The University, Public Interest Research and Advocacy Assistance for Sustainable Development
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development. Copyright © 2002 Society for International Development. SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi), 1011-6370 (200209) 45:3; 113–118; 027194. NB When citing this article please use both volume and issue numbers.
SID On-line Dialogue
The University, Public Interest Research and Advocacy Assistance for Sustainable Development C AT H Y C R U M B L E Y AND JOEL TICKNER
ABSTRACT Cathy Crumbley and Joel Tickner argue that public universities are increasingly called on to serve the larger public through community projects and social engagement. They are also being challenged to conduct research that helps the world change from its unsustainable development path. This article highlights two ways that universities can respond to these challenges. One way is to conduct research and provide technical assistance within a longterm vision for sustainability that serves the broader public interest. Another important role is to share this research so as to strengthen the capabilities of citizen groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). By so doing, citizen groups and NGOs will gain important technical knowledge and resources, and thus be able to participate more effectively in economic and community development debates at the local, regional and national level. KEYWORDS citizenship; clean production; democracy; participation; precautionary principle; science
Introduction Public universities bear a number of responsibilities in today’s world. They are increasingly called on to serve the larger public through community projects and engagement. Universities are also being challenged to conduct research and projects that help the world change from its unsustainable development path. This article highlights two ways that universities can respond to these challenges. One way is to conduct research and provide technical assistance within a long-term vision for sustainability that serves the broader public interest. Another important role is to share this research so as to strengthen the capabilities of citizen groups or non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Such technical and informational support can help NGOs that often operate with technical and resource disadvantages. It can also enable citizens to participate more effectively in public debates and in local, regional and national institutions
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development 45(3): SID On-line Dialogue concerned with matters of social and economic development. (We use the word ‘citizen’ in a broader sense than just legal citizenship to emphasize the potential for all residents of a given region, regardless of formal citizenship status, to influence change.) Herein we reflect on our experiences in conducting research that can be used by citizen groups in support of their goals. For perspective, we discuss some of the constraints that universities face when attempting to serve the broader public interest and describe our notion of public interest research. We then briefly outline two of
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