Aysha Fleming | CSIRO - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Aysha Fleming

Social Epistemology, May 16, 2021

ABSTRACT This paper examines public conflict over the rapid growth of the Tasmanian salmon aquacu... more ABSTRACT This paper examines public conflict over the rapid growth of the Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry and associated environmental and social impacts. By conducting a media analysis, triangulated with key stakeholder interviews, we find news media discourse was predominantly framed by environmental risk, expansion of the industry and the in/effectiveness of Government regulation. Environmental science and community interests were conflated within these themes, leading to a perceived lack of transparency and loss of trust in both environmental science information and regulation of environmental impacts. Government, salmon companies and science institutions were the most frequently mentioned stakeholder groups within news media, suggesting they had power to facilitate virtuous cycles – that is, shared goals and language. However, these stakeholder groups were portrayed to be outwardly opaque in their communications of, and lacking engagement in, decision-making processes. By revealing how science, societal values and decision-making were negotiated in news media through this conflict, we hope to contribute to the understanding of how vicious and virtuous cycles can be facilitated by various stakeholders and within media.

Ices Journal of Marine Science, Jul 12, 2020

Sustainability of fisheries extends beyond environmental aspects. Broad information is today soug... more Sustainability of fisheries extends beyond environmental aspects. Broad information is today sought for decision-making and by many stakeholders. Here, a framework recently developed to comprehensively report on sustainability issues relevant to fisheries, the Australian Fisheries Healthcheck, was used to compare five crustacean trawl fisheries from Australia and Europe. Indicators covered 51 different aspects of sustainability in 24 sub-categories related to ecological, economic, social and ethical, governance, and external (e.g. climate, contaminants) dimensions. We found that data availability did not vary greatly between fisheries, but the indicator outcomes did. Furthermore, while environmental sustainability has received most attention in assessments to date, the associated indicators had the least publicly available data. Another finding was that eco-certification and high performance on several governance indicators did not necessarily equate to sustainability. For future international comparisons, challenges include identifying comparable and cost-effective metrics for indicators derived from different data collection strategies. Commencing holistic reporting on broader sustainability is important since the data provided (i) are sought by stakeholders; (ii) enable improved availability of empirical data for research on the effectiveness of different governance modes; (iii) can illustrate trade-offs between different dimensions of sustainability, and (iv) build trust in the fishery system as producers of sustainable food.

Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research

Background and Aims. Australia’s changing climate is already impacting the agriculture sector and... more Background and Aims. Australia’s changing climate is already impacting the agriculture sector and will continue to do so in the future. To help respond to these impacts, the Climate Services for Agriculture (CSA) platform presents readily accessible climate data, including future climate projections, relevant to specific agricultural commodities. This wine industry example aims to demonstrate the functionality and utility of the CSA for national use across a broad range of commodities. Methods and Results. The platform includes commodity-relevant climate indices designed in consultation with experts to ensure that they are as salient to producers as possible; the wine-grape specific indices include measures of growing season temperature, rainfall, extreme heat, and frost. Here, we describe the research behind the wine-grape specific indices and present sample outputs from the CSA platform for a site within a selected winegrowing region. We note the CSA platform has been developed th...

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 2021

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aspire to a society where ways to improve... more The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aspire to a society where ways to improve inclusivity and diversity of equity are actively explored. Here, we examine how equity is considered in a suite of papers that explored possible sustainable futures for the oceans, and mapped out pathways to achieve these futures. Our analysis revealed that a large range of equity issues were recognised and considered, in outcome-based (i.e. distributive), process-based (i.e. procedural) and concept (i.e. contextual) dimensions. However, often, the equity problem was not explicitly stated. Rather it was implied through the action pathway identified to move towards a more sustainable future, highlighting that reducing inequity is interlinked with improving sustainability. Based on these findings, we reflect on the way equity is conceptualised and considered within this work as well as futures science for the oceans more broadly. A key lesson learnt is that science and knowledge production are immediate areas where we can work to improve equity. We can build capacity to understand and include equity issues. We can develop mechanisms to be more inclusive and diverse. We can also critically reflect on our own practices to fundamentally challenge how we work and think in the space of marine science research.

