Values and sustainability

These pages hold legacy content of completed research. Our new online home with details of our most recent achievements is the Values and Sustainability Research and Enterprise Group on the university research portal.

For a list of all university research groups and centres, visit the University of Brighton's page on organisational research units.  

The Values and Sustainability research and enterprise group is developing an innovative research field centred on values-based approaches. Our research uses human values as a lens for investigating different perspectives on current issues in society, through research in design, new measures for society and sustainability. The seeds of the values-based approaches was developed from deep partnerships with civil society organisations and has already led to scholarship and applications in diverse fields. Researchers in the group contribute expertise from multiple disciplines, and bring them together to address issues that go beyond disciplinary boundaries.

Our researchers are contributing to leading research in design, and in particular the development of scholarship in theories of participation, design issues in community-university partnership research. The group particularly draws on the trans-disciplinary potential of design research and practice to address society issues, and design values-based approaches relevant to a variety of different contexts. We draw design research in values, Human-Computer Interactions (HCI), co-design and sustainable design.

Design

The group is developing theoretical work that examines how, by putting design at the core of a research agenda, researchers can link together academic disciplines and then move beyond them, and also return to make contributions in them separately. In particular we have contributed to the development of a new framework for participation in the context of projects, organisations and community-engaged research, and developed a platform of work on designing values-based approaches for different contexts.

Designing values-based approaches

A core focus of the Values and Sustainability Research Group is designing values-based approaches within a variety of different contexts. We understand ‘values’ in two different senses: as people’s judgements about what is important or meaningful in their lives, and as principles or standards for behaviour (Oxford English Dictionary, 2014).

Our design practice and transdisciplinary research draw on both of these meanings. However, we have focused in particular on values in the latter sense of principles or standards that can guide human behaviour – variously referred to as `ethical’, `spiritual’, ‘higher’ values.

Our work draws on research on values from multiple disciplines including design, development studies, environmental sciences, education and organisation studies, but takes it a step further by providing a rigorous approach for defining and developing measures for values by focusing on intersubjective authority and defining values through values-based indicators.

In collaboration with project partners from the voluntary sector, businesses, universities, schools and faith-based organisations, we have successfully applied this principle to design values-based approaches for a variety of contexts: 

  • project co-design
  • strategic planning
  • project monitoring and evaluation
  • mapping the legacies of community-university research partnerships
  • developing sustainability indicators
  • Education for Sustainability (EfS)/Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in schools, universities and non-formal settings
  • Identifying and celebrating acts of compassion in health services

Design research projects

PERL (Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living)

Designing values-based approaches to education for sustainable and responsible living in secondary schools

Cultivating Compassion

Application of values-based indicator development approaches to design ‘compassion indicators’ within the UK National Health Service

Sustainability

A core thread of the group’s research is sustainability. This includes critiques of current sustainability discourses and implications for practice. In particular, the group’s research builds on the recognition that ethical values are a crucial dimension of sustainability (for instance in the Earth Charter and the United Nations Millennium Declaration), and evidence that these can be measured if appropriate and localised indicators and assessment methods are used. In this sense, the group stands in an exciting and challenging position between recognising the importance of ‘intangible’ aspects of projects and organisations, and responding to the imperative of providing measures for cultural dimensions of society.

The group’s research on the practice of sustainability builds on longstanding expertise in waste and environmental management and education for sustainability. It covers the following themes

  • Sustainability indicators
  • Sustainability in Higher Education
  • New measures for society

Sustainability indicators

A core aim of the group has always been the development of a new paradigm of sustainability indicators: ethical values-based indicators.

‘Ethical’ values such as trust, integrity, justice and compassion are usually neglected in sustainability assessment, because they are seen as being intangible and impossible to measure. Through our theoretical work (published in the open-access journal Sustainability in 2013) we counter this myth and illustrate a practical way of bringing values into the domain of project monitoring and evaluation. We also discuss the implications of this research for monitoring progress towards Sustainable Development Goals.

