The Transformation Laboratory Xochimilco Social-Ecological System MExico city Narrative of the Process and Methodological Guide Acknowledgements: PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT The project “The Transformation Laboratory of the Xo- The “Pathways to Sustainability Global Consortium - STEPS Centre” chimilco Social-Ecological System, Mexico City” was developed by the [http://steps-centre.org/about/global/] coordinates an internatio- National Laboratory of Sustainability Sciences (LANCIS) of the Institu- nal project “Transformative Pathways to Sustainability Network” te of Ecology, and by the Research Institute in Applied Mathematics [http://steps-centre.org/project/tkn/], in order to create learning and Systems, both housed at the National Autonomous University experiences, a dialogue between academic and non-academic com- of Mexico (UNAM), and the School of Sustainability of Arizona State munities, and develop and combine the use of inter- and transdis- University (ASU), as part of the STEPS Pathways to Sustainability Glo- ciplinary research methods in six countries (Mexico, India, Argenti- bal Consortium (https://steps-centre.org/global/). na, UK, China, and Kenya). The case studies are compared to build understanding of the key elements needed to promote transfor- This work is based on a research project supported by the Transfor- mations to sustainability. The LANCIS-IE-UNAM, IIMAS-UNAM and mations to Sustainability Programme, which is coordinated by the SOS-ASU partnership contributed to this project with the project International Science Council (ISC), funded by the Swedish Interna- “The Transformation Laboratory of the Social-Ecological System of tional Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and implemented in Xochimilco, Mexico City”. partnership with the National Research Foundation of South Africa. The Transformations to Sustainability Programme represents a con- tribution to Future Earth. We greatly appreciate and thank all the Xochimilco T-Lab partici- pants for their valuable time, effort, and interest in sharing their ex- periences and knowledge throughout the process. RESEARCH TEAM: National Laboratory of Sustainability Sciences, Institute of Ecology (LANCIS-IE-UNAM): Lakshmi Charli-Joseph, Beatriz Ruizpalacios Research Institute in Applied Mathematics and Systems (IIMAS- UNAM): J. Mario Siqueiros-García School of Sustainability, Arizona State University (SOS-ASU): Hallie Eakin, David Manuel-Navarrete, Rebecca Shelton Transformations HOW TO CITE THIS GUIDE: to Sustainability Ruizpalacios, B., Charli-Joseph, L., Eakin, H., Siqueiros-García, J.M., Manuel-Navarrete, D., Shelton, R. (2019). The Transformation Lab- BROAD OBJECTIVE : oratory of the Social-Ecological System of Xochimilco, Mexico City: Description of the Process and Methodological Guide. Mexico City, The broad objective of the Pathways to Sustainability Network [https:// Mexico: LANCIS-IE, UNAM. steps-centre.org/project/pathways-network/] is to help understand and build alternative pathways to address key sustainability problems in different regions. The three sustainability problems addressed are: a) Urban water in cities (Mexico and India) Content: Beatriz Ruizpalacios, Lakshmi Charli-Joseph, b) Low carbon energy transitions (Kenya and China) Hallie Eakin, David Manuel-Navarrete c) Sustainable agricultural and food systems (Argentina and UK) Logo T-Lab Xochimilco: Alejandro Carrillo SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: Design: Brenda Hernández Novoa Print: Offset Santiago S.A. de C.V. 1) To experiment in processes of research, engagement and impact; 2) To explore ways of learning from differences across contexts, challenges, Translation: Hallie Eakin, David Manuel-Navarrete, Rebecca https://steps-centre.org/global/ Shelton, Beatriz Ruizpalacios, Lakshmi Charli-Joseph approaches, disciplines, etc. https://steps-centre.org/project/pathways-network/ T-Lab Xochimilco 11 CONTENT 01 INTRODUCTION 02 THE T-LAB XOCHIMILCO PROCESS METHODOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION 03 OF THE ACTIVITIES T-Lab Xochimilco experience 04 ANNEXES 2 T-Lab Xochimilco T-Lab Xochimilco 3 HOW TO READ THIS GUIDE The activities described in this guide are designed to support participatory research in the search for transformative pa- thways to social-ecological system sustainability. The guide offers activities with practical examples to help researchers creatively ex- plore new ways for participants to relate to each other and to their environment. The process of a Transformation Laboratory (T-Lab) has an uncon- ventional structure; the activities are not designed in the traditional approach of problem analysis and planning. Instead, the T-Lab seeks to explore the perceptions and experiences of individuals through continuous dialogue, in order to identify and