Marine and Freshwater Research, 2018

Climate change, in combination with population growth, is placing increasing pressure on the worl... more Climate change, in combination with population growth, is placing increasing pressure on the world’s oceans and their resources. This is threatening sustainability and societal wellbeing. Responding to these complex and synergistic challenges requires holistic management arrangements. To this end, ecosystem-based management (EBM) promises much by recognising the need to manage the ecosystem in its entirety, including the human dimensions. However, operationalisation of EBM in the marine environment has been slow. One reason may be a lack of the inter-disciplinary science required to address complex social–ecological marine systems. In the present paper, we synthesise the collective experience of the authors to explore progress in integrating natural and social sciences in marine EBM research, illustrating actual and potential contributions. We identify informal barriers to and incentives for this type of research. We find that the integration of natural and social science has progre...

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) envisage a desirable society where equity is a normative... more The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) envisage a desirable society where equity is a normative goal that is given attention, and ways to improve inclusivity and diversity of equity beyond concept, process and outcome are being actively explored. Here, we examine how equity is considered in a suite of papers that explored possible sustainable futures for the oceans by 2030, and mapped out pathways to achieve these, collectively aiming to move as far towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as technically feasible. Our analysis revealed that a large range of equity issues were recognised and considered, in outcomebased (i.e. distributive), process-based (i.e. procedural) and concept (i.e. contextual) dimensions. However, often, the equity problem was not explicitly stated, but rather implied through the action pathway identified to move towards a more sustainable 2030, highlighting that reducing inequity is interlinked with improving sustainability. Based on these findings, we reflect on the way equity is conceptualised and considered within this work as well as futures science for the oceans more broadly. These reflections are distilled into lessons learnt, a key one of which is that science and knowledge production are immediate areas where we can work to improve equity in terms of building capacity to understand and include equity issues, develop mechanisms to be more inclusive and diverse and continually, and in particular, critically reflect on our own practices to fundamentally challenge how we work and think in the space of marine science research.

This paper presents a narrative self-study into the establishment of rapport in two university cl... more This paper presents a narrative self-study into the establishment of rapport in two university classrooms where the lecturers are seeking to implement critical literacy into their professional practices. It argues that rapport is a requisite for successful critical literacy teaching and that theoretical explorations of rapport should become an integral part of all critical pedagogy practices. This paper aims to encourage other teachers to reflect on, examine and discuss their understandings of rapport and rapport in their classrooms. The methodology for this paper is a collaborative self study, aiming to provide a critical friend to examine our teaching practices with honesty, support and objective insight. Our mutual observations, reflections and conversations provided the research data for our self study. We found that there were problems based on lack of rapport in both of our classes. This paper presents our key reflections and discussions on these two problems and the possible ...

Agricultural Systems, 2021

Abstract CONTEXT Public and private research institutions are grappling with the challenges and o... more Abstract CONTEXT Public and private research institutions are grappling with the challenges and opportunities of embedding dimensions of responsible innovation within their research and development programs, including those seeking to transform agricultural productivity and sustainability through digital technologies. Central to meeting this challenge is building institutional, organisational and professional capacity for anticipation and reflexiveness within multidisciplinary research communities. Foresighting methodologies provide a means by which this might be usefully and practically enabled, whilst also shedding light on the broader social and ethical implications of alternative agricultural technology development pathways under uncertain environmental and industry futures. OBJECTIVE This paper presents the results of a participatory foresighting exercise undertaken as part of a large, publicly funded multi-disciplinary research initiative designed to build a common big data infrastructure to harness the benefits of the digital revolution for the Australian agricultural and land sectors. We seek to explore what role digital technology will play in the future of Australian agriculture and to consider the social and ethical implications. METHODS We ran a one-day foresighting workshop comprised of four steps – 1) horizon scanning to identify trends 2) selecting two drivers of change 3) producing a matrix to generate scenarios 4) building and refining scenarios. Participants explored different possible futures of farming in Australia, with a focus on scenarios involving socio-technical dimensions of digital agriculture to consider the implications of these futures for research practice and for farming communities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Four scenarios were developed, distinguished by the interplay of two critical but uncertain drivers of change identified by participants, namely: the degree of resource security or insecurity that future agricultural enterprises are likely to experience; and the degree to which farming sectors maintain traditional farm business models and associated value chains or transition to more diverse or innovative business models. The process highlighted the need to increase the capacity and opportunity for more reflexivity in research and development, if positive outcomes were to be achieved. SIGNIFICANCE The scenarios we produced provide a catalyst for conversation about the implications of digital technology development in Australia and globally, for industry, policy and research and development. In particular, the scenarios highlight potential changes in farm business models, decision making, and beneficiaries and inequities of new technologies and other components of food value chains. The paper also serves as a guide and prompt for others, by demonstrating one way reflexivity can be achieved in organisations attempting innovation.

