Co-constructing Alternative Futures

An Investigation of Sustainable Practices at James Cook University and Beyond: Co-constructing Alternative Futures

The project aims to examine ­ and then look beyond ­ the complex and often compromised nature of sustainable practices across three contexts: James Cook University (Townsville, Cairns and Singapore); The Townsville City Council; and local schools in Townsville.

Project description

This project addresses the long-standing question of why sustainable practices have largely failed to have a consistent impact on the core processes of achieving sustainable societies. The overarching aim of the project is to identify the socio-sustainable and socio-technical adjustments that might be made across 3 sites to facilitate Œbetter¹ sustainable practices. Using an innovative combination of large-scale surveying and critical participatory co-design, the project will:

• Provide insights into why sustainable practices are often not being used to their full potential.
• Actively collaborate in designing, experimenting and constructing alternatives through gamification by answering the question, "How do we design a serious game to deal with waste?".

Project partners

• James Cook University and TropEco

Project team

• Chris Walsh (College of Arts, Society & Education)
• Hilary Whitehouse (College of Arts, Society & Education)
• Helen Boon (College of Arts, Society & Education)
• Tanya Doyle (College of Arts, Society & Education)
• Elaine Sharplin (College of Arts, Society & Education)
• Trina Myers (College of Business, Law and Governance)
• Adam Connell (TropEco)
• David King (College of Science and Engineering)
• Maxine Newlands (College of Arts, Society & Education)
• Aoife McLoughlin (James Cook University Singapore- Psychology)

Key contact: Principal Investigator, Chris Walsh at chris.walsh@jcu.edu.au