Stakeholder engagement vs. social distancing—how does the Covid-19 pandemic affect participatory research in EU marine science projects?

Köpsel, Vera; Kiipper, Gabriel de Moura; Peck, Myron A.

doi:10.1007/s40152-021-00223-4

Cited by 36 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships with non-academic actors, hence, represents a major obstacle for ECRs engaging in participatory approaches. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the degree of uncertainty among ECRS and drastically impacted place-based research (e.g., via inability to travel to field study sites), further limiting opportunities for engagement (Vandebroek et al, 2020;Köpsel et al, 2021).…”

Section: Data and Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disentangling Obstacles to Knowledge Co-Production for Early-Career Researchers in the Marine Sciences

et al. 2022

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Knowledge co-production involving researchers and non-academic actors is becoming increasingly important for tackling sustainability issues. Coastal and marine social-ecological systems are one example where knowledge co-production is important, yet also particularly challenging due to their unique characteristics. Early-Career Researchers (ECRs) often face specific obstacles when engaging in the process of knowledge co-production. In this perspective paper, we shed light on the particular characteristics of knowledge co-production in marine social-ecological systems and the obstacles ECRs in the marine sciences face. Based on these obstacles, we discuss actions that can be taken at various organizational levels (institutional, community, supervisor, and individual) in order to leverage change towards a more inclusive environment for ECRs engaging in knowledge co-production. We conclude that both bottom-up (individual to institutions) and top-down (institutions to individual) actions are required. However, we emphasize the responsibilities of institutions to create conditions in which the needs of ECRs are met. This will be necessary to adequately support ECRs engaging in knowledge co-production and thus contribute to tackling sustainability challenges in coastal and marine social-ecological systems.

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Section: Data and Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disentangling Obstacles to Knowledge Co-Production for Early-Career Researchers in the Marine Sciences

et al. 2022

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“…Implementing such approaches on the ground faces manifold challenges, several of which have been widely discussed in the literature: for instance, the persistence of linear thinking in a complex world among decision-makers across sectors (Bratianu and Vasilache, 2010;Groves and Vance, 2015;Zweibelson, 2016), vested interests and unequal power relations between involved stakeholders (Larson and Soto, 2008;Sesan, 2014), and the ambiguous role of the facilitators or "participatory workers" in shaping the outcome of participatory processes (Kothari, 2001;Wakeford, 2017). In 2020, the global Covid-19 pandemic has added a new level: social distancing, lockdowns, severe travel interruptions, and shifts to virtual working modes constitute entirely new challenges to conventional participatory methods that heavily rely on face-to-face interaction and physical gatherings (see e.g., Hall et al, 2021;Köpsel et al, 2021). The implications for the outcome of these processes are potentially severe, and they further complicate already existing perils of participatory approaches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adapting a Participatory and Ecosystem-Based Assessment Impacted by the Pandemic: Lessons Learned With Farmers in Tajikistan

Spies

Schick

Karomatov

et al. 2021

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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The paper presents a systemic and participatory assessment approach and scrutinizes how methodological changes necessitated during the Covid-19 pandemic implicated the process and its outcomes. The approach was applied in rural Tajikistan to evaluate changes effected by a development project that promoted the enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services in agrarian landscapes. The central building block of the assessment consisted of participatory workshops in 2018 and 2020 with farmers and other stakeholders to develop a systemic knowledge map and to evaluate the promoted strategies based on local expertise. The methodological basis was MARISCO (adaptive MAnagement of vulnerability and RISk at COnservation sites), a holistic and participatory approach to ecosystem-based assessment and management that requires well-trained facilitators. While the activities in 2018 could be implemented as planned, major changes in the work plan were necessary in 2020 due to severe travel restrictions and social distancing rules. Conducting virtual workshops was not possible, as it would have excluded key stakeholders from the process. Instead of conducting a comprehensive assessment workshop guided by two German MARISCO facilitators as originally planned, a series of short and small workshops could be realized. These workshops were facilitated by Tajik scientists after receiving virtual training from their German colleagues. Although it was possible to bring the assessment to a satisfactory conclusion, the methodological changes revealed significant drawbacks. Radical simplifications of the methods were necessary that led to reduced depth of the assessment and missed learning opportunities for participants. Limited experience in workshop guidance by the new facilitators posed challenges to the participatory process and the quality of its outcomes. While the adapted method created training effects that would otherwise have been missed, it also put additional pressure on the capacities of local partners. Our experience during the pandemic offers valuable lessons learned for future applications of systemic-participatory approaches. Whereas, a complete shift to remote applications is problematic, there is a need to put greater emphasis on capacitating local partners. Methodological trade-offs are necessary for partially remote working processes, but principles of participation and systemic thinking should not be compromised.

