable landscape futures. Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #11. GAIA 33/3: 282-285. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.33.3.10

Andréanne Chu Breton-Carbonneau. 2025. Participatory content analysis. Participatory research methods for sustainability – toolkit #12. GAIA 34/1 (2025): 51-54. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.34.1.10

Alexandra Frangenheim. 2025. Actor constellations in sustainability contexts. Participatory research methods for sustainability – toolkit #13. GAIA 34/2: 94-96. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.34.2.22

Tolera Senbeto Jiren, Maria Lee Kernecker , Alma Moroder. 2025. Q-sorts. Participatory research methods for sustainability – toolkit #14. GAIA 34/3: 171-173. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.34.3.10

Moné Vásquez Ladron de Guevara, Pablo Mansilla Quiñones. 2025. Participatory countermapping in defense of life and territory. Participatory research methods for sustainability – toolkit #15. GAIA 34/4: 271-273. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.34.4.6

Matthias Bürgi, Elena Siegrist, Susan Lock, Tamara Estermann. 2026. Repeat photography. Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #16. GAIA 35/1: 34-36. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.35.1.8

Marion Jay, Gonzalo Cortés Capano, Laura Kmoch, Tobias Plieninger . 2026. Participatory storytelling. Participatory research methods for sustainability – toolkit #17. GAIA 35/2: 93–95. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.35.2.6.