Abstract
This paper investigates how participatory knowledge production may contribute to more democratic sustainability governance. It develops an analytical framework in order to perform a systematic analysis of the GammaSense project in the Netherlands, on the measurement of gamma radiation by citizens. The paper first of all concludes that the way in which participation takes place throughout each and every stage of the knowledge production process, including technically complex issues such as the design of the measurement system and analytical toolset, has consequences for (a) which aspects of the gamma radiation decision-making process can potentially be democratized; (b) who gains a voice on the issue; (c) which form of democratization process is potentially facilitated. Secondly, the democratizing effects of setting the purpose of knowledge production, defining the research object and developing the methodological toolset are closely intertwined. Finally, providing space for multiple epistemologies and being attentive towards the role of material objects-the issue at hand and the methodological devices-are of crucial importance to realize the democratizing ambitions that the GammaSense project aimed to contribute towards.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 6160 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-28 |
| Number of pages | 28 |
| Journal | Sustainability (Switzerland) |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 15 |
| Early online date | 30 Jul 2020 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2020 |
Funding
This paper is based on a case study of GammaSense, which consisted of two phases: the GammaSense project (March 2017–July 2017) and the Gammasense 2.0 project (September 2018–March 2019). GammaSense was initiated by Waag Society, which is a civil society organization that describes itself an institute for art, science and society that explores the social and cultural impact of new technologies. They aim to open up, develop and use technology for citizen empowerment based on their key values of openness, fairness and inclusiveness [92]. The initial GammaSense project was funded by the European Union H2020 programme and involved participation by citizens, RIVM (the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment), WISE (an activist organization campaigning against nuclear energy and for renewables), and local governments of the cities of Maastricht, Eindhoven and Bergen op Zoom—cities in which controversy around nuclear power was already ongoing in 2017. GammaSense 2.0 was funded by the SIDN fund, a fund that funds innovative internet projects, and carried out in collaboration with WISE. Throughout the analysis, Waag Society is considered as the party initiating the project, while all other actors involved are participating stakeholders. Funding: This research was funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) grant number 464-15-229.
Keywords
- Democratic sustainability governance
- Gamma radiation
- Inclusive risk governance
- Nuclear energy
- Participation
- Participatory knowledge production
