Frances Harris | University of Hertfordshire (original) (raw)

Papers by Frances Harris

Global sustainability, Feb 26, 2024

Non-technical summary. Transdisciplinary approaches for sustainability brings natural and social ... more Non-technical summary. Transdisciplinary approaches for sustainability brings natural and social science researchers together with non researchers to fill gaps in scientific knowledge and catalyze change. By connecting diverse academic fields and sectors, it addresses complex problems and enables learning for problem solving. However, institutional barriers, funding constraints, time limitations, and evaluation criteria hinder collaborative progress. Our review reveals tensions at institutional and individual levels. Our findings underscore the significance of soft skills in assembling effective transdisciplinary teams. Embracing transdisciplinary science, as suggested by our review, can enhance problem-solving, and foster transformations for sustainability and resilience. Technical summary. Sustainability challenges in the age of the Anthropocene require researchers and practitioners to collaborate across multiple academic disciplines and multiple professions outside of universities. In this paper we draw on theories of institutional logics to explore how those involved in transdisciplinary environmental research and practice draw on particular sets of values and norms but encounter challenges to collaboration. These institutional logics include (among others) seeking societal/environmental impact, commercial objectives, and academic knowledge generation. In this paper we review the growing literature on the research experience of transdisciplinarity in sustainability; discuss the processes of managing such research; and present a framework that outlines the challenges and tensions at each stage of the innovation/research process. We set out an agenda for managing tension that calls for recognizing the challenges, learning how to work with tensions, and building capabilities for future careers involving transdisciplinary research. The paper shows a key competence or skill for transdisciplinarians is the ability to develop complex collaborative relationships for sustainability drawing together different institutional logics, approaches, methods, goals, and values. Social media summary. Transdisciplinary science: bridging disciplines, solving challenges. Soft skills and collaboration key to success.

… and opportunities for …, 2002

4.1 Cowpea as a key factor for a new approach to integrated crop-livestock systems research in th... more 4.1 Cowpea as a key factor for a new approach to integrated crop-livestock systems research in the dry savannas of West Africa SA Tarawali'3, BB Singh2, SC Gupta5, R. Tabo6, F. Harris7, S. Nokoe', S. Fernandez-Rivera4, A. Bationo8, VM Manyong1, K. Makinde', and EC ...

Experimental Agriculture, 2001

Manure is a key input to smallholder farming systems, especially in the semi-arid environment of ... more Manure is a key input to smallholder farming systems, especially in the semi-arid environment of West Africa where cost and availability limit the use of inorganic fertilizers. This paper considers manure management by farmers in an intensive integrated farming system in the Nigerian savanna. The paper reports farmers' indigenous knowledge concerning manure production, quality and application, chemical analysis of manure nutrient content and application rates of manure. The potential manure supply of the livestock population of the Kano close-settled zone is calculated and compared with application rates. Recommendations are made concerning methods for improving manure quality through changes in management practices.

FutureEarth, Jun 26, 2020

The official name of the virus responsible for the outbreak is severe acute respiratory syndrome ... more The official name of the virus responsible for the outbreak is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) according to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), and the disease it causes is named coronavirus disease (COVID-19). WHO, under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), declared the emergence of COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 and declared the outbreak a pandemic on 11 March 2020. WHO detailed a strategic response and preparedness plan 1 and produced a Research and Development Blueprint research agenda 2 to drive innovation in all aspects of outbreak control, from clinical case management to vaccine development, and developed a master plan for coordinating clinical trials that could lead to potential therapies for patients affected with the COVID-19 disease. Today, different countries and private laboratories are working to develop effective vaccines using state-of-the-art technology, and simultaneously assessing different treatments, including interferon and other pharmaceutical combinations being used to identify effective therapies. However, we are still trusting of reactive strategies to face this new threat for humanity but working in isolated silos.

Choice Reviews Online, Nov 1, 2012

Record number, 1648653. Title, Changes in soil fertility under indigenous agricultural intensific... more Record number, 1648653. Title, Changes in soil fertility under indigenous agricultural intensification in the Kano region show extra info. Frances Harris Title-variation: Changes in soils fertility under indigenous agricultural intensification. Author(s), Harris, F. ...

International Explorations in Outdoor and Environmental Education

To avoid the pitfalls of a multidisciplinary or multi-stranded approach, transdisciplinary projec... more To avoid the pitfalls of a multidisciplinary or multi-stranded approach, transdisciplinary projects ensure integration of all aspects of the research. Allow time and space so that there is room to fail and the opportunity to learn from mistakes. Time for coreflection and learning should be written into the project.

