community-based research for sustainability association (crs) szeged, hungary mission: "being...

Community-based Research for Sustainability Association (CRS)

Szeged, Hungary

Mission:

"Being committed to sustainability, social and environmental justice and solidarity, we aim to study and shape social, ecological and economic systems and their relations through participatory action research and citizen activism."

www.crsassociation.org [email protected]

CSO founded by researchers and social activists in order to „study and shape social, ecological and economic systems

and their relations through participatory action research and citizen activism."

2nd „science shop” in Hungary

Founded in the beginning of 2013

PERARES* project WP6 initiated



Szeged, Hungary


Szeged, Hungary


Ten members from different sectors and disciplines

What connects us?

Shared values

Research + Action (+Participation)

Academic + Local knowledge

Give voice to the unheard social groups + environmentalism „sustainability approach”

Close relationship with two other organizations

• University of Szeged, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Research Centre (http://www.eco.u-szeged.hu/english/research-centre/faculty-of-economics-and-business-administration-research-centre)– Personal overlap, „CRS office”

• ESSRG (www.essrg.hu)– Personal overlap, friendly, cooperative and supportive

relationship



Szeged, Hungary

http://www.eco.u-szeged.hu/english/research-centre/faculty-of-economics-and-business-administration-research-centre




http://www.essrg.hu/

How would you characterize a Science Shop

An entity which facilitates science-society connections in different topics in different ways

1. Conventional science shop roles: intermediators

2. PAR projects with marginalized communities (outreach „beyond CSO-s” and roles beyond conventional Science Shop roles): researchers and social activists

3. Taking part in local public policy decision-making: researchers and social activists

Several roles in the same time: intermediators, researchers, social activists


What is the vision of your Science Shop?

Mission

– Contributing to a more just and sustainable society

– Method:• facilitating science-society discourse• PAR (directly connecting science and social activism)

– Placing extra emphasis on (answer and represent the needs of) marginalized/voiceless groups of society


Why did you choose this format for your Science Shop?


University environment is not supportive

• Even if it is not hostile it is still too „rigid” and counter-expectations are always in the background (publish or perish)

CSO format

• Provides room for flexibility

• Fits to the identity of members (CSO vs. research SME)

What type of work do you do in your Science Shop?


Current streams activities:

• Empowerment of marginalized Roma community (PAR)

• Urban development and public participation – member of the consultation panel (local social activism)

• Community-based conservation – planning Natura 2000 sites management plans, public consultation process (science-society)

• Organizing „scientific-activist conferences” on emergent/actual issues having both scientific and social relevance (science-society)

• Science and policymaking, basic income, local social policy

How do you fund your Science Shop?


• Independent CSO, no office

• Voluntary work

• Links to university, and other CSOs – resources

• Finances• member fee

• contracts (overhead)

• fund raising – grants (in process)

• capability approach and urban resilience

• early school leave of Roma children

• participatory video

• science shop networking

What challenges (other than funding) do you have?


Challenges

• (Members – to share a "common language” – lots of communication and meeting)

• Capacity – work/life/CRS balance

• Activism/research (especially: theoretizing and publication) balance

• In PAR activities

• Connection to local decision making

What advice do you have for a new Science Shop setting up outside a university?

• Just do it if you are committed!

• Planning/bulid on existing partnerships/friendships – shared values and goals

• „Egolessness”– Science-society work is different from conventional

scientific work (more demanding, less control, institutional obstacles)


Thank you for your kind attention!

György Málovics – [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

community-based research for sustainability association (crs) szeged, hungary mission: "being...

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