articulate ways to con- nect worlds and perspectives. The activities we compiled here thus This document presents LANCIS-IE-UNAM, help link personal and collective experiences in a gradual and crea- IIMAS-UNAM and SOS-ASU the experience of tive way. In the Xochimilco T-Lab, the activities were carried out in the order presented in this guide, to generate a process of sharing, implementing the project “The Transformation talking and exchanging perceptions and experiences. Laboratory of the Social-Ecological System of Xochimilco, Mexico City.” THE STRUCTURE FOR EACH ACTIVITY IN THIS GUIDE IS AS FOLLOWS: Here we describe the process and methodology developed in the project between 2016 and Name of the activity 2019, as well as provide practical resources Type of interaction: Individual / Collective associated with the main activities we Objective: what we expect to achieve with the activity. implemented, in order to facilitate similar Method: the type of activity with which to achieve the processes in different contexts. We hope this objective. guide will be of use to other groups who are Description: the instructions to implement the activity. genuinely committed to the sustainability of the The experience of implementing the activity within social-ecological systems they inhabit. the Xochimilco T-Lab The Annexes have a complementary activity matrix that contains: Duration: each activity has a suggested duration, but it de- pends on the total time available and what the organizers expect in terms of the depth of the participants’ reflections. It also depends on the total number of participants: the greater the number, the longer the duration. Materials: the materials that are suggested to carryout the activity. The Annexes have a detailed description of the instructions and fur- ther design guidance for the activities that require it, as in the case of the game and the Tiny Books. 4 T-Lab Xochimilco T-Lab Xochimilco 55 INTRODUCTION TO XOCHIMILCO THE TRANSFORMATION T-LAB LABORATORY The project “Transformation Labora- WHAT IS A TRANSFORMATION LABORATORY? tory of the Social-Ecological System of Xochimilco, Mexico City” was held from June 2016 to March 2019 in Xochimilco, Mexico City. Recognizing that A Transformation Laboratory (T-Lab) is a transformations take time and that both individual participatory and transdisciplinary process that crea- and collective agency are essential conditions to tes a safe space that cultivates creativity, innovation, generate these processes of transformation, the and experimentation among individuals to reveal project focused on seeking the continued partici- novel transformative pathways towards sustainability pation of 12 people linked to the Xochimilco wet- of social-ecological systems. Social-ecological trans- land in various ways. Participants were involved in formations are profound changes that help create intensive and immersive experiences that sought more just and sustainable outcomes for society and to provoke conversations about their different the environment. understandings, values and meanings associated with the degradation of the lacustrine zone of Xo- T-Labs are specifically designed to empower indivi- chimilco and the related urbanization processes. duals and groups and to foster changes in the condi- We hoped that through this process we would tions that make social-ecological systems unsustaina- begin to transform people’s interactions within ble. In these spaces, people who share an interest in the social-ecological system and generate new solving problems as well as have some ability to bring knowledge and relationships to create and pro- about change participate, even though they may have mote change. different perspectives and play different roles. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE T-LABS ARE: Conceptualize the central challenge or pro- blem and identify innovators in order to stren- gthen their capacity to meet the challenge MAIN PROBLEM OR CHALLENGE: more effectively. Lack of collective action to address the degradation of the lake area Develop a change strategy that tests multiple of Xochimilco, which translates into the absence of an effective solutions, which in turn helps address the cen- strategy to address the urbanization processes. tral challenge. GENERAL OBJETIVE: Create a space that promotes the empowerment of participants through participatory methods that involve re-framing the problem and the role of participants within the social-ecological system and, in doing so, achieve a change in individual’s perception of their own agency. In addition, through this process, activate the collecti- ve agency of the group involved in order to take advantage of new opportunities for transformation towards more sustainable states. 6 T-Lab Xochimilco T-Lab Xochimilco 7 The design was interactive and adaptive.