Authors should also include a brief summary of their paper – no longer than 450 words.

Environmental Education Research, 2021

Outdoor learning provides an opportunity for schools to foster children’s engagement with nature.... more Outdoor learning provides an opportunity for schools to foster children’s engagement with nature. This paper focusses on forest school practitioners’ perceptions of children’s development of a relationship with nature and the place where forest school occurs, through interviews with forest school activity leaders. Reflecting on literature, the analysis of interviews sought to identify the processes through which attachment to place or connection to nature occurs. The findings suggest that through regular and repeated activities in a natural setting at forest school, children become more relaxed, overcome any fears, have fun, connect with nature as they come to know it better, and develop an affinity for the location. Further, they develop a sense of ownership and concern for the forest school setting and desire to protect it. For some forest school practitioners, fostering a relationship with nature and place, and developing pro-environmental behaviour, is a fundamental part of thei...

The many recent developments encouraging more visits by school children to farms have highlighted... more The many recent developments encouraging more visits by school children to farms have highlighted the need for research on the interaction between farmers, schools, teachers and school children, and the effect of these visits for both farms and the schools. This research aims to 1. To identify how farmers responded to the challenge to engage the public in farming 2. To identify how teachers integrate farm visits with teaching the national curriculum in the classroom. 3. To record childreni?½s reactions to farm visits. Research was carried out in three regions: the South East, the North East and the West Country.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Human health and wellbeing and the health of the biosphere are inextricably linked. The state of ... more Human health and wellbeing and the health of the biosphere are inextricably linked. The state of Earth’s life-support systems, including freshwater, oceans, land, biodiversity, atmosphere, and climate, affect human health. At the same time, human activities are adversely affecting natural systems. This review paper is the outcome of an interdisciplinary workshop under the auspices of the Future Earth Health Knowledge Action Network (Health KAN). It outlines a research agenda to address cross-cutting knowledge gaps to further understanding and management of the health risks of these global environmental changes through an expert consultation and review process. The research agenda has four main themes: (1) risk identification and management (including related to water, hygiene, sanitation, and waste management); food production and consumption; oceans; and extreme weather events and climate change. (2) Strengthening climate-resilient health systems; (3) Monitoring, surveillance, and ...

Academy of Management Proceedings

The complex problems facing sustainability requires complex research collaborations between organ... more The complex problems facing sustainability requires complex research collaborations between organisations representing multiple professions such as business, public policy, civil society and academia. But how does such research at the interface occur and what capabilities are required? This paper systematically reviews the literature on collaborative sustainability related research across organisational and professional boundaries. We refer to this as transdisciplinary research and explore the different logics (approaches, methodologies, goals and values) that are drawn together. Commonly identified logics include (among others) environmental value creation, social value creation, commercial objectives and academic knowledge generation. While there has been much research on the challenges of transdisciplinarity in sustainability, the actual processes of managing inter organisational and cross profession research and associated tensions at the interface has had less attention. This paper presents a framewo...

Area

This paper contributes to the growing body of research concerning use of outdoor spaces by educat... more This paper contributes to the growing body of research concerning use of outdoor spaces by educators, and the increased use of informal and outdoor learning spaces when teaching primary school children. The research takes the example of forest school, a form of regular and repeated outdoor learning increasingly common in primary schools. This research focuses on how the learning space at forest school shapes the experience of children and forest school leaders as they engage in learning outside the classroom. The learning space is considered as a physical space, and also in a more metaphorical way as a space where different behaviours are permitted, and a space set apart from the national curriculum. Through semi-structured interviews with members of the community of practice of forest school leaders, the paper seeks to determine the significance of being outdoors on the forest school experience. How does this learning space differ from the classroom environment? What aspects of the forest school learning space support pupils' experiences? How does the outdoor learning space affect teaching, and the dynamics of learning while at forest school? The research shows that the outdoor space provides new opportunities for children and teachers to interact and learn, and revealed how forest school leaders and children co-create a learning environment in which the boundaries between classroom and outdoor learning, teacher and pupil, are renegotiated to stimulate teaching and learning. Forest school practitioners see forest school as a separate learning space that is removed from the physical constraints of the classroom and pedagogical constraints of the national curriculum to provide a more flexible and responsive learning environment.

