Bálint Balázs

Learning and the transformative potential of citizen science.

The number of collaborative initiatives between scientists and volunteers (i.e., citizen science) is increasing across many research fields. The promise of societal transformation together with scientific breakthroughs contributes to the current popularity of citizen science (CS) in the policy domain. We examined the transformative capacity of citizen science in particular learning through environmental CS as conservation tool. We reviewed the CS and social-learning literature and examined 14 conservation projects across Europe that involved collaborative CS. We also developed a template that can be used to explore learning arrangements (i.e., learning events and materials) in CS projects and to explain how the desired outcomes can be achieved through CS learning. We found that recent studies aiming to define CS for analytical purposes often fail to improve the conceptual clarity of CS; CS programs may have transformative potential, especially for the development of individual skills, but such transformation is not necessarily occurring at the organizational and institutional levels; empirical evidence on simple learning outcomes, but the assertion of transformative effects of CS learning is often based on assumptions rather than empirical observation; and it is unanimous that learning in CS is considered important, but in practice it often goes unreported or unevaluated. In conclusion, we point to the need for reliable and transparent measurement of transformative effects for democratization of knowledge production.

Multifunctional Farming and Survival Strategies in the Borsodi Floodplain

In this chapter we summarise and interpret results from the multidisciplinary analysis of a marginal socio-economically disadvantageous small farm region in Hungary. We identify a range of survival strategies within the predominantly agricultural local population to summarize how farmers adapt to unfavourable conditions in agriculture with decreasing revenues while suffering from instability of severe economic situation. The historically rooted and increasing tendencies of part time farming, pluractivity, diversification and off-farm activities only recently required the collective action of farmers in order to develop novel rural development networks. Our case study finds that new policy programmes should build more on the local beneficiaries’ landscape maintaining activities and diversified land use, which for centuries prevented the loss of semi-natural habitats and biodiversity. Relatedly, the marginal area should further activate local participative capabilities to enhance networks and processes across various local stakeholders to effectively influence rural development.

Részvételi akciókutatással a társadalmi kirekesztés ellen: egy szegedi példa tanulságai

Large international surveys and regional and national (Hungarian) examinations all show that the vast majority of the European and Hungarian Roma population belongs to the most disadvantaged groups of society. Furthermore, social disadvantages and spatial segregation are often connected. Our paper is based on a case study carried out in Szeged (Hungary) in relation to the problems mentioned. In Szeged, university researchers and social activists have been working together with local Roma leaders and Roma families living in segregated areas (segregates) from the beginning of 2011 within the framework of participatory action research. As a participatory action research-type research process our cooperation has two strongly interconnected goals. First, we aim to generate valuable knowledge about the social integration of Roma. Second, we aim to contribute to local social integration processes by testing our knowledge in practice through actions in the field. Based on our ongoing work, we gained valuable research experience regarding local social segregation and integration and its spatial aspects, and the role of scientific research and researchers in this area. In our study we give an overview of these experiences. Besides introducing some general questions and (ethical) dilemmas regarding social science research dealing with social segregation/integration, we examine how social and spatial integration are interconnected and the requirements social scientists have to meet if they deal with social integration issues within the framework of participatory action research. Our conclusions are that participatory action research sets new challenges for social researchers – because of its action component, for example – and participatory action research dealing with local social integration of the Roma might cause “objective”, “outsider” or “independent” researchers turning into local political actors. However, this “turn” does not necessarily mean a real change in the role of experts, but it rather means that interests and values necessarily appearing behind scientific research are made explicit in the process of participatory action research.