New measures for society

The role of measurement, assessment and evaluation in society is often taken for granted: well-established measures such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have become key determinants of national policies and legislation. Initial work in this area was in strong response to the inadequacy of measures in sustainable development projects. New measures for this context were developed and co-produced with deep collaborations with civil society organisations. This has led to the platform of work on values-based approaches outlined above.

Sustainability in Higher Education

The Values and Sustainability Research Group takes a keen interest in sustainability in higher education – both at the University of Brighton, and further afield. This has been translated into several different projects, including collaborative research on values-based indicators in higher education contexts, a curriculum audit, and theoretical work on organisational change for sustainability in higher education.

Sustainability research projects

Values as a bridge

Evaluating the bridge between sustainability and institutional performance assessment in universities.

Food waste in China

Residential food waste separation in Shanghai. A platform of work to study remarkable community level success, for roll-out.

Complexity of organisational change for sustainability in HE

An analysis of literature on organisational change for sustainability in higher education

ESDInds

Indicators and Assessment Tools for Civil Society Organisations promoting values-based education for sustainable development

Research team

Professor Marie Harder

Elona Hoover

Firooz Firoozmand

Gemma Burford

PhD Students

Richard Kulczak

Sultana Khoda

Gemma Burford

Ismael Velasco

Professor Harder also supervises four PhD and one MPhil students based at Fudan University, China on sustainability-related topics.

Outputs

Ribeiro, M.M., Hoover, E., Burford, G., Buchebner, J., Lindenthal, T. (accepted for publication) Values: a bridge between sustainability and institutional assessment - a case study from BOKU University. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

Hoover, E. and Harder, M.K. (2014) What lies beneath the surface? The hidden complexities of organizational change for sustainability in higher education. Journal of Cleaner Production (in press)

Velasco, I and Harder, M.K. (2014) From Attitude Change to Behaviour Change: Institutional Mediators of Education for Sustainable Development Effectiveness Sustainability, 6. pp. 6553-6575. ISSN 2071-1050

Harder, Marie K., Velasco, I., Burford, G., Podger, D., Janoušková, S., Piggot, G., Hoover E. (2014) Reconceptualizing ‘effectiveness’ in environmental projects: Can we measure values-related achievements? Journal of environmental management 139: 120-134.

Huang, Wenfang, Wang, Jie, Dai, Xinying, Li, Mingran and Harder, Marie (2014) More than financial investment is needed: food waste recycling pilots in Shanghai, China Journal of Cleaner Production, 67. pp. 107-116. ISSN 0959-6526

Harder M, Burford G, Hoover E (2013) What is participation? Design Leads the Way to a Cross-Disciplinary Framework. Design Issues 29 (4): 41–57.

Burford G, Hoover E, Velasco I, Janoušková S, Jimenez A, Piggot G, Podger D, Harder MK.(2013) Bringing the “Missing Pillar” into Sustainable Development Goals: Towards Intersubjective Values-Based Indicators. Sustainability 5(7):3035-3059.

Podger, D., Velasco, I., Amezcua Luna, C., Burford, G. and Harder, M.K. (2013) Can values be measured? Significant contributions from a small civil society organisation through action research Action Research, 11 (1). pp. 8-30. ISSN 1476-7503

Wang, Y., Lam, K., Harder, M.K., Ma, W. and Yu, Q. (2013) Developing an indicator system to foster sustainability in strategic planning in China: a case study of Pudong New Area, Shanghai Ecological Indicators, 29. ISSN 1470-160X

Harder, M.K. and White, R. (2013) The journey towards sustainability via community: lessons from two UK universities In: Sterling, S., Maxey, L. and Luna, H., eds. The sustainable university: process and prospect. Routledge Studies in Sustainable Development. Routledge, Abingdon, UK, pp. 133-150. ISBN 9780415627740

Rahman, K., Woodard, R., Manzanares, E. and Harder, M.K. (2013) An assessment of anaerobic digestion capacity in Bangladesh Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 32. pp. 762-769. ISSN 1364-0321