Global sustainability, Feb 26, 2024

Non-technical summary. Transdisciplinary approaches for sustainability brings natural and social ... more Non-technical summary. Transdisciplinary approaches for sustainability brings natural and social science researchers together with non researchers to fill gaps in scientific knowledge and catalyze change. By connecting diverse academic fields and sectors, it addresses complex problems and enables learning for problem solving. However, institutional barriers, funding constraints, time limitations, and evaluation criteria hinder collaborative progress. Our review reveals tensions at institutional and individual levels. Our findings underscore the significance of soft skills in assembling effective transdisciplinary teams. Embracing transdisciplinary science, as suggested by our review, can enhance problem-solving, and foster transformations for sustainability and resilience. Technical summary. Sustainability challenges in the age of the Anthropocene require researchers and practitioners to collaborate across multiple academic disciplines and multiple professions outside of universities. In this paper we draw on theories of institutional logics to explore how those involved in transdisciplinary environmental research and practice draw on particular sets of values and norms but encounter challenges to collaboration. These institutional logics include (among others) seeking societal/environmental impact, commercial objectives, and academic knowledge generation. In this paper we review the growing literature on the research experience of transdisciplinarity in sustainability; discuss the processes of managing such research; and present a framework that outlines the challenges and tensions at each stage of the innovation/research process. We set out an agenda for managing tension that calls for recognizing the challenges, learning how to work with tensions, and building capabilities for future careers involving transdisciplinary research. The paper shows a key competence or skill for transdisciplinarians is the ability to develop complex collaborative relationships for sustainability drawing together different institutional logics, approaches, methods, goals, and values. Social media summary. Transdisciplinary science: bridging disciplines, solving challenges. Soft skills and collaboration key to success.

… and opportunities for …, 2002

4.1 Cowpea as a key factor for a new approach to integrated crop-livestock systems research in th... more 4.1 Cowpea as a key factor for a new approach to integrated crop-livestock systems research in the dry savannas of West Africa SA Tarawali'3, BB Singh2, SC Gupta5, R. Tabo6, F. Harris7, S. Nokoe', S. Fernandez-Rivera4, A. Bationo8, VM Manyong1, K. Makinde', and EC ...

Experimental Agriculture, 2001

Manure is a key input to smallholder farming systems, especially in the semi-arid environment of ... more Manure is a key input to smallholder farming systems, especially in the semi-arid environment of West Africa where cost and availability limit the use of inorganic fertilizers. This paper considers manure management by farmers in an intensive integrated farming system in the Nigerian savanna. The paper reports farmers' indigenous knowledge concerning manure production, quality and application, chemical analysis of manure nutrient content and application rates of manure. The potential manure supply of the livestock population of the Kano close-settled zone is calculated and compared with application rates. Recommendations are made concerning methods for improving manure quality through changes in management practices.

FutureEarth, Jun 26, 2020

The official name of the virus responsible for the outbreak is severe acute respiratory syndrome ... more The official name of the virus responsible for the outbreak is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) according to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), and the disease it causes is named coronavirus disease (COVID-19). WHO, under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), declared the emergence of COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 and declared the outbreak a pandemic on 11 March 2020. WHO detailed a strategic response and preparedness plan 1 and produced a Research and Development Blueprint research agenda 2 to drive innovation in all aspects of outbreak control, from clinical case management to vaccine development, and developed a master plan for coordinating clinical trials that could lead to potential therapies for patients affected with the COVID-19 disease. Today, different countries and private laboratories are working to develop effective vaccines using state-of-the-art technology, and simultaneously assessing different treatments, including interferon and other pharmaceutical combinations being used to identify effective therapies. However, we are still trusting of reactive strategies to face this new threat for humanity but working in isolated silos.

Choice Reviews Online, Nov 1, 2012

Record number, 1648653. Title, Changes in soil fertility under indigenous agricultural intensific... more Record number, 1648653. Title, Changes in soil fertility under indigenous agricultural intensification in the Kano region show extra info. Frances Harris Title-variation: Changes in soils fertility under indigenous agricultural intensification. Author(s), Harris, F. ...

International Explorations in Outdoor and Environmental Education

To avoid the pitfalls of a multidisciplinary or multi-stranded approach, transdisciplinary projec... more To avoid the pitfalls of a multidisciplinary or multi-stranded approach, transdisciplinary projects ensure integration of all aspects of the research. Allow time and space so that there is room to fail and the opportunity to learn from mistakes. Time for coreflection and learning should be written into the project.

Authors should also include a brief summary of their paper – no longer than 450 words.

Environmental Education Research, 2021

Outdoor learning provides an opportunity for schools to foster children’s engagement with nature.... more Outdoor learning provides an opportunity for schools to foster children’s engagement with nature. This paper focusses on forest school practitioners’ perceptions of children’s development of a relationship with nature and the place where forest school occurs, through interviews with forest school activity leaders. Reflecting on literature, the analysis of interviews sought to identify the processes through which attachment to place or connection to nature occurs. The findings suggest that through regular and repeated activities in a natural setting at forest school, children become more relaxed, overcome any fears, have fun, connect with nature as they come to know it better, and develop an affinity for the location. Further, they develop a sense of ownership and concern for the forest school setting and desire to protect it. For some forest school practitioners, fostering a relationship with nature and place, and developing pro-environmental behaviour, is a fundamental part of thei...