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 2018

Continued population growth and land intensification put increasing pressure on agricultural prod... more Continued population growth and land intensification put increasing pressure on agricultural production and point to a need for a 'step change' in agriculture to meet the demand. Advances in digital technology-often encapsulated in the term 'big data'-are increasingly assumed to be the way this challenge will be met. For this to be achieved, it is necessary to understand the ways that farmers and other industry stakeholders perceive big data and how big data might change the industry. It is also necessary to address emerging moral and ethical questions about access, cost, scale and support, which will determine whether farms will be able to be 'big data enabled'. We conducted a discourse analysis of 26 interviews with stakeholders in the grains industry in Australia. Two main discourses were identified: (1) big data as a technology that will significantly benefit a few larger farms or businesses-Big Data is for Big Farming-and conversely (2) big data as a way for every farmer to benefit-Big Data is for Everyone. We relate these findings and the literature on adoption of technology and social studies in agriculture to the potential of farmers to embrace big data, from basic concerns about network infrastructure through to more complex issues of data collection and storage. The study highlights that there are key questions and issues that need to be addressed in further development of digital technology and big data in agriculture, specifically around trust, equity, distribution of benefits and access. This is the first study of big data in agriculture that takes a discourse analysis approach and thus interrogates the status quo and the prevailing norms and values driving decisions with impacts on both farmers and wider society.

Poplar & Ivy Winter 2021

Systematic and targeted location of trees on farms in a natural base solution that can help mitig... more Systematic and targeted location of trees on farms in a natural base solution that can help mitigate climate change. This can create an environment that mitigates climate change through capturing carbon and providing renewable feedstock for industrial and domestic fuel needs. To do this there needs to be a conscious effort to target certain species in appropriate locations to help the farms and prevent climate change. Tree planting can have lots of benefits but there needs to be a long-term plan in place. Research has found that planting trees strategically around farms can provide a 30% increase in pasture production. This shows the benefits for farmers to work with a conservation group to plant trees. To help prevent climate change there needs to be more preparation and long-term planning when it comes to planting trees. This can lead to a considerable amount of benefits for the area and help prevent climate change.

This paper presents a narrative self-study into the establishment of rapport in two university cl... more This paper presents a narrative self-study into the establishment of rapport in two university classrooms where the lecturers are seeking to implement critical literacy into their professional practices. It argues that rapport is a requisite for successful critical literacy teaching and that theoretical explorations of rapport should become an integral part of all critical pedagogy practices. This paper aims to encourage other teachers to reflect on, examine and discuss their understandings of rapport and rapport in their classrooms. The methodology for this paper is a collaborative self study, aiming to provide a critical friend to examine our teaching practices with honesty, support and objective insight. Our mutual observations, reflections and conversations provided the research data for our self study. We found that there were problems based on lack of rapport in both of our classes. This paper presents our key reflections and discussions on these two problems and the possible ...

This paper is the result of a collaborative self study between a beginning teacher and her univer... more This paper is the result of a collaborative self study between a beginning teacher and her university lecturer, and their experiences of teaching English in two university settings. It explores the relationships and critical pedagogies in both of the teachers’ classrooms and their attempts at establishing successful teaching-learning relationships, or ‘rapport’ as we name it. Our primary aim was to observe, discuss and reframe our rapport building strategies and problems. We believe rapport is particularly important within critical literacy because of the kind of transformations that we aim to enable. Supportive, open relationships are the foundation of all successful teaching-learning relationships and most especially for transformative pedagogies. We believe that a discussion of relationships should sit at the heart of critical theory and we see this discussion best initiated with self study.

The relationship between agricultural productivity and sustainable land management is highlighted... more The relationship between agricultural productivity and sustainable land management is highlighted in a growing number of initiatives stressing the need for clean water and healthy soil. Consequently, on-farm practice changes are being recommended to landholders through these programmes. We report on research within Australia where participatory design methods were used to promote on-farm practice change through digital tools. Two projects are presented: one focused on promoting participation in a carbon farming programme and the second focused on nitrogen management in sugarcane production. We report on how engagement between researchers, farmers and advisors can work to incentivise on-farm practice change by aligning technology design and information presentation with different values held by targeted end users. Our experience demonstrates how to apply participatory design methods during the product development process, thus shaping the digital experience in ways that promote the p...

