Are you passionate about biodiversity and nature, and would like to empower other young people to take part in decision-making regarding these topics? Are you interested in exploring innovative intervention methods, such as experiential games, as well as arts-based, creative and deliberative methods, to enhance youth involvement in sustainability issues? If so, we invite you to be a part of the PLANET4B Learning Community within the Urban Youth Case Study under the research-oriented Horizon Europe program.
🤔 About the Urban Youth Case Study
Type: Intensive case, meaning in-depth investigation with multiple activities and data collection methods
Location: Thüringia and Saxony Anhalt
Scale: Local-regional
🎯 Rationale / Major aim(s) of the case:
As part of the research, we would like to explore and address two pivotal questions:
1) To what extent do young people, including those with less privilege, feel empowered to influence biodiversity and nature prioritization in decision making?
2) To what extent can various intervention methods, including experiential learning and behavioral games, as well as creative and deliberative interventions, have empowering effects on younger age groups?
📝 Context:
Youth, especially those from less privileged backgrounds and marginalized communities, often feel disempowered and disconnected from decision-making processes concerning nature and the environment. Urban areas, with their increasing youth-inspired environmental movements, are particularly affected. This study recognizes that young people with diverse intersectionality backgrounds, such as migration, might face unique challenges in accessing political systems and experiencing social acceptance.
Together with you, we aim to identify the barriers young people face in engaging with decision-making, particularly in relation to nature and biodiversity, and explore how empowering interventions can lead to improved biodiversity decision-making.
Key Stakeholders, with whom we expect to be involved:
- Migrant community;
- City manager;
- City council fractions;
- Other youth ambassador programs.
🤩 What will we do and what are the benefits of participation?
By participating in the Urban Youth Case Study, you will have the opportunity to:
1. Engage in transformative research:
- Collaborate with experts from diverse academic and pratice fields;
- Contribute to groundbreaking research that aims to empower youth and enhance biodiversity prioritization and possibly co-author a publication in an academic journal.
2. Collaborate and network:
- Work closely with key stakeholders, including the urban youth community, city officials, and advocacy groups, to identify effective intervention methods;
- Co-create and organise international and local events and meetings;
- Take part in the capacity building training course with experts from all over EU in January 2023.
3. Drive positive change:
Play an active role in shaping strategies that bridge the gap between urban youth and nature decision making. Be the change you want to see in this world!
👥 Who can participate?
We are looking for participants with expertise and interest in the following areas:
Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, Youth Empowerment and Education, Urban Planning and Sustainability, Policy and Governance, Behavioral Psychology, Deliberative Decision Making, Creative and Participatory Methods etc.
Residence: Erfurt, Weimar, Halle (Germany)
Age: 18 and above
✉️ How to apply?
To apply for participation in the Urban Youth Case Study, please submit your application by the 27th of August, 2023. The process is the following:
1. Fill in a quick registration form.
2. Send your Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume highlighting your academic and professional achievements related to the case study’s themes.
3. If applicable, support your email with any documents or publications showcasing your contributions to related fields.
Please send your email to bykova@cge-erfurt.org with the subject line: “PLANET4B Learning Community – Urban Youth Case Study Application – [Your Name].”
‼️ Important Dates:
Application deadline: 27.08.2023
Notification of acceptance: 31.08.2023
Note: As the Urban Youth Case Study is an intensive case, the number of participants is limited. Only successful applicants will be notified.
Join us in empowering the youth and fostering biodiversity decision-making for a sustainable future! 🌿
PLANET4B receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101082212.
