wp1 / DC1

Prototyping new technologies and data to enhance democratic participation for climate transitions

This PhD project focuses on studying practices and theories of democratic participation in data-intensive and technology-mediated processes to strengthen public participation. Specific objectives are: 1) To produce an integrative framework of notions and approaches coming from service design, policy studies and transitions management with literature on public participation and citizen engagement towards developing climate policies. 2) To map out the key benefits and weaknesses of data-intensive processes in public participation and of technology-mediated conflict for climate transitions (case studies). 3) To explore and apply prototyping techniques to experiment with design approaches that leverage technology for engaging stakeholders in democratic processes for climate transitions.

The theoretical and methodological structure of the project will be developed at the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano and in close collaboration with the other research projects in the network. This project requires the candidate to develop practice-based research and to reinforce (or develop new) theoretical understanding conceptual frameworks on democratic participation in data-intensive and technology-mediated processes, including case studies and – where possible – experimental development (prototyping) of new policies and services.

Lisbon Council (Belgium) (3 months) with mentor Dr Francesco Mureddu to collect knowledge on implemented cases and projects on data-intensive and technology mediated processes for public participation in climate transitions.
EYSeren (UK) (6 months) with support of Will Shaw as mentor to develop and apply prototyping approaches for the development of new technology-enabled solutions to enable democratic participation in climate transitions.