Social Epistemology, May 16, 2021

ABSTRACT This paper examines public conflict over the rapid growth of the Tasmanian salmon aquacu... more ABSTRACT This paper examines public conflict over the rapid growth of the Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry and associated environmental and social impacts. By conducting a media analysis, triangulated with key stakeholder interviews, we find news media discourse was predominantly framed by environmental risk, expansion of the industry and the in/effectiveness of Government regulation. Environmental science and community interests were conflated within these themes, leading to a perceived lack of transparency and loss of trust in both environmental science information and regulation of environmental impacts. Government, salmon companies and science institutions were the most frequently mentioned stakeholder groups within news media, suggesting they had power to facilitate virtuous cycles – that is, shared goals and language. However, these stakeholder groups were portrayed to be outwardly opaque in their communications of, and lacking engagement in, decision-making processes. By revealing how science, societal values and decision-making were negotiated in news media through this conflict, we hope to contribute to the understanding of how vicious and virtuous cycles can be facilitated by various stakeholders and within media.

Ices Journal of Marine Science, Jul 12, 2020

Sustainability of fisheries extends beyond environmental aspects. Broad information is today soug... more Sustainability of fisheries extends beyond environmental aspects. Broad information is today sought for decision-making and by many stakeholders. Here, a framework recently developed to comprehensively report on sustainability issues relevant to fisheries, the Australian Fisheries Healthcheck, was used to compare five crustacean trawl fisheries from Australia and Europe. Indicators covered 51 different aspects of sustainability in 24 sub-categories related to ecological, economic, social and ethical, governance, and external (e.g. climate, contaminants) dimensions. We found that data availability did not vary greatly between fisheries, but the indicator outcomes did. Furthermore, while environmental sustainability has received most attention in assessments to date, the associated indicators had the least publicly available data. Another finding was that eco-certification and high performance on several governance indicators did not necessarily equate to sustainability. For future international comparisons, challenges include identifying comparable and cost-effective metrics for indicators derived from different data collection strategies. Commencing holistic reporting on broader sustainability is important since the data provided (i) are sought by stakeholders; (ii) enable improved availability of empirical data for research on the effectiveness of different governance modes; (iii) can illustrate trade-offs between different dimensions of sustainability, and (iv) build trust in the fishery system as producers of sustainable food.

Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research

Background and Aims. Australia’s changing climate is already impacting the agriculture sector and... more Background and Aims. Australia’s changing climate is already impacting the agriculture sector and will continue to do so in the future. To help respond to these impacts, the Climate Services for Agriculture (CSA) platform presents readily accessible climate data, including future climate projections, relevant to specific agricultural commodities. This wine industry example aims to demonstrate the functionality and utility of the CSA for national use across a broad range of commodities. Methods and Results. The platform includes commodity-relevant climate indices designed in consultation with experts to ensure that they are as salient to producers as possible; the wine-grape specific indices include measures of growing season temperature, rainfall, extreme heat, and frost. Here, we describe the research behind the wine-grape specific indices and present sample outputs from the CSA platform for a site within a selected winegrowing region. We note the CSA platform has been developed th...

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 2021

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aspire to a society where ways to improve... more The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aspire to a society where ways to improve inclusivity and diversity of equity are actively explored. Here, we examine how equity is considered in a suite of papers that explored possible sustainable futures for the oceans, and mapped out pathways to achieve these futures. Our analysis revealed that a large range of equity issues were recognised and considered, in outcome-based (i.e. distributive), process-based (i.e. procedural) and concept (i.e. contextual) dimensions. However, often, the equity problem was not explicitly stated. Rather it was implied through the action pathway identified to move towards a more sustainable future, highlighting that reducing inequity is interlinked with improving sustainability. Based on these findings, we reflect on the way equity is conceptualised and considered within this work as well as futures science for the oceans more broadly. A key lesson learnt is that science and knowledge production are immediate areas where we can work to improve equity. We can build capacity to understand and include equity issues. We can develop mechanisms to be more inclusive and diverse. We can also critically reflect on our own practices to fundamentally challenge how we work and think in the space of marine science research.

Marine and Freshwater Research, 2018

Climate change, in combination with population growth, is placing increasing pressure on the worl... more Climate change, in combination with population growth, is placing increasing pressure on the world’s oceans and their resources. This is threatening sustainability and societal wellbeing. Responding to these complex and synergistic challenges requires holistic management arrangements. To this end, ecosystem-based management (EBM) promises much by recognising the need to manage the ecosystem in its entirety, including the human dimensions. However, operationalisation of EBM in the marine environment has been slow. One reason may be a lack of the inter-disciplinary science required to address complex social–ecological marine systems. In the present paper, we synthesise the collective experience of the authors to explore progress in integrating natural and social sciences in marine EBM research, illustrating actual and potential contributions. We identify informal barriers to and incentives for this type of research. We find that the integration of natural and social science has progre...

