By Alanna K. Higgins Recently, I completed an online class titled “Fundamentals of GIS” run by UC Davis through Coursera. I wanted to learn about GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for my SUSPLACE research looking at the interactions between the social economy and alternative food initiatives. You may be asking yourself what use GIS is for … Read more
The SUSPLACE Early Stage Researchers (ESR) position ‘Social economy, social entrepreneurship’ is vacant again. The current ESR accepted another position. We are looking for an Early Stage Researcher to be appointed for the remaining 24 months. The ESR position is hosted by the Latvia University – Faculty of Social Sciences. The position is open for … Read more
by Marie Quinney and Anastasia Papangelou Is there such a thing as a silent conversation? How can we support (and be supported by) our peers in the cumbersome writing process? How can one, as a facilitator, deal with demotivated participants or conflicts during a workshop? Is there a good energiser that doesn’t exclude less mobile … Read more
By Alanna K. Higgins From the 3rd to 7th of October I – along with my fellow ESRs Lorena Axinte, Catia Rebelo, and Alessandro Vasta – attended the biennial ESRS Autumn School. This year’s school was facilitated by Prof. Michael Woods and the Global-Rural Research group from Aberystwyth University. The School focused on examining globalization … Read more
By Alanna K. Higgins Earlier this week, I gave a talk entitled “Social Economy: A Primer” at a local training course co-hosted by Zala Briviba and the Latvian branch of the EU project “Sustainable and Solidarity Economy” (SUSY). The course “When money is not essential? Local and global solutions of social and solidarity economy” was … Read more
By Alanna Higgins From the 10th to 14th of August, over 700 delegates met at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada for the XIV World Congress of Rural Sociology. The theme of the conference was “Sustainable and Just Rural Transitions: Connections and Complexities”; with 78 regular sessions and panels, excursions, and other events happening throughout the … Read more
by Anastasia Papangelou Imagine a sizzling day in the heart of Spanish summer. A long room with bright-green chairs, welcomingly cool despite the lack of air-condition. A patchwork of more than 30 people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, origins and ages. And a bearded man talking in an imposing voice, mixing in his lecture … Read more