Burford, G., Kissmann, Susanne, Rosado-May, Francisco J., Alvarado Dzul, Santos H. and Harder, M.K. (2012) Indigenous participation in intercultural education: learning from Mexico and Tanzania Ecology and Society, 17 (4). p. 33. ISSN 1708-3087

Burford, G., Valasco, I., Janoušková, S., Zahradnik, M., Hak, T., Podger, D., Piggot, G. and Harder, M.K. (2012) Field trials of a novel toolkit for evaluating ‘intangible’ values-related dimensions of projects Evaluation and Program Planning, 36 (1). pp. 1-14. ISSN 0149-7189

Podger, D., Piggot, G., Valasco, I., Zahradnik, M., Janoušková, S., Hak, T., Dahl, A., Jimenez, A. and Harder, M.K. (2010) The Earth Charter and the ESDinds initiative: developing indicators and assessment tools for Civil Society Organisations to examine the values dimensions of sustainability projects Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 4 (2). ISSN 0973-4082

Harder, M.K. and Woodard, R. (2009) Use of home food digesters to reduce household waste Proceedings of the ICE - Waste and Resource Management, 162 (2). pp. 69-73. ISSN 1747-6526

R. Carr, C. Zhang , N. Moles, M. K. Harder (2008) Identification and mapping of heavy metal pollution in soils of a sports ground in Galway City, Ireland, using a portable XRF analyser and GIS. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, Volume 30, Issue 1, 45-52.

M. K. Harder, N. Stantzos, R. Woodard, A. Read (2008) Development of a New Quality Fair Access Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) for Recycling Services. Waste Management, Volume 28, Issue 2, 299-309. Extension Page

M. K. Harder & R Woodard (2007) Systematic Studies of Shop and Leisure Incentives for Household Recycling. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 51, Issue 4, 732-753.

M .K. Harder & O. T. Forton (2007) A Critical Review of Developments in the Pyrolysis of Automotive Shredder Residue. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Volume 79, Issues 1-2, 387-394.

O. T. Forton, L. McGrady, M. M. Singh, E. R. M. Taylor, N. R. Moles, M. K. Harder (2007) Characterisation of rotary kiln residues from the pyrolysis of shredder residues: issues with lead. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Volume 79, Issues 1-2, 395-402.

R. Woodard, M. K. Harder and M. Bench (2006) Participation in curbside recycling schemes and its variation with material types, Waste Management, Volume 26, Issue 8 , 914-919.

M. K. Harder, R. Woodard and M. Bench (2006) Two Measured Parameters Correlated to Participation Rates in Curbside Recycling Schemes in the UK, Environmental Management, Volume 37, Issue 4, 487-495.

O. T. Forton, M. K. Harder and N. R. Moles (2006) Value from shredder waste: Ongoing limitations in the UK, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 46, Issue 1, 104-113.

M. Bench, R. Woodard, M. K. Harder and N. Stantzos (2005) Waste minimisation: Home digestion trials of biodegradable waste, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 45, Issue 1, 84-94.

R. Woodard, M. Bench and M. K. Harder (2005) The development of a UK kerbside scheme using known practice, Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 75, Issue 2, 115-127.

R. Woodard, M. Bench, M. K. Harder and N. Stantzos (2004) The optimisation of household waste recycling centres for increased recycling; a case study in Sussex, UK. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 43, Issue 1, 75-93.

R. Woodard, M. K. Harder, M. Bench and M. Philip (2001) Evaluating the performance of a fortnightly collection of household waste separated into compostables, recyclates and refuse in the south of England. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 31, Issue 3, 265-284.

M. Bench, R. Woodard and M. K. Harder (2003) Household Waste Recycling Sites: waste material by weight with a view to facility optimisation, Institute of Wastes Management Scientific & Technical Review, August 2003, 2-8.

C. A. Ambrose, R. Hooper, A. K. N. Potter & M. M. Singh (2002) Diversion from Landfill: Quality Products from Valuable Plastics, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 36, 309-318.

R. Hooper, A. K. N. Potter, & M. M. Singh (2001) Diversion from landfill: mechanical recycling of plastics from materials recovery facilities and from shredder residue. Green Chemistry, 3, 57-60.