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) envisage a desirable society where equity is a normative... more The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) envisage a desirable society where equity is a normative goal that is given attention, and ways to improve inclusivity and diversity of equity beyond concept, process and outcome are being actively explored. Here, we examine how equity is considered in a suite of papers that explored possible sustainable futures for the oceans by 2030, and mapped out pathways to achieve these, collectively aiming to move as far towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as technically feasible. Our analysis revealed that a large range of equity issues were recognised and considered, in outcomebased (i.e. distributive), process-based (i.e. procedural) and concept (i.e. contextual) dimensions. However, often, the equity problem was not explicitly stated, but rather implied through the action pathway identified to move towards a more sustainable 2030, highlighting that reducing inequity is interlinked with improving sustainability. Based on these findings, we reflect on the way equity is conceptualised and considered within this work as well as futures science for the oceans more broadly. These reflections are distilled into lessons learnt, a key one of which is that science and knowledge production are immediate areas where we can work to improve equity in terms of building capacity to understand and include equity issues, develop mechanisms to be more inclusive and diverse and continually, and in particular, critically reflect on our own practices to fundamentally challenge how we work and think in the space of marine science research.

This paper presents a narrative self-study into the establishment of rapport in two university cl... more This paper presents a narrative self-study into the establishment of rapport in two university classrooms where the lecturers are seeking to implement critical literacy into their professional practices. It argues that rapport is a requisite for successful critical literacy teaching and that theoretical explorations of rapport should become an integral part of all critical pedagogy practices. This paper aims to encourage other teachers to reflect on, examine and discuss their understandings of rapport and rapport in their classrooms. The methodology for this paper is a collaborative self study, aiming to provide a critical friend to examine our teaching practices with honesty, support and objective insight. Our mutual observations, reflections and conversations provided the research data for our self study. We found that there were problems based on lack of rapport in both of our classes. This paper presents our key reflections and discussions on these two problems and the possible ...

Agricultural Systems, 2021

Abstract CONTEXT Public and private research institutions are grappling with the challenges and o... more Abstract CONTEXT Public and private research institutions are grappling with the challenges and opportunities of embedding dimensions of responsible innovation within their research and development programs, including those seeking to transform agricultural productivity and sustainability through digital technologies. Central to meeting this challenge is building institutional, organisational and professional capacity for anticipation and reflexiveness within multidisciplinary research communities. Foresighting methodologies provide a means by which this might be usefully and practically enabled, whilst also shedding light on the broader social and ethical implications of alternative agricultural technology development pathways under uncertain environmental and industry futures. OBJECTIVE This paper presents the results of a participatory foresighting exercise undertaken as part of a large, publicly funded multi-disciplinary research initiative designed to build a common big data infrastructure to harness the benefits of the digital revolution for the Australian agricultural and land sectors. We seek to explore what role digital technology will play in the future of Australian agriculture and to consider the social and ethical implications. METHODS We ran a one-day foresighting workshop comprised of four steps – 1) horizon scanning to identify trends 2) selecting two drivers of change 3) producing a matrix to generate scenarios 4) building and refining scenarios. Participants explored different possible futures of farming in Australia, with a focus on scenarios involving socio-technical dimensions of digital agriculture to consider the implications of these futures for research practice and for farming communities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Four scenarios were developed, distinguished by the interplay of two critical but uncertain drivers of change identified by participants, namely: the degree of resource security or insecurity that future agricultural enterprises are likely to experience; and the degree to which farming sectors maintain traditional farm business models and associated value chains or transition to more diverse or innovative business models. The process highlighted the need to increase the capacity and opportunity for more reflexivity in research and development, if positive outcomes were to be achieved. SIGNIFICANCE The scenarios we produced provide a catalyst for conversation about the implications of digital technology development in Australia and globally, for industry, policy and research and development. In particular, the scenarios highlight potential changes in farm business models, decision making, and beneficiaries and inequities of new technologies and other components of food value chains. The paper also serves as a guide and prompt for others, by demonstrating one way reflexivity can be achieved in organisations attempting innovation.

