The 2009 conference is hosted by The Science Shop, Queen's University Belfast

 

 Local climate activities in co-operation with municipality, civil society and science shop

 

The Science Shop at DTU co-operates with the local municipal administration and the local branch of an environmental NGO about climate change.  The co-operation was initiated by a proposal to the Science Shop from the municipal administration.  Since the Science Shop requests civil society involvement in projects it was proposed to involve the local branch of an environmental NGO.  The starting point was the development of topics by the administration and the NGO together for the use of students as part of the Science Shop project supply.

The focus is the climate impact of local activities and strategies for reduction of the impact.  Most projects have focused on municipal activities, but private activities within the geographic area of the municipality are also included. Focus on the activities causing climate impact makes the projects relevant for all parts of the technical university. The activities are initiated and co-ordinated by a group with members from the municipal administration, the local NGO and the Science Shop. All projects have involved student projects, but most projects have also contributed to ongoing research activities.

The projects up till now have focused on the municipal food supply in canteens and to elderly citizens, municipal employees’ transportation habits, a municipal energy saving campaign, local businesses’ climate impact, and energy refurbishment of private houses. The knowledge production has in some projects mainly been academic, but joint knowledge production with civil society has taken place in some projects. Results have been published locally and some, for example, the food projects, nationally.  Co-operation about environmental impacts of municipal investments may be an up-coming activity.

 

Presenters name:  Michael Søgaard Jørgensen

Presenters Institution:  The Science Shop, Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

Biography

Michael Søgaard Jørgensen is associate professor and science shop co-ordinator and has a background within chemical engineering and technology assessment.  His research focuses on strategies for sustainable innovations and sustainable transition, including the roles of civil society organizations and of science shops.