Science Leader
Christchurch Science Centre
Gerald is the Science Leader for the Systems Thinking, Action Research and Social Science (STARSS) group.
Areas of interest
- the development of systems philosophy, methodology and practice - especially applied to complex environmental and social issues;
- this involves reframing science as an aspect of 'systemic intervention', requiring stakeholder dialogue and personal reflection on values and boundaries of analysis;
- community development and participative planning;
- dealing with marginalisation (of both people and issues).
I generally use an action research approach, and many of my projects have involved the simultaneous facilitation of community involvement and multi-agency working. The research therefore generates knowledge in the context of local action and more general knowledge about systems methodology and methods that might be adopted/adapted for other purposes.