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 2018

Continued population growth and land intensification put increasing pressure on agricultural prod... more Continued population growth and land intensification put increasing pressure on agricultural production and point to a need for a 'step change' in agriculture to meet the demand. Advances in digital technology-often encapsulated in the term 'big data'-are increasingly assumed to be the way this challenge will be met. For this to be achieved, it is necessary to understand the ways that farmers and other industry stakeholders perceive big data and how big data might change the industry. It is also necessary to address emerging moral and ethical questions about access, cost, scale and support, which will determine whether farms will be able to be 'big data enabled'. We conducted a discourse analysis of 26 interviews with stakeholders in the grains industry in Australia. Two main discourses were identified: (1) big data as a technology that will significantly benefit a few larger farms or businesses-Big Data is for Big Farming-and conversely (2) big data as a way for every farmer to benefit-Big Data is for Everyone. We relate these findings and the literature on adoption of technology and social studies in agriculture to the potential of farmers to embrace big data, from basic concerns about network infrastructure through to more complex issues of data collection and storage. The study highlights that there are key questions and issues that need to be addressed in further development of digital technology and big data in agriculture, specifically around trust, equity, distribution of benefits and access. This is the first study of big data in agriculture that takes a discourse analysis approach and thus interrogates the status quo and the prevailing norms and values driving decisions with impacts on both farmers and wider society.

Poplar & Ivy Winter 2021

Systematic and targeted location of trees on farms in a natural base solution that can help mitig... more Systematic and targeted location of trees on farms in a natural base solution that can help mitigate climate change. This can create an environment that mitigates climate change through capturing carbon and providing renewable feedstock for industrial and domestic fuel needs. To do this there needs to be a conscious effort to target certain species in appropriate locations to help the farms and prevent climate change. Tree planting can have lots of benefits but there needs to be a long-term plan in place. Research has found that planting trees strategically around farms can provide a 30% increase in pasture production. This shows the benefits for farmers to work with a conservation group to plant trees. To help prevent climate change there needs to be more preparation and long-term planning when it comes to planting trees. This can lead to a considerable amount of benefits for the area and help prevent climate change.

This paper presents a narrative self-study into the establishment of rapport in two university cl... more This paper presents a narrative self-study into the establishment of rapport in two university classrooms where the lecturers are seeking to implement critical literacy into their professional practices. It argues that rapport is a requisite for successful critical literacy teaching and that theoretical explorations of rapport should become an integral part of all critical pedagogy practices. This paper aims to encourage other teachers to reflect on, examine and discuss their understandings of rapport and rapport in their classrooms. The methodology for this paper is a collaborative self study, aiming to provide a critical friend to examine our teaching practices with honesty, support and objective insight. Our mutual observations, reflections and conversations provided the research data for our self study. We found that there were problems based on lack of rapport in both of our classes. This paper presents our key reflections and discussions on these two problems and the possible ...

This paper is the result of a collaborative self study between a beginning teacher and her univer... more This paper is the result of a collaborative self study between a beginning teacher and her university lecturer, and their experiences of teaching English in two university settings. It explores the relationships and critical pedagogies in both of the teachers’ classrooms and their attempts at establishing successful teaching-learning relationships, or ‘rapport’ as we name it. Our primary aim was to observe, discuss and reframe our rapport building strategies and problems. We believe rapport is particularly important within critical literacy because of the kind of transformations that we aim to enable. Supportive, open relationships are the foundation of all successful teaching-learning relationships and most especially for transformative pedagogies. We believe that a discussion of relationships should sit at the heart of critical theory and we see this discussion best initiated with self study.

The relationship between agricultural productivity and sustainable land management is highlighted... more The relationship between agricultural productivity and sustainable land management is highlighted in a growing number of initiatives stressing the need for clean water and healthy soil. Consequently, on-farm practice changes are being recommended to landholders through these programmes. We report on research within Australia where participatory design methods were used to promote on-farm practice change through digital tools. Two projects are presented: one focused on promoting participation in a carbon farming programme and the second focused on nitrogen management in sugarcane production. We report on how engagement between researchers, farmers and advisors can work to incentivise on-farm practice change by aligning technology design and information presentation with different values held by targeted end users. Our experience demonstrates how to apply participatory design methods during the product development process, thus shaping the digital experience in ways that promote the p...

Sustainable Agriculture Volume 2, Jan 1, 2011

Climate change is a major issue for agricultural sustainability, and changes in farming practices... more Climate change is a major issue for agricultural sustainability, and changes in farming practices will be necessary both to reduce emissions and to adapt to a changing climate and to new social expectations. A complicating factor is that the processes of behaviour change are complex and can be slow to occur. Discourse analysis is useful in understanding how the discourses