International and Community Development: Regenerative City Living Lab

Regenerative City Living Lab

Facing our current climate emergency, there has never been a more critical time to work towards planetary health in a way that empowers and provides hope to young people. The Living Lab is a circular, regenerative precinct that emphasises innovation in planetary health. It leverages regenerative food systems to innovatively grow ways of belonging, nourishing, learning and thriving.

Working with award winning social enterprise, STREAT, this project will include a series of projects and initiatives that engage VU students and young people in new ways of learning to equip them with the skills to become future innovators and empowered to contribute to environmental action and change.

Regenerative Action

This guide brings together a collection of articles and other resources from a range of disciplines to facilitate learning and action for regenerative action.

Students and staff from Victoria University are able to access VU Library resources. You may be initially diverted to the VU Portal log-in page. Enter your Victoria University credentials to access the resource.

Young People’s Concerns about Climate Change 

Our world our say: National survey of children and young people on climate change and disaster risk

  • Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience. (n.d.). Our world our say: National survey of children and young people on climate change and disaster risk. https://www.aidr.org.au/media/7946/ourworldoursay-youth-survey-report-2020.pdf  

Young People's Voices on Climate Anxiety, Government Betrayal and Moral Injury: A Global Phenomenon

  • Hickman, C., Marks, E., Pihkala, P., Clayton, S., Lewandowski, E. R., Mayall, E., Wray, B., Meoor, C., & van Susteren, L. (2021). Young people's voices on climate anxiety, Government betrayal and moral injury: A global phenomenon.  SSRN eLibrary. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3918955  

Young people of Australia and climate change: Perceptions and concerns

  • Chiw, C., & Ling, H. (2019). Young people of Australia and climate change: Perceptions and concerns. Millennium Kids https://www.millenniumkids.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Young-People-and-Climate-Change.pdf 

Young People and Climate Change Activism

Learning from young people engaged in climate activism: The potential of collectivizing despair and hope 

  • Nairn, K. (2019). Learning from young people engaged in climate activism: The potential of collectivizing despair and hope. Young, 27(5), 435-450. https://doi.org/10.1177/1103308818817603

What difference does it make? Exploring the transformative potential of everyday climate crisis activism by children and youth

  • Trott, C. (2021). What difference does it make? Exploring the transformative potential of everyday climate crisis activism by children and youth, Children's Geographies, 19(3), 300-308, https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2020.1870663 

Global youth activism on climate change

  • Cloughton, I. (2021). Global youth activism on climate change, Social Work & Policy Studies: Social Justice, Practice  and Theory, 4(1), https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/SWPS/article/view/14960  

Questioning the canon: Colonial history, counter-memory and youth activism

  • Kidman, J., & O’Malley, V. (2020). Questioning the canon: Colonial history, counter-memory and youth activism. Memory Studies, 13(4), 537-550, https://doi.org/10.1177/1750698017749980

Critical Place Inquiry

The design of critical place-based inquiry

  • Chapter in: Langran E., & DeWitt J. (2020). Navigating place-based learning. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55673-0_3

Relational validity and the "where" of inquiry: Place and land in qualitative research

  • Tuck, E., & McKenzie, M. (2015). Relational validity and the "where" of inquiry: Place and land in qualitative research, Qualitative Inquiry, 27(7), 633-638. https//doi.org/10.1177/1077800414563809

Indigenous Pedagogy of Place and Decolonisation

Place, land, and the decolonization of the settler soul

  • Greenwood, D., (2019). Place, land, and the decolonization of the settler soul, The Journal of Environmental Education, 50(4-6), 358-377, https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2019.1687412

Decolonisation, reinhabitation and reconciliation: Aboriginal and place-based education

  • Scully, A., (2012). Decolonisation, reinhabitation and reconciliation: Aboriginal and place-based education. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 17, 148-158. https://cjee.lakeheadu.ca/article/view/1113

Critical Indigenous pedagogy of place: A framework to Indigenize a food justice movement

  • Trinidad, A., (2012). Critical Indigenous pedagogy of place: A framework to Indigenize a food justice movement. Journal of Indigenous Social Development, 1(1), 1-17.  http://hdl.handle.net/10125/21977

