Search Results (1,273)

The concept of resilience has gained significant prominence across various disciplines, particularly in the context of regional development. Specifically, the Social Responsibility of Local Public Administrations (SRLPA) may play a significant role in fostering resilient territories. This study proposes a second-order model utilizing Structural Equation Modeling—Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to investigate the complex relationships between the SRLPA and citizen participation in municipal affairs. The proposed model comprises six dimensions for the SRLPA: good governance values, efficiency, transparency, economic issues, environmental concerns, and socio-labor matters. One of the primary contributions of this study is the development and operationalization of a scale designed to measure the construct of the SRLPA. Additionally, empirical analysis shows that the relationship between the SRLPA and citizen participation is indirect. Instead, SRLPA exerts its influence through two mediating variables: citizen connection with the municipality and the perceived bond with the local government. The findings suggest that to positively impact citizen participation, the SRLPA must strengthen relationships with citizens, thereby enhancing their engagement in municipal affairs. Full article

This study focuses on the analysis of lighting in night conditions to explain what lighting in parks should look like and how parks should be lit from the point of view of people’s perceptions. It addresses the impact of the lighting configuration of urban parks on preference, safety, mystery, legibility, and contact with the environment. The feelings of wheelchair users and able-bodied people were measured. The respondents assessed park landscapes presented in visualisations that varied in terms of lighting features and spatial contexts. This research showed, inter alios, that the participants rated evenly lit spaces more highly than those featuring spot lighting. In unevenly lit spaces, the lighting of the surroundings turned out to be crucial import for able-bodied people, while for the disabled respondents, a combination of lighting of the surroundings and of paths was significant. For evenly lit spaces, path lighting is less important for disabled people than for those without disabilities. These insights can help researchers to look at lighting solutions in a more human-centered way and take into account the environment in which they are used. This allows the design of night lighting in parks to be socially sustainable and promotes access to urban green spaces for all citizens. The study emphasises that the provision of sustainable lighting in parks should take into account different social groups, making light a common good. Full article

The ultimate goal of energy education is to cultivate citizens with energy literacy, which in turn influences the energy preferences of the general public. Various aspects, such as teaching, practice, publicity, and participation, all profoundly impact the formation of energy literacy. This study reviews the role of energy education in educational policy-making, the operation of educational systems, the design of innovative energy industry environments, and public participation. Through a systematic review, this study integrates empirical research across various contexts and environments. The relevant topics of empirical research include ‘energy education’, ‘energy literacy’, ‘energy preferences’, ‘energy education policy’, ‘operation of energy education systems’, ‘creation of a renewable energy industry environment’, and ‘public participation’. These studies indicate that energy education can enhance participants’ awareness of energy through knowledge transfer, enabling them to adopt more effective energy solutions and cultivate citizens with energy literacy. Energy education not only shapes the public’s energy literacy but also further influences energy preferences, which in turn can have profound effects on social interactions, market outcomes, and political and social systems. Finally, from the perspectives of ‘educational shaping’ and ‘cultural shaping’, the research explores the impact of energy education on the energy environment and people’s values. The findings reveal that society gradually forms a consensus on energy through long-term interactions, establishing a unique energy culture that subsequently influences the direction and implementation of national energy policies. There exist interactive cycles between energy education and energy policy: energy education influences public energy preferences, while energy culture, in turn, affects policy formulation. Full article

Introduction. Open Government is a form of public policy based on the pillars of collaboration and citizen participation, transparency and the right of access to public information. With the help of information and communication technologies, governments and administrations carry out open data initiatives, making reusable datasets available to all citizens. The academic community, highly qualified personnel, can become potential reusers of this data, which would lead to its use for scientific research, generating knowledge, and for teaching, improving the training of university students and promoting the reuse of open data in the future. Method. This study was developed using a quantitative research methodology (survey), which was distributed by email in one context block and six technical blocks, with a total of 30 questions. The data collection period was between 15 March and 10 May 2021. Analysis. The data obtained through this quantitative methodology were processed, normalised, and analysed. Results. A total of 783 responses were obtained, from 34 Spanish provinces. The researchers come from 47 Spanish universities and 21 research centres, and 19 research areas of the State Research Agency are represented. In addition, a platform was developed with the data for the purpose of visualising the results of the survey. Conclusions. The sample thus obtained is representative and the conclusions can be extrapolated to the rest of the Spanish university teaching staff. In terms of gender, the study is balanced between men and women (41.76% W vs. 56.58% M). In general, researchers responding to the survey know what open data is (79.31%) but only 50.57% reuse open data. The main conclusion is that open government data prove to be useful sources of information for science, especially in areas such as Social Sciences, Industrial Production, Engineering and Engineering for Society, Information and Communication Technologies, Economics and Environmental Sciences. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the demand for urban pocket parks near residential areas, posing new challenges for environmental governance. However, there is a lack of research on how to engage citizens in pocket-park governance to address both potential and unforeseen risks. This study combines social information processing theory with a norm activation model to develop a framework that identifies the shaping stages and influencing factors of citizens’ intentions to participate in pocket-park governance. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, this research analyzed the relationships among external factors, attitudes, moral norms, and intentions to participate based on 719 responses from an online survey targeting Chinese citizens in November and December 2023. Results indicate that health risks and pocket-park environmental quality positively affect perceived usefulness. Attitudes and moral norms are indeed important factors mediating the positive effect of the external environment on the intention to participate. The pathway of guiding citizens to participate in pocket-park governance is clarified, which helps bolster the resilience of urban green spaces and improve the quality of life of residents after public crises. Full article

