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Student capstone and applied projects from ASU's School of Sustainability.

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The Knowledge-Action Gap Related to Meat Consumption in Sustainability Scientists and its Relevance for Societal Transformation

Description
Eating meat leads to several environmental threats, hence reducing one’s consumption can be a direct way to avoid environmental degradation. While sustainability scientists know about the environmental degradation due to meat consumption, many of them still choose to eat meat. It is questionable whether a broader societal transformation towards sustainable…

Eating meat leads to several environmental threats, hence reducing one’s consumption can be a direct way to avoid environmental degradation. While sustainability scientists know about the environmental degradation due to meat consumption, many of them still choose to eat meat. It is questionable whether a broader societal transformation towards sustainable consumption is likely if people with the necessary knowledge and values already struggle and fail to implement a sustainable behavior. How can they expect others to change if they do not change themselves? This paper addresses the knowledge-action gap that is prevalent among sustainability scientists regarding their meat consumption and how they deal with it. Qualitative semi-structured interviews and thematic content analysis are applied to analyze the main internal barriers to pro environmental behavior sustainability scientists face as well as what narratives and rationalizations they use to overcome the dissonance between their knowledge and actions. The internal barriers they demonstrated were emotional non-involvement and a perceived lack of power of the individual. The strategies used to overcome the dissonance were conscious consumption narratives and rationalizing the value of meat consumption, specifically its perceived sustainable dimensions. This paper also highlights that sustainability scientists do feel responsible to lead by example in the context of societal transformation, but do not always follow through with behavior change. This study concludes it is necessary that sustainability scientists do so more consequently to embrace their role as trendsetters and change agents for a sustainable transformation.
ContributorsFalkenstein, Anna (Author) / Upham, Paul (Contributor) / DesRoches, Tyler (Contributor) / von Wehrden, Henrik (Contributor)
Created2018-07-02
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Transformation Labs as a Sustainability Intervention to Leverage the Human Factor of Social-Ecological Change in the Escalante Community Garden

Description
While we often see community gardens as material spaces managed by organizations, resources and institutional arrangements do not fully define a community garden or ensure its success. Understanding the “human factor” is key to implementing interventions at the subjective level that allow gardens to thrive. The Escalante Community Garden in…

While we often see community gardens as material spaces managed by organizations, resources and institutional arrangements do not fully define a community garden or ensure its success. Understanding the “human factor” is key to implementing interventions at the subjective level that allow gardens to thrive. The Escalante Community Garden in Tempe, Arizona is a transforming social-ecological system wherein volunteers exhibiting collective efficacy are a crucial component. To keep this undergoing transformation on a positive pathway, I leveraged a sustainability intervention, a Transformation Lab, using a set of replicable participatory tools to support personal and interpersonal dynamics beyond an organizational perspective.
ContributorsHalter, Marley (Author) / Manuel-Navarrete, David (Contributor) / Cloutier, Scott (Contributor) / Eakin, Hallie (Contributor)
Created2018-04-19
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Greener Golf: Promoting a More Sustainable Game

Description
At a confluence of accelerating climate change, unprecedented technological advancement, and increasing corporate and government transparency, global systems are reaching a level of complexity never seen before. Much about how the future will play out is unknown. But what is clear is the need for a more sustainable structure to…

At a confluence of accelerating climate change, unprecedented technological advancement, and increasing corporate and government transparency, global systems are reaching a level of complexity never seen before. Much about how the future will play out is unknown. But what is clear is the need for a more sustainable structure to all organizations, and only those that are willing and able to adapt will survive. Few industries have a greater need for this change than golf, a sport that has shown significant decline in social and cultural relevance in recent decades due to controversial business practices and varying perspective on environmental impact. Greener Golf seeks to help businesses prepare for this needed level of resiliency.This project sought to address one of the least sustainable industries in one of the least sustainable cities, Phoenix, Arizona. Golf was chosen as the specific focus due to its significant impact on both the landscape of the state and its water reserves. Greener Golf was established as a driving force for sustainability advocacy and education and a platform where golf managers, workers, vendors, players, and entrepreneurs alike can come to learn about sustainability efforts and solutions in the golf world. It also serves to connect a network of like-minded individuals with the common goal of bringing sustainability to the sport they love. With the right vision and partnerships, a robust, adaptable, resilient, and inclusive business model can be achieved, elevating the game for future generations.
ContributorsGinn, David (Writer of accompanying material)
Created2020-05-13