Indigenous Knowledge and Protection of Country

A deeper meaning of sustainability: Insights from indigenous knowledge

  • Mazzocchi, F. (2020). A deeper meaning of sustainability: Insights from indigenous knowledge. The Anthropecene Review, 7(1), 77-93. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053019619898888  

Rethinking environmental education with the help of Indigenous ways of knowing and traditional ecological knowledge

  • Nesterova, Y. (2020). Rethinking environmental education with the help of Indigenous ways of knowing and traditional ecological knowledge. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 54(4), 1047-1052. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-9752.12471  

Old ways for new days: Australian Indigenous peoples and climate change

  • Nursey-Bray, M., Palmer, R., Smith, T., & Rist, P. (2019). Old ways for new days: Australian Indigenous peoples and climate change. Local Environment, 24(5), 473-486. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2019.1590325

Indigenous plant use: A booklet on the medicinal, nutritional and technological use of indigenous plants

  • Cumpson, Z. (2020).  Indigenous plant use: A booklet on the medicinal, nutritional and technological use of indigenous plants. Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub. https://nespurban.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Indigenous-plant-use.pdf  

To address the ecological crisis, Aboriginal people must be restored as custodians of Country

  • Cumpston, Z. (2020). To address the ecological crisis, Aboriginal people must be restored as custodians of Country. The Conversation.   https://theconversation.com/to-address-the-ecological-crisis-aboriginal-peoples-must-be-restored-as-custodians-of-country-108594 

Indigenous Food Sovereignty 

Beyond food security: Understanding access to cultural food for urban Indigenous people in Winnipeg as Indigenous food sovereignty

  • Cidro, J., Adekunle, B., Peters, E, & Martins, T. (2015). Beyond food security: Understanding access to cultural food for urban Indigenous people in Winnipeg as Indigenous food sovereignty. Canadian Journal of Urban Research, 24(1), 24-43. 

Enacting food sovereignty in Aotearoa New Zealand and Peru: Revitalizing Indigenous knowledge, food practices and ecological philosophies.

  • Huambachano, M. (2018). Enacting food sovereignty in Aotearoa New Zealand and Peru: Revitalizing Indigenous knowledge, food practices and ecological philosophies. Agroecology and sustainable food systems, 42(9), 1003-1028.  https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2018.1468380

Eating as settler-colonial act: Food justice and Indigenous sovereignty

  • Mayes, C. (2020). Eating as settler-colonial act: Food justice and Indigenous sovereignty. ABC Religion & Ethics. https://www.abc.net.au/religion/food-justice-and-indigenous-sovereignty/12881328  

Why Aboriginal people need autonomy over their food supply

  • Soldatic, K., & Spurway, K. (2015). Why Aboriginal people need autonomy over their food supply. The Conversation https://theconversation.com/why-aboriginal-people-need-autonomy-over-their-food-supply-41812

Resilience 

Systemic resilience: Principles and processes for a science of change in contexts of adversity

  • Ungar, M. (2018). Systemic resilience: Principles and processes for a science of change in contexts of adversity. Ecology and Society, 23(4), Article 34. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10385-230434

Community resilience and community development: What mutual opportunities arise from interactions between the two concepts?

  • Cavaye, J., & Ross, H. (2019). Community resilience and community development: What mutual opportunities arise from interactions between the two concepts? Community Development, 50(2), 181-200. 

Community Gardens: Social and Psychological Benefits

Campus community gardens and student health: A case study of a campus garden and student well-being

  • Baur, J. (2020). Campus community gardens and student health: A case study of a campus garden and student well-being. Journal of American College Health, Ahead-of-Print, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1751174

Cultivating community collaboration and community health through community gardens

  • Lanier, J., Schumacher, J., & Calvert, K. (2015). Cultivating community collaboration and community health through community gardens. Journal of Community Practice, 23(3-4), 492-507. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2015.1096316

From sanctuaries to prefigurative social change: Creating health-enabling spaces in East London community gardens

  • Guerlain, M.,& Campbell, C. (2016). From sanctuaries to prefigurative social change: Creating health-enabling spaces in East London community gardens. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 4(1), 220-237. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v4i1.526

Sowing social inclusion for marginalised residents of a social housing development through a community garden

  • Mmako, N., Capetola, T., & Henderson‐Wilson, C. (2019). Sowing social inclusion for marginalised residents of a social housing development through a community garden. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 30(3), 350-358. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.225

