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 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