How a Cow’s Retirement Became a Problem
By: Evert Jan van Hasselt Some time ago, I spoke with a farmer in Westbroek. A dairy farmer who wants to farm sustainably. He cares for his animals and told me that he wants to let his cows grow old on his farm. So when their milk production decreases, he doesn’t send them off to […]
Why Participatory Action Research education programmes in the form of a SevenSenses Challenge
As far as societal history goes, there is a huge gap between (scientific) research and practical outcome. On the one hand, research has always been seen as a scientific exercise executed by academic professionals, often lacking access to the practical realisation of positive societal change. On the other hand, solutions for societal change often lacks […]
Het potje, de luier en de illusie van controle
Mijn zoon kan al een tijdje op het potje. Hij is net twee jaar geworden. Hij vindt het fantastisch en we gieren wat af tijdens zijn ‘pipi & popo’! Toch krijg ik regelmatig reacties dat dit raar is (“veel te vroeg!”), en dat ik hem gewoon in zijn luier zijn ding moet laten doen. Vooral toen […]
The neighborhood initiative of the L-Flat: how action research tackles assumptions
It’s time. Wil and I are ready for the focus group, which is likely to be about the community center, but nothing is certain in action research. I catch myself with clammy hands and sweaty armpits. For the first time in my action research career, I am leading a focus group with teenage boys who […]
Citizen participation: how to motivate people without motivating them
I often get asked: how do I get the population or the target group involved in my project? As a municipality striving for citizen participation, this is often quite a challenge. I also frequently hear that attempts by the municipality to involve citizens in their projects end up fruitless. As an action researcher, you’re actually […]
Co-create TOP action plans! 8 Tips for facilitating focus groups in Participatory Action Research (PAR)
To achieve a successful action plan with your PAR participants – to address a problem together – multiple focus groups are often necessary. How can we, as Participatory Action Researchers, ensure that participants develop a successful action plan, one they feel ownership of and are eager and enthusiastic to work on? In this blog, we […]
Community-up: the third way for solutions in the social domain
You hear it more and more often: Community-up as a variation on Top-down and Bottom-up approaches. It’s also mentioned in my handbook “Participatory Action Research: Building Together Towards a Better World”. But what does it entail? Evert Jan explains. Enjoy reading, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions! Issues in the […]
How a Participatory Action Researcher would address deforestation issues
By Madelon Eelderink, founder of SevenSenses This blog was created during the Ecosystem Restoration Design training that Madelon attended in 2024 and is part of the PAO blog series for ecosystems, in which she shares her views on how PAO can contribute to ecosystem restoration and more. In January 2022, I travelled in Peru from […]
What Cows Can Teach Us About Sustainable Change
By Madelon Eelderink, founder of SevenSenses This blog was created during the Ecosystem Restoration Design training that Madelon attended in 2024 and is part of the PAO blog series for ecosystems, in which she shares her views on how PAO can contribute to ecosystem restoration and more. It’s fascinating to me to see what impact […]
Ecosystem restorers: here’s how to get locals ‘on board’
By SevenSenses founder Madelon Eelderink Nederlands, graag! Last year I excitedly started the Ecosystem Restoration Design Course on Earth Day. Well, now that it has finished I’m even more excited! First and foremost because it made me realize how incredibly easy it can be to ignite restoration of natural ecosystems and let nature do the […]