Relating to nature, food and community in community gardens

  • van Holstein, E. (2017). Relating to nature, food and community in community gardens. Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability, 22(10), 1159-1173. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2017.1328673

The motivations and experiences of community garden participants in Edinburgh, Scotland

  • McVey, D., Nash, N., & Stansbie, P. (2018). The motivations and experiences of community garden participants in Edinburgh, Scotland, Regional Studies, Regional Science, 5(1), 40-56, https://doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2017.1409650  

Community gardens as contexts for science, stewardship, and civic action learning. Urban horticulture: ecology, landscape, and agriculture

  • Krasny, M., & Tidball, K.. (2017). Community gardens as contexts for science, stewardship, and civic action learning. Urban horticulture: ecology, landscape, and agriculture, Cities and the Environment 2(1), Article 8. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol2/iss1/8

Cultivating community: Perceptions of community garden and reasons for participating in a rural Victorian town

  • Liamputtong, P., & Sanchez, E. (2018). Cultivating community: Perceptions of community garden and reasons for participating in a rural Victorian town. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 42(2), 124-142.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01924788.2017.1398038  

Sustainability: Through cross-cultural community garden activities

  • Datta, R. (2019). Sustainability: Through cross-cultural community garden activities. Local Environment, 24(8), 762-776. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2019.1641073  

3 ways community gardens often exclude migrants and refugees — and how to turn this around

  • Turner, B. (2021). 3 ways community gardens often exclude migrants and refugees — and how to turn this around. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/3-ways-community-gardens-often-exclude-migrants-and-refugees-and-how-to-turn-this-around-164547  

School-community gardens plant the seeds of change to address global warming

  • Harvey, B., Sprowls, E., & Huang, Y-S. (2020). School-community gardens plant the seeds of change to address global warming. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/school-community-gardens-plant-the-seeds-of-change-to-address-global-warming-134776  

Growing a garden can also bloom eco-resilient, cross-cultural, food-sovereign communities

  • Datta, R., (2019). Growing a garden can also bloom eco-resilient, cross-cultural, food-sovereign communities. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/growing-a-garden-can-also-bloom-eco-resilient-cross-cultural-food-sovereign-communities-121543  

At a New York City garden, students grow their community roots and critical consciousness

  • Adams, J., & Pieroni, P. (2019). At a New York City garden, students grow their community roots and critical consciousness. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/at-a-new-york-city-garden-students-grow-their-community-roots-and-critical-consciousness-117459  

Grassroots projects make urban sustainability a way of life

  • Tchapi, M., & Neuman, M. (2020). Grassroots projects make urban sustainability a way of life. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/grassroots-projects-make-urban-sustainability-a-way-of-life-130919  

If you took to growing veggies in the coronavirus pandemic, then keep it up when lockdown ends

  • Gaynor, A. (2020). If you took to growing veggies in the coronavirus pandemic, then keep it up when lockdown ends. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/if-you-took-to-growing-veggies-in-the-coronavirus-pandemic-then-keep-it-up-when-lockdown-ends-135359 

Biophilia - Connecting to Nature for Wellbeing

Building a ‘second nature’ into our cities: wildness, art and biophilic design

  • Lacey, J. (2018). Building a ‘second nature’ into our cities: wildness, art and biophilic design. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/building-a-second-nature-into-our-cities-wildness-art-and-biophilic-design-88642

Can’t go outside? Even seeing nature on a screen can improve your mood

  • Brack, C. (2020). Can’t go outside? Even seeing nature on a screen can improve your mood. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/cant-go-outside-even-seeing-nature-on-a-screen-can-improve-your-mood-135320

Biodiversity and our brains: how ecology and mental health go together in our cities

  • Myers, Z. (2020). Biodiversity and our brains: how ecology and mental health go together in our cities. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/biodiversity-and-our-brains-how-ecology-and-mental-health-go-together-in-our-cities-126760  

Green for wellbeing – science tells us how to design urban spaces that heal us

  • Myers, Z. (2017) Green for wellbeing – science tells us how to design urban spaces that heal us. The  Conversation. https://theconversation.com/green-for-wellbeing-science-tells-us-how-to-design-urban-spaces-that-heal-us-82437