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“…Following stakeholder review, revisions were made in five broad categories (Table 2). Since the study was undertaken during the global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), we were guided by published practical actions to promote and maintain meaningful exchange with stakeholders in times of social distancing and lockdowns [49]. As described, we were able to sustain stakeholder exchange by offering alternative approaches to involvement and deducting which formats of engagement were suitable for different groups (Action 1: 'know your stakeholders').…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As described, we were able to sustain stakeholder exchange by offering alternative approaches to involvement and deducting which formats of engagement were suitable for different groups (Action 1: 'know your stakeholders'). These options included brief, one-to-one conversations (Action 2: 'strengthen stakeholder relationships'), emails, telephone contact (Action 3: do not go 100% digital'), and small-group meetings (Action 3: 're-think your Since the study was undertaken during the global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), we were guided by published practical actions to promote and maintain meaningful exchange with stakeholders in times of social distancing and lockdowns [49]. As described, we were able to sustain stakeholder exchange by offering alternative approaches to involvement and deducting which formats of engagement were suitable for different groups (Action 1: 'know your stakeholders').…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing Minds at Work: Development of a Digital Line Manager Training Program

Blake

Vaughan

Bartle

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Mental ill-health is the leading cause of sickness absence, creating a high economic burden. Workplace interventions aimed at supporting employers in the prevention of mental ill-health in the workforce are urgently required. Managing Minds at Work is a digital intervention aimed at supporting line managers in promoting better mental health at work through a preventative approach. This intervention was developed as part of the Mental Health and Productivity Pilot, a wider initiative aimed at supporting employers across the Midlands region of the United Kingdom to improve the future of workplace mental health and wellbeing. The aim of the study is to describe the design and development of the Managing Minds at Work digital training program, prior to feasibility testing. We adopted a collaborative participatory design involving co-design (users as partners) and principles of user-centred design (pilot and usability testing). An agile methodology was used to co-create intervention content with a stakeholder virtual community of practice. Development processes were mapped to core elements of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions. The program covers five broad areas: (i) promoting self-care techniques among line managers; (ii) designing work to prevent work-related stress; (iii) management competencies to prevent and reduce stress; (iv) having conversations with employees about mental health; (v) building a psychologically safe work environment. It was considered by stakeholders to be appropriate for any type of organization, irrespective of their size or resources. Pilot and usability testing (n = 37 surveys) aligned with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) demonstrated that the program was perceived to be useful, relevant, and easy to use by managers across sectors, organization types, and sizes. We identified positive impacts on manager attitudes and behavioral intentions related to preventing mental ill-health and promoting good mental wellbeing at work. The next step is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of Managing Minds at Work with line managers in diverse employment settings.

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Stakeholder engagement vs. social distancing—how does the Covid-19 pandemic affect participatory research in EU marine science projects?

Cited by 36 publications

References 43 publications

Disentangling Obstacles to Knowledge Co-Production for Early-Career Researchers in the Marine Sciences

Disentangling Obstacles to Knowledge Co-Production for Early-Career Researchers in the Marine Sciences

Adapting a Participatory and Ecosystem-Based Assessment Impacted by the Pandemic: Lessons Learned With Farmers in Tajikistan

Managing Minds at Work: Development of a Digital Line Manager Training Program

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