A key objective of the Naturescapes project is to build an international community where researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners can exchange ideas about how to foster transformative change. We call this community the Naturescapes Collaboratory. In this blog, I discuss what the Collaboratory is all about and why it is vital to our commitment to open science.
The Naturescapes Collaboratory
What are nature-based solutions?
The Naturescapes Collaboratory is based on the idea that effective, transformative research requires opening the scientific process. Our Collaboratory strives to form a diverse community around nature-based solutions (NBS) where people work to discover new ways of doing, thinking, and living together. Below, we show how the two ideas of “collaboration” and “laboratory” ground the Naturescapes Collaboratory.
Collaboratives: Spaces of community
According to a report from the European Commission, collaboration is essential for establishing NBS initiatives. Embedding NBS in everyday practice and policy requires bringing people into conversation across sectors and levels of government. From development to implementation, collaboration across multiple actors, including urban planners, NGOs, citizens, scientists and funders, is key for ensuring NBS are fit for purpose and improve urban infrastructure’s ability to cope with climate change and biodiversity loss. [1]
True collaboration also has an eye for justice. NBS initiatives often cut across multiple interests and demands, and can, intentionally or not, benefit some more than others. The active participation and inclusion of actors who are frequently missing or marginalised from NBS discussions is a key feature of collaboration for transformative change.
Overall, collaboration in NBS requires creating a community of practice and space where actors can bridge ideas and agendas, share their know-how about operating and maintaining NBS, and communicate their needs when things aren’t working for them.
Collaboration is the foundation of the Naturescapes project (Source: Philipp Montenegro)
Laboratories: Spaces of experimentation
As society seeks to tackle ever more complex challenges, new ‘living laboratories’ are being established to test innovations and experiment with new social initiatives in real world settings. These living laboratories are built on partnerships between universities, local and regional authorities, businesses and communities and are increasingly being used to identify ways we can collectively create sustainable development.
In “real world” settings, experimentation is tricky. Stakes are often high and many people can’t afford the costs of a “failed” experiment. But the process of experimentation is critical for solving problems, and even failed experiments provide valuable opportunities to share information and lessons learned.
Living laboratories are opening up science to new ways of working and engaging with real places and communities. At the same time, there is concern that the learning that should be emerging from these forms of experimentation is not always captured and the place-based focus of living laboratories can mean that knowledge and experience is not widely shared. [2]
Collaboration in nature with the Naturescapes team(Source: Philipp Montenegro)
Naturescapes Collaboratory: A space for open science
The Naturescapes Collaboratory merges the community spirit of collaboration with the potential generated through the experimentation of laboratories. Research shows that NBS are most successful when they leverage the expertise of a diverse range of people from different disciplines. [3] Multidisciplinary projects are better able to recognize the different benefits offered by NBS, and collaboration across diverse actors is one way to manage the complexity and uncertainty that comes with delivering on sustainability and resilience.
The Naturescapes Collaboratory aims to build a diverse collective of researchers, practitioners and policymakers who are actively involved in the design, review and dissemination of our project work. We believe the Collaboratory is central to upholding our principles of “open science:” a way of doing science that opens the laboratory doors to public engagement across the development of the Naturescapes project. In our approach to open science, research “subjects” are co-creators with the power to influence the scope and direction of research and have access to the knowledge and tools developed.
Over the lifespan of the project, the Collaboratory will meet regularly to present social and ecological research from all 12 of our case-study sites. Each meeting will focus on a different theme, from new NBS imaginaries to co-financing schemes. Following our kick-off meeting in November 2024, we will hold a regular series of events throughout 2025. If you are interested in NBS and would like to join us, please reach out. We can’t wait to Collaborate!
[1] Malekpour, S., Tawfik, S., & Chesterfield, C. (2021). Designing collaborative governance for nature-based solutions. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127177.
[2] Marschalek, I., Blok, V., Bernstein, M., Braun, R., Cohen, J., Hofer, M., Seebacher, L.M., Unterfrauner, E., Daimer, S., Nieminen, M. and Vinther Christensen, M. (2022). The social lab as a method for experimental engagement in participatory research. Journal of Responsible Innovation, 9(3), p. 419–442.
[3] Frantzeskaki, N. (2019). Seven lessons for planning nature-based solutions in cities. Environmental science & policy, 93, 101–111.
Author: JJ Blackwatters
JJ is a postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University’s Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. His research focuses on issues of environmental (in)justice, especially as they relate to marine conservation. JJ loves football, writing science fiction and travelling with his wife, Casey, and son, Gael.
More reads
If you’re interested in learning more, check out these links:
https://collaborativeconservation.org/resources/how-to/
https://journal.trialanderror.org/pub/three-persistent-myths/release/2