Designing Ecosystems: Synergies and Tensions Between
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DESIGNING ECOSYSTEMS: SYNERGIES AND TENSIONS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL ENTHUSIASMS AND MATERIALITY by SARAH HUNT (Under the Direction of Peter Brosius) ABSTRACT In examining a processes of environmental technology innovation this research investigated a particular processual idea, designing with ecosystems, and adopted a meso- level for investigating the socio-technological change processes. This project involved multi-sited ethnography which followed a diffuse array of actors through the spaces of their production of alternative technologies and new disciplines related to the idea of using ecosystems as a core element of design. The thesis is organized around an exploration of the histories and content of the two realms of Living Machines™ and Ecological Engineering, discussing the institutional, regulatory, capital and material constraints to their development. Drawing on the dual problematics laid out by first ecological modernization theory and secondly by David Hess’s proposals on science and technology studies and social movements, the question of concern in this project was: What are the processes and means by which ecological ideas and technologies are becoming incorporated into mainstream practice? Answering this question for the development and adoption of designing with ecosystems aids in building the answer to how under ecological modernization, science and technology can develop or incorporate new socio-technical practices wherein environmental considerations are included at the earliest design stage. And similarly, the analysis of designing with ecosystems as technical and disciplinary practices that respectively have roots in the 70s environmental movement and strong social change values allows for a reevaluation of the distinction drawn between social movements and scientific practice. Thus, find congruence with the ideas of science movements this dissertation posits that it is out of the maintained interests, engagements, and actions of individuals that new alternative ecological technical and practices are developed and deployed into mainstream practice even in the face of structural and material constraints. INDEX WORDS: science movements, social movements, ecological modernization, technology innovation, environmental movement, boundary work, engineering studies, anthropology of science and technology, ecological engineering, living machines DESIGNING ECOSYSTEMS: SYNERGIES AND TENSIONS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL ENTHUSIASMS AND MATERIALITY by SARAH HUNT BA, Earlham College, 1993 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ATHENS, GEORGIA 2010 © 2010 Sarah Hunt All Rights Reserved DESIGNING ECOSYSTEMS: SYNERGIES AND TENSIONS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL ENTHUSIASMS AND MATERIALITY by SARAH HUNT Major Professor: Peter Brosius Committee: Bruce Beck David Gattie Theodore Gragson Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December 2010 DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Frank Golley, ecosystem scientist and mentor, whose wise words inspired me to move from the Ecology Ph.D program to the Anthropology program at UGA. And to Dr. Todd Crane Whose multiple forms of support throughout my life have made this dissertation possible. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project could not have been done with out the generosity of spirit of all the individuals who made time and space for me to pursue this research. The interest and kindness of all of the engineers, ecologists and technologists that responded to my requests for information and time made the day to day process of this work possible and rewarding. Special acknowledgements are necessary for all the people of Living Designs Group, North American Wetland Engineering and Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park who not only allowed me to lurk in their halls and offices for longer periods of time but who made efforts to expose me to the wide range of activities and processes of these work sites. Special thanks are also necessary to the American Ecological Engineering Society whose lively annual conferences were both inspiring and informative. Similarly, thanks must be give to Dr. John Todd for the writings and innovations that were the initial inspiration for this investigation of environmental technological innovation, and for the initial opportunity to be exposed to these technologies at Ocean Arks International. This research was made possible by a dissertation improvement grant from the National Science Foundation’s Social and Economic Sciences Division, Societal Dimensions of Engineering, Science and Technology Program. And finally, I would like to give many thanks to my committee who stuck with me throughout my long graduate career and especially to my advisor who allowed me the freedom to follow my academic muse. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ..........................................................................................................x LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................xi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................1 Background..............................................................................................3 Outline .....................................................................................................8 2 THEORY.....................................................................................................14 Introduction............................................................................................14 Ecological Modernization.......................................................................15 Social Movements..................................................................................25 Science Movements................................................................................34 Conclusions ...........................................................................................40 3 METHOD....................................................................................................41 Methodological Theory ..........................................................................41 Methods .................................................................................................46 Sites .......................................................................................................52 Write Up ................................................................................................65 vi SECTION 1. DESIGNING WITH ECOSYSTEMS ...........................................67 4 DEVELOPING ECO-TECHNOLOGIES – FROM CREATION TO INCORPORATION .....................................................................................69 Introduction............................................................................................69 The Environmental Movement and the New Alchemy Institute ..............70 Designing with Ecosystems: Not-for-Profits and Businesses...................78 Living Machines: The Terminology and Conceptual Underpinnings.......87 Developing Living Machines®: Institutions, Trademarks and Patents......94 Contested Connections .........................................................................101 Conclusion...........................................................................................104 5 DEVELOPING ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING - SCIENCE MOVEMENTS AND BOUNDARY WORK..............................................106 Introduction..........................................................................................106 History.................................................................................................107 How Ecological Engineers Define Ecological Engineering ...................111 Boundary Work in Ecological Engineering...........................................120 Ecological Engineering, a Science Movement?.....................................132 Conclusion...........................................................................................143 SECTION 2. CONSTRAINTS TO DESIGNING WITH ECOSYSTEMS – INSTITUTIONS, REGULATIONS, CAPITAL, MATERIALITY .............147 6 INSTITUTIONS ........................................................................................149 Introduction..........................................................................................149 Engineering: A profession and an Identity............................................153 vii Incubating Ecological Engineering: Finding Departmental Homes........164 Relevance, Rank and Rewards..............................................................178 Conclusion...........................................................................................181 7 REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS ......................................................184 Introduction..........................................................................................184 Role of Regulation in Developing Practices..........................................188 Prescriptive Standards and Performance Standards ...............................191 Regulations and Regulators..................................................................193 Conclusion...........................................................................................195