The branding of cities through their historical and cultural assets has become a pivotal strategy in urban development and tourism. This study focuses on Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its potential as a brand for Erbil, a city with a rich historical backdrop and flourishing urban landscape. The study aimed to explore the perceptions of Erbil’s residents regarding the cultural significance of the Citadel and its potential as a city brand. A mixed-method survey questionnaire was conducted, collecting data from around 440 residents through both manual distribution around the Citadel and an online platform. The findings were analyzed using SPSS 23 to provide both descriptive and inferential statistical insights. The findings show that locals are well aware of the Citadel’s significance as a significant historical and cultural symbol of the city. The vast majority of participants acknowledged its unique visual attributes and their representation of the city’s cultural and historical identity. Additionally, the results showed that citizens’ perceptions of the Citadel as a good component of city branding were positively correlated with their level of cultural awareness. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on city branding and heritage sites by providing empirical evidence on the impact of residents’ cultural awareness on their perceptions of heritage sites as city brands. The results highlight how crucial cultural education and community involvement are to maximizing the branding potential of historic locations. Policymakers and urban planners may find the findings of the study useful in utilizing Erbil Citadel’s historical relevance to strengthen Erbil’s brand identity internationally. Full article

Public food trees are increasingly popular among researchers, urban planners, and citizens for their diversity of social, provisional, and environmental benefits. However, more research is needed to determine how to overcome their barriers. Here we used a qualitative approach to explore the usage and perception of public fruit trees and attitudes towards public usage and participation in two urban green spaces harboring fruit trees in Birjand, Iran: Tohid Park and Akbarieh Garden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve visitors to both spaces, four administrators, and eight workers. Almost all visitors had great personal experience and interest in picking fruit; nevertheless, usage in these green spaces was low, partly due to social norms. Almost all visitors appreciated the public fruit trees for the diverse pleasures that they provide (sensory, emotional, cognitive, experiential, social). Ten also had a high interest in participating in their management, especially in Tohid Park due to its greater social impact. Education and access limitation were suggested by some as important to reduce tree damage and maximize production. Our findings expand our understanding of how citizens relate to public urban fruit trees and can be involved in co-management schemes, thereby contributing to building smart and participatory edible cities. Full article

Botswana has had fair and stable elections since its independence in 1966. It has a relatively high standard of living, a relatively well-functioning welfare state, and relatively low levels of government corruption. Voter participation is among the highest in the world, topping 80 percent in the past elections. Access to education and healthcare is free to all citizens. How can we best explain Botswana’s exceptionalism in the political, economic, and social realms, and what policy lessons does the case of Botswana contain? This article shows that it is Botswana’s millennial tradition of direct village democracy, kgotla, that best explains its exceptional performance. I visited Botswana in May of 2023 to evaluate the importance of participatory democracy in Botswana and assess its explanatory power. When comparing local participation to other, potentially relevant causal factors, I find that local political participation provides the most robust explanation for good governance in Botswana. In Botswana, citizens are able to hold their elected officials accountable, learn how politics works by acquiring the necessary technical knowledge (techne) through participating in regular, monthly public assemblies, and, as a result, make better-informed political decisions. Full article

