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Ecological Citizen(s): Tools, Technologies, and Means to Enable Sustainable Citizens is a four-year project run by SEI York in collaboration with the Royal College of Art and Wrexham Glyndŵr University which has been awarded £3.3 million by UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Together, they work to establish the Ecological Citizen Network+ using the Digital Economy to catalyze sustainable change beyond individual actions to tackle the ecological and climate crisis.
The existing ecological crisis, characterized by urgent challenges in climate change and sustainability, calls for innovative and collective action beyond individual efforts. In response to this pressing need, the Ecological Citizens project has been initiated.
Funded by the UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and awarded £3.3 million over four years starting in 2023, the project is a collaboration between the University of York’s Stockholm Environment Institute, Royal College of Art and Wrexham Glyndŵr University. Together, they work to establish the Ecological Citizens Network+ over the next years to foster and pro-actively encourage Ecological Citizenship for positive climate action.
By bringing together a multidisciplinary team of experts in design, science and technology as well as diverse groups of people, the Network+ will cover a wide range of pressing topics, from biomaterials and wildlife corridors to local manufacturing and repair. Envisaged project outputs include fostering Ecological Citizenship for positive climate action, building design-led responses, lowering barriers to entry, and creating an inclusive digital sustainable society. The Network+ will promote responses through the concept of the Digital Economy, aiming to bring agency to people who want to be involved, thus making all Ecological Citizens through an inclusive and sustainable approach.
Three rounds of seed funding will be available to support innovative startups, projects, and pilots that devise new ways to engage people with nature through technologically appropriate interventions. Before the funding calls open for applications, the project partners will host information events and workshops to provide guidance and assistance with the application process.
For more information, please visit the project website.
The project is coordinated by SEI York in collaboration with the Royal College of Art and Wrexham Glyndŵr University, encompassing a diverse range of academic expertise. This multidisciplinary approach brings together academics from the fields of Arts, Science, and Technology.
The dedicated EC project team comprises a multidisciplinary group of investigators, researchers, and specialists from the three partnering institutions.
On January 17th 2024, the Ecological Citizen(s) Network+ and the Crafts Council hosted a webinar titled ‘What Should Ecological Citizenship in Education Look Like?’ The event featured a panel of expert educators from various disciplines and educational levels. They delved into critical discussions on shaping the future of education to better prepare young individuals for a rapidly changing world. The webinar focused on key themes around Ecological Citizenship, including the essential skills needed for young people to adapt and thrive, the importance of a trans-disciplinary approach to foster holistic and interconnected curriculum, and strategies to motivate and inspire amidst growing climate concerns.
The recording of the webinar is available on YouTube.
We are excited to announce that the first Ecological Citizen(s) Call for Funding 2023 / 2024: Materials & Resources is now open!
Please visit the Ecological Citizens website for more information about the funding and application process.
To apply follow these steps:
The funding call closes at midnight on 31st January 2024.
On the 21st of September 2023, the Ecological Citizen(s) Network+ Project hosted a launch event to celebrate the commencement of the four-year project. During the event, an expert panel of guests discussed the topic: ‘How should we design for sustainable, preferable futures?‘. Watch the recording of the panel discussion here.
The citizen science group at SEI York aims to engage people in our research at a range of scales and geographic locations.
Perspective / Volunteers and scientists are increasingly working together to monitor ecosystems and answer scientific questions.
SEI brief / Citizen science approaches have the potential to support the definition, monitoring and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
Design and development by Soapbox.