The many recent developments encouraging more visits by school children to farms have highlighted... more The many recent developments encouraging more visits by school children to farms have highlighted the need for research on the interaction between farmers, schools, teachers and school children, and the effect of these visits for both farms and the schools. This research aims to 1. To identify how farmers responded to the challenge to engage the public in farming 2. To identify how teachers integrate farm visits with teaching the national curriculum in the classroom. 3. To record childreni?½s reactions to farm visits. Research was carried out in three regions: the South East, the North East and the West Country.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Human health and wellbeing and the health of the biosphere are inextricably linked. The state of ... more Human health and wellbeing and the health of the biosphere are inextricably linked. The state of Earth’s life-support systems, including freshwater, oceans, land, biodiversity, atmosphere, and climate, affect human health. At the same time, human activities are adversely affecting natural systems. This review paper is the outcome of an interdisciplinary workshop under the auspices of the Future Earth Health Knowledge Action Network (Health KAN). It outlines a research agenda to address cross-cutting knowledge gaps to further understanding and management of the health risks of these global environmental changes through an expert consultation and review process. The research agenda has four main themes: (1) risk identification and management (including related to water, hygiene, sanitation, and waste management); food production and consumption; oceans; and extreme weather events and climate change. (2) Strengthening climate-resilient health systems; (3) Monitoring, surveillance, and ...

Academy of Management Proceedings

The complex problems facing sustainability requires complex research collaborations between organ... more The complex problems facing sustainability requires complex research collaborations between organisations representing multiple professions such as business, public policy, civil society and academia. But how does such research at the interface occur and what capabilities are required? This paper systematically reviews the literature on collaborative sustainability related research across organisational and professional boundaries. We refer to this as transdisciplinary research and explore the different logics (approaches, methodologies, goals and values) that are drawn together. Commonly identified logics include (among others) environmental value creation, social value creation, commercial objectives and academic knowledge generation. While there has been much research on the challenges of transdisciplinarity in sustainability, the actual processes of managing inter organisational and cross profession research and associated tensions at the interface has had less attention. This paper presents a framewo...

Area

This paper contributes to the growing body of research concerning use of outdoor spaces by educat... more This paper contributes to the growing body of research concerning use of outdoor spaces by educators, and the increased use of informal and outdoor learning spaces when teaching primary school children. The research takes the example of forest school, a form of regular and repeated outdoor learning increasingly common in primary schools. This research focuses on how the learning space at forest school shapes the experience of children and forest school leaders as they engage in learning outside the classroom. The learning space is considered as a physical space, and also in a more metaphorical way as a space where different behaviours are permitted, and a space set apart from the national curriculum. Through semi-structured interviews with members of the community of practice of forest school leaders, the paper seeks to determine the significance of being outdoors on the forest school experience. How does this learning space differ from the classroom environment? What aspects of the forest school learning space support pupils' experiences? How does the outdoor learning space affect teaching, and the dynamics of learning while at forest school? The research shows that the outdoor space provides new opportunities for children and teachers to interact and learn, and revealed how forest school leaders and children co-create a learning environment in which the boundaries between classroom and outdoor learning, teacher and pupil, are renegotiated to stimulate teaching and learning. Forest school practitioners see forest school as a separate learning space that is removed from the physical constraints of the classroom and pedagogical constraints of the national curriculum to provide a more flexible and responsive learning environment.

Outdoor environmental education in higher education, 2021

Nature connection is the diverse ways in which meaningful experiences are had with nature and tha... more Nature connection is the diverse ways in which meaningful experiences are had with nature and that are claimed to have positive impacts on the wellbeing of people and the environment. Definitions range holistically across mind, body and emotional engagements. Activities in nature are understood variously as taking place everywhere or only in wild settings. There is a long history of modern society's apparent disconnection from nature with related counter movements. Latterly, there has been a renaissance of the urgent need to understand and value humans as natural in order to tackle urgent environmental crises on a global scale. As a result, research to better understand what has become known as nature connectedness has grown rapidly as have instruments to measure the quality and impact of connections. Educational practices are increasingly alert to the need to promote nature connectedness with significant changes in policy and practice to encourage experiences in what is perceived as nature. Many of the environmental education themes in this book are currently being influenced by the trends explored in this chapter.