Wheat straw (WS) is a promising substrate for biogas production by anaerobic digestion (AD) due to its high carbohydrate content. An estimated 0.603 million t yr⁻¹ of WS are generated from wheat production systems in South Africa. This is equivalent to an energy potential of 11 PJ. Despite this, WS is still undervalued as a bioenergy resource in South Africa due to its structural complexity and low nitrogen content. WS disposal methods, such as use in livestock bedding, burning and burying into the soil, inter alia, are not sustainable and may contribute to global warming and climate change. The commercialization of the AD of WS needs to be further developed and promoted. Pre-treatment (i.e., physical, chemical, biological and hybrid methods) and anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) are novel strategies that can support the conversion of WS into biogas and other value-added products. Current and future research should focus on optimizing pre-treatment and AcoD conditions towards industrialization of WS into valuable products. This paper focuses on the potential use of WS for biogas production in South Africa. The aim is to create information that will promote research and development, and encourage policy makers and stakeholders to participate and invest in WS biogas technology. Were WS biogas technology fully adopted, we believe that it would alleviate energy insecurity and environmental degradation, and sustain the livelihoods of citizens in South Africa. Full article

In the present study, we explored the experiences of Ph.D. graduates in navigating the U.S. academic job market. We used interpretative phenomenology and interview data from 15 Ph.D. graduates. These participants came from different racial/ethnic backgrounds and were either U.S. citizens or international candidates while pursuing their current academic positions. Our findings reveal that during their job search, the participants, especially racially minoritized individuals and immigrants, faced concerns about the best-fit qualities, negotiated their failures with a flexible mindset, and introspected to restore their academic identity. These findings suggest the internal struggles of academic job seekers and the complexities of validating doctoral employability in a highly competitive environment. Strong agency to overcome these challenges is essential to any successful academic job seekers. Given the findings, the study emphasizes the need to further research and enhance the employability of Ph.D. graduates in today’s academic landscape. Full article

Energy communities are a transformative force in the electricity markets and ancillary services, reshaping the energy landscape through collective action. This paper explores the successful strategies adopted by these communities, highlighting real-world cases where they have participated directly in the market, or through aggregators, or sold their energy to retailers, which is of paramount importance because it serves as a foundation for those countries that wish to implement these entities as part of their decarbonization plan. It also serves as a model for the development of future citizen initiatives that aim to turn citizens into active users of the electricity system. The paper examines collaborative dynamics within the energy sector, highlighting how these communities optimize resource sharing and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable energy system. The study emphasizes the potential of energy communities in driving innovation and fostering a participatory approach to energy management. The results show that some pilot projects are being developed and several electricity cooperatives, one of the most common forms of energy communities, are participating in energy trading with their members and other entities. More efforts are also needed for energy communities to participate more directly in the market and/or through aggregators. Full article

Urban forest parks play a vital role in promoting physical activities (PAs) and providing cultural ecosystem services (CESs) that enhance citizens’ well-being. This study aims to reevaluate CESs by focusing on the physical activity experiences of park visitors to optimize park management and enhance citizen satisfaction. This study utilized social media data and employed natural language processing techniques and text analysis tools to examine experiences related to physical activities in Beijing Olympic Forest Park, Xishan Forest Park, and Beigong Forest Park. A specialized sports activity dictionary was developed to filter and analyze comments related to PA, emphasizing the impact of natural environments on enjoyment and participation in PA. The importance–performance analysis (IPA) method was used to assess the service characteristics of each park. The findings reveal that urban forest parks are highly valued by citizens, particularly for their natural landscapes, leisure activities, and the emotional fulfillment derived from PA, with 82.58% of comments expressing positive sentiments. Notably, appreciation for natural landscapes was exceptionally high, as evidenced by the frequent mentions of key terms such as ‘scenery’ (mentioned 2871 times), ‘autumn’ (mentioned 2314 times), and ‘forest’ (mentioned 1439 times), which significantly influence park usage. However, 17.11% of the reviews highlighted dissatisfaction, primarily with the management of facilities and services during sports and cultural activities. These insights underscore the need for performance improvements in ecological environments and sports facilities. This study provides a novel perspective on assessing and optimizing urban forest parks’ functions, particularly in supporting active physical engagement. The rich CESs offered by these parks enhance physical activity experiences and overall satisfaction. The findings offer strategic insights for park managers to better meet citizens’ needs and improve park functionality. Full article

The scientific literature has revealed that there is often a discrepancy between urban planning initiatives and the actual development of cities. Urban development is a complex process strongly affected by the self-organisation of citizens and entrepreneurs, who produce services and events, create new public places, and shape urban regeneration through everyday practices. However, the actors of self-organised urban development are rarely met in participatory urban planning practices. The gap raises the research problem of how to recognise and facilitate civic engagement in urban development. The authors of this article have been investigating the ontology and methodology of urban planning and development over the past two decades, culminating in the framework of expanded urban planning. The article aims to present multiple approaches to civic engagement in urban planning and development, based on an updated longitudinal study conducted in a Helsinki neighbourhood. The authors argue that urban planning should be updated with expanded urban planning (EP), which extends the focus of civic engagement from public participation to self-organisation and everyday life practices. Full article