R. Hooper (2000) Household waste plastics - a future for recovery? Institute of Wastes Management Scientific & Technical Review, November, 37-40.

C. A. Ambrose, M. M. Singh & M. K. Harder (2000) The material composition of shredder residue in the UK, Institute of Wastes Management Scientific & Technical Review, November, 27- 35.

R Woodard, M. Bench and M. K. Harder (2000), Determination of civic amenity waste components, Institute of Wastes Management Scientific & Technical Review, July, 18-21.

M.K. Harder and L.A. Freeman (1996) A study of an integrated land-fill and coppice power station, Renewable Energy, Volume 9, Issues 1-4, 989-992.

Collaborations

Professor Linda Steg (University of Groningen, NL)

Professor Andrew Church (University of Brighton, UK)

Dr Thomas Hak (Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic)

Dr Theodore Zamenopoulos (Open University, UK)

Dr Katerina Alexou (Open University, UK)

Dr Julian Brigstocke (Cardiff University, UK)

Dr Leila Dawney (University of Brighton, UK)

Ceri Davies (University of Brighton, UK)

Dr Charlotte Ramage (University of Brighton, UK)

Dr Catherine Theodosius (University of Brighton, UK)

Professor Ann Gallagher (University of Surrey, UK)

Mrs Jane Leng (University of Surrey, UK)

Dr Palo Almond (University of Brighton, UK)

Dr Tehseen Noorani (John Hopkins University, USA)

Mrs Georgia Piggott (University of British Columbia, CA)

Community partners

Ismael Velasco (Adora Foundation, UK)

Dr Dimity Podger (Barasa Consulting, AU)

Dr Paula Graham Gazzard (Fossbox CIC, London, UK)

Dr Arthur Dahl (International Environment Forum)

Jane Glenzinska (Brighton Peace and Environmental Centre, UK)

Sophia deSousa (Glass-House Community Led Design, London, UK)

Justine Gaubert (Silent Cities, Sheffield, UK)

Cardiela Amezcua-Luna (Mexico)

Alicia Jimenez (Earth Charter Secretariat, Costa Rica)

Daniel Truran (EBBF, ES)

Serge Thill (EBBF, LX)

Funding

China National Thousand Talents Professorship at Fudan University, 2011-2016. Prof. Marie Harder own research fund.

AHRC AH/L013142/1 - Connected Communities Legacy Project. Starting from Values: Evaluating Intangible Legacies. May 2014 -2015. £85,850 

AHRC – Connected Communities. Activities at CC Festival in Cardiff, July 2014. £14,992

HEKSS (Health Education Kent, Surrey, Sussex). . Cultivating Compassion project led by Charlotte Ramage in School of Health Sciences. Funding to the group for leading on indicator development and values related evaluation strand. April 2014 to June 2015

SPIRIT3 - Hong Kong University. Travel funds for seminars and workshop delivery on values-based measures and evaluation. December 2013

Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Funding for travel to chair and present at the Fudan conference. June 201

University of Brighton, On Our Doorsteps funding. “Valuing Environmental Action” with Brighton Peace and Environment Centre. £1593 for collaborative research activities. September 2014 – April 2015

EU – FP7. The Development of Indicators & Assessment Tools for CSO Projects Promoting Values-based Education for Sustainable Development (ESDinds). Funded under the ‘Research for the Benefit of Civil Society’ funding stream with two academic and four community partners. January 2009 – January 2011. £900,000

EU – INTERREG IVa. Waste in Action. With East Sussex County Council and Smédar (FR). 2008-10. £63,405

Awards, recognition, impact

Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) best sustainability paper was awarded to Richard Kulczak, Dr Poorang Piroozfar and Professor Marie Harder, at the ARCOM2015 Annual Conference, 7-9 September 2015, Lincoln, UK

Professor Marie Harder – awarded China National Thousand Talents Professorship 2011-16

The `Research through Design’ approach of the VSRG has been discussed in a chapter co-authored by three group members, with Professor Arthur Dahl, in Responsible Living: Concepts, Education and Future Perspectives (Springer, 2015).