Biophilic urbanism: how rooftop gardening soothes souls

  • Wilkinson, S., & Orr, F. (2017). Biophilic urbanism: how rooftop gardening soothes souls. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/biophilic-urbanism-how-rooftop-gardening-soothes-souls-76789

COVID-19 and Access to Nature

The importance of nature to city living during the COVID-19 pandemic: Considerations and goals from environmental psychology

  • McCunn, L. (2020). The importance of nature to city living during the COVID-19 pandemic: Considerations and goals from environmental psychology, Cities & Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2020.1795385

Spending time in nature has always been important, but now it’s an essential part of coping with the pandemic

  • Knight, C. (2021). Spending time in nature has always been important, but now it’s an essential part of coping with the pandemic. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/spending-time-in-nature-has-always-been-important-but-now-its-an-essential-part-of-coping-with-the-pandemic-153073

Access to nature has always been important; With COVID-10, it is essential

  • Sachs, N. (2020). Access to nature has always been important; With COVID-10, it is essential. Health Environments Research, 13(4), 242-244. https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586720949792 

Climate Change and Mental Health

The rise of ‘eco-anxiety’: climate change affects our mental health, too

  • Charlson, F. (2019). The rise of ‘eco-anxiety’: climate change affects our mental health, too. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-eco-anxiety-climate-change-affects-our-mental-health-too-123002

Australians are 3 times more worried about climate change than COVID. A mental health crisis is looming

  • Garad, R., Enticott, J., & Patrick, R. (2021). Australians are 3 times more worried about climate change than COVID. A mental health crisis is looming. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/australians-are-3-times-more-worried-about-climate-change-than-covid-a-mental-health-crisis-is-looming-165470  

Climate change threats to farmer’s sense of place and mental wellbeing: A case study from the Western Australian Wheatbelt

  • Ellis, N., & Albrecht, G. (2017). Climate change threats to farmer’s sense of place and mental wellbeing: A case study from the Western Australian Wheatbelt. Social Science & Medicine, 175, 161-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.01.009

Food: Identity, Belonging and Intercultural Relations

Food, identity and belonging: a case study of South African-Australians

  • Schermuly, A., & Forbes-Mewett, H. (2016). Food, identity and belonging: a case study of South African-Australians. British Food Journal, 118(10), 2434-2443. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-01-2016-0037

How to study ethnic food: senses, power, and intercultural studies

  • Karaosmanoğlu, D. (2020). How to study ethnic food: senses, power, and intercultural studies. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 7, Article 11.  https://doi.org/10.1186/s42779-020-00049-1

Planetary Health

Larger than life: Injecting hope into the planetary health paradigm

  • Prescott, S., & Logan, A. (2018). Larger than life: Injecting hope into the planetary health paradigm. Challenges, 9(1), 13.   https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/9/1/13

Narrative Approaches

Using stories, narratives, and storytelling in energy and climate change research

  • Moezzi, M., Janda, K., & Rotmann, S. (2017). Using stories, narratives, and storytelling in energy and climate change research. Energy Research & Social Science, 31, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.06.034  

Narrative: An ontology, epistemology and methodology for pro-environmental psychology research

  • Brown, P. (2017). Narrative: An ontology, epistemology and methodology for pro-environmental psychology research. Energy Research & Social Science, 31, 215-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.06.006  

Telling stories: Narrative approaches in qualitative research

  • Sandelowski, M. (1991). Telling stories: Narrative approaches in qualitative research. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 23(3), 161-166. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.1991.tb00662.x  

Human Centered Design 

Beyond net zero: A systematic design approach

  • Design Council. (2021). Beyond net zero: A systematic design approach. https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/asset/document/Beyond%20Net%20Zero%20-%20A%20Systemic%20Design%20Approach.pdf

Urban Living Labs

Impacts of urban living labs on sustainability transitions: mechanisms and strategies for systemic change through experimentation

  • von Wirth, T., Fuenfschilling, L., Frantzeskaki, N., & Coenen, L. (2019). Impacts of urban living labs on sustainability transitions: mechanisms and strategies for systemic change through experimentation. European Planning Studies, 27(2), 229-257.  https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2018.1504895  

Urban living labs: A living lab way of working

  • Steen, K., & Van Bueren, E. (2017). Urban living labs: A living lab way of working. Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions. https://www.ams-institute.org/news/urban-living-labs-living-lab-way-working