Imagining Orkney Futures: Circular Economy ('Working Tea' format)[Kirkwall]

During the week of the 7th to the 11th July, researchers from Scotland’s Rural College will be conducting a number of sessions with members of the Orkney community; some of these sessions will focus on biodiversity in the farm, others on circular economy more broadly. In these sessions, we will be facilitating conversations around what future(s) the community wants for a thriving Orkney, and what pathways can get them there.

These sessions are part of research on how to bring about an economic system that is both circular and anchored in communities’ values. We will be wanting to explore community members’ views on sustainability and circularity and collaboratively map pathways to reaching this vision. We will explore questions such as:

• What does an economy that is circular look like? What would be that economy’s main mandate(s)?
• What would your job, your leisure time and your community look like in that economy? Would you still be working in your current profession(s) or would there be new opportunities you would be pursuing?
• How would your community relate to natural resources in this new economy?
• What would governance look like?
• What would be the role of government and of private enterprise?
• How would individual and societal success be measured?

We want this conversation to be quite informal and relaxed (even fun!), so we are inviting participant farmers to play a game with us where we build this future in four stages (motivation, decision-making, knowledge and worldview), and then map out the paths that would have led us there.

In the game, participants will be working together to explore what an economy (including food production) that has transitioned to a more biodiverse Scotland looks like and how society got there. The game progresses across a board that represents a walk from a desired future – that the participants will define – to the present day. In this walk, we will be going through the main events and milestones that participants think led Scottish communities to achieve that future. Each player will be given turns to express their vision, and discussion at the end of all turns will be mediated by facilitators.

Sessions will be available in one of two formats:

· Mid-day session, from 10:30-15:30, with a couple of tea breaks and a 1-hour lunch break;

· Working evening tea session, from 17:30-20:30, where dinner will be served to be eaten alongside the playing of the game.

Meal and tea/coffee/refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact:

Joana Ferreira (Sm9hbmEgISBGZXJyZWlyYSB8IHNydWMgISBhYyAhIHVr)