Using place-based public engagement to improve social and environmental sustainability: Lessons from partnership working in Cornwall, UK

Abstract

Public engagement with research and innovation is often inversely related to socio-economic status, with significant implications for realising positive solutions to pressing concerns, such as the biodiversity and climate crises. This paper reports on the use of place-based public workshops focusing on co-design of urban green spaces to understand: the extent to which public workshops can engage local people in relatively poor locations; the degree to which working with self-organised groups or newly-engaged publics impacts levels of engagement and outcomes; and how universities can play a role in developing locally relevant practical solutions to transdisciplinary issues such as the climate and biodiversity crises. We report on an action research project that involved facilitated co-design workshops in three towns in Cornwall, UK. The research methods included a survey of participants and follow up interviews with key stakeholders. We found that the workshops were successful in engaging local people, including those with less interest in the environment. Independent follow-on activities from aligned self-organised groups were greater than for newly engaged publics but this was partly dependent on the knowledge and skills of those involved. The role of the university as a neutral partner, in providing expertise and seed funding, was seen to be positive, with short-term timescales, communication and the ability to retain longer term involvement reported as hindrances to successful collaboration.