This systematic literature review aimed to assess the methodological quality of user-centered usability evaluation of digital applications to promote citizens’ engagement and participation in public governance by (i) systematizing their purposes; (ii) analyzing the evaluation procedures, methods, and instruments that were used; (iii) determining their conformance with recommended usability evaluation good practices; and (iv) identifying the implications of the reported results for future developments. An electronic search was conducted on Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore databases, and after a screening procedure considering predefined eligibility criteria, 34 studies were reviewed. These studies performed user-centered usability evaluation of digital applications related to (i) participatory reporting of urban issues, (ii) environmental sustainability, (iii) civic participation, (iv) urban planning, (v) promotion of democratic values, (vi) electronic voting, and (vii) chatbots. In terms of the methodological quality of the included studies, the results suggest that there is a high heterogeneity of the user-centered usability evaluation. Therefore, there is a need for recommendations to support user-centered usability evaluations of digital applications to promote citizens’ engagement and participation in public governance to improve the planning and conduction of future research. Full article

Increases in the human population and economic development have led to a rise in waste production, which poses significant environmental risks and presents a pressing global issue in waste management. Among other countries, this situation affects the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the other hand, poor waste segregation practices can result in failed waste recycling efforts, leading to the excessive use of resources and worsening issues (such as energy consumption, global warming, and sustainable development). Waste segregation is a crucial step in waste management, which involves dividing waste according to its characteristics and type. By following this procedure, recycling effectiveness is increased, the environmental impact is decreased, and hazardous material disposal is ensured. Beneficial waste segregation reduces contamination, making it possible to recover valuable materials and thus use fewer landfills. Even though the failings in waste segregation are a severe issue, insufficient research has been carried out. This includes research on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of people living in the UAE regarding waste segregation, information which is crucial to developing a successful intervention to address this problem. The current study evaluated the KAP concerning waste segregation among UAE citizens and identified correlations between KAP variables, with the primary aim of filling a research gap, while analyzing the correlations between sociodemographic characteristics and KAP levels, which was the secondary aim. This was accomplished by a cross-sectional study conducted all over the UAE. Data were collected from 391 participants using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire that was developed from previous research and investigated sociodemographic characteristics, waste segregation practices (5), attitudes (5), and knowledge (5). UAE University’s ethical committees approved this study (ERSC_2024_4360) for research, and the results were confirmed through statistical analyses and Cronbach’s alpha testing. The inclusion criteria targeted residents of the UAE who were 18 years of age or above, and the survey was distributed via an online platform (Google Forms) with non-probability sampling. G*Power statistical power analysis estimated a minimum sample size of 385 participants. To identify correlations in the results, a structural equation model (SEM) and SPSS, such as Chi-square tests and Spearman correlation coefficients, were used to assess the associations between KAP variables. These tests were chosen for their robustness in handling categorical and continuous data, respectively. A notable majority (84.1%) of the participants were female, and 15.9% were male; the gender difference was highly significant, as revealed by the Chi-square test. Most participants (67.0%) fell into the 18–24 age group. The highest level of education reported was a bachelor’s degree (47.3%). The parents’ educational levels showed a relatively high level of education, with more than half having at least a high school degree or higher: father’s education level (67.2%) and mother’s education level (73.1%). Most participants were students (58.8%), but a significant portion of the sample was employed (25.1%). Unemployment was reported at 12.3%. The parents’ employment statuses showed a higher percentage of unemployed mothers (49.4%) compared to fathers (6.9%). The average scores suggested a favorable inclination toward sustainability (mean ± standard deviation (SD) for knowledge, 3.59 ± 0.78; poor knowledge, 3.6%; and excellent knowledge, 16.9%), attitudes (3.73 ± 0.77; poor attitudes, 2.8%; and excellent attitudes, 22.5%), and practices (3.62 ± 0.76; poor practices, 2.3%; and excellent practices, 16.4%), with all the means surpassing the midpoint. In the correlation test, the current study demonstrated positive correlations between knowledge and attitudes (r = 0.666, p < 0.001) and between knowledge and practices (r = 0.682, p < 0.001). Also, a positive correlation (r = 0.159, p < 0.001) was found between general waste segregation KAP and sociodemographic variables, with a significant correlation (r = 0.110) between attitudes and gender. These findings emphasize the possibility of using focused educational and policy interventions to improve waste segregation behaviors. An additional investigation is advised to delve into the fundamental mechanisms behind these correlations and devise customized approaches to encourage sustainable waste management practices among various demographic groups in the UAE. Full article