FUT20 | [Workshop] What exactly is transformative change? Deciphering solutions for transformative futures
[Workshop] What exactly is transformative change? Deciphering solutions for transformative futures
Convener: Sierra Deutsch | Co-conveners: Jinat Hossain, Mirjam Steiger, Minea Mäder, Norman Backhaus
Tue, 16 Jun, 16:30–18:00|Room Jakobshorn
Tue, 16:30
In order to achieve transformative futures, it is helpful to contemplate what is meant by ‘transformative change’. IPBES’s (2019: XVIII) definition of transformative change as a “fundamental, system-wide reorganization across technological, economic and social factors, including paradigms, goals and values” is now widely used. At the same time, it is interpreted in many different ways, leading to some uses that are decidedly not transformative. So, what exactly is transformative change? In this 90-minute workshop, we present a tool from our project “Translating transformations: Improving transdisciplinary transformative change initiatives by promoting critical social science literacy” that was designed to answer such a question. Grounded in critical social theory on societal power dynamics, the goal of the tool/workshop is to assist participants with learning how to critically assess (proposed) solutions to societal and environmental problems, and whether they could be considered transformative change. Specifically, participants will learn from the tool, and from each other, to categorize solutions as mitigation, adaption, or transformation. The workshop consists of a brief introduction followed by a dynamic mixture of individual and small group activities. Intended outcomes include improved capacity for differentiating types of change with practical generalized examples, as well as examples from participants’ own fields. Additionally, participants will gain experience with our open access tool, which they may use in their own work/contexts.