Martina Padmanabhan, Passau Univeristy/ Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

1. Feminist social-ecological research: Seeds for change Martina Padmanabhan, Passau Univeristy/Leibniz University Hannover, Germany 26 January 2013, Berlin

2. Transformation knowledge for equitableand sustainable use of agrobiodiversity • Feminist analysis • analytical focus to include gender as a social relationship • the feminist question constantly points to matters of power, definition and speech • Social-ecological perspective to human-nature relations • dynamic interaction between environmental factors and social aspects • challenges the well accepted division of labor between natural and social sciences

3. Paddy in Wayanad

4. Social-ecological artefact agrobiodiversity • “Societal relations with nature” (Jahn 2004) simultaneously shaped by material conditions and social-political circumstances • Agrobiodiversity a social-ecological phenomenon per se: • Double identity as natural resource and cultural asset with social characteristics • Paradoxical attribute: Utilisation of agrobiodiversity does not diminish, but rather determines its existence

5. Creating“Transformation knowledge for gender-equitable and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity” Operating in Indo-German tandems Ecology Economics Sociology Administration Team leader Joining Social-ecological discourse with practical intervention experience Indo-German cooperation: BioDIVA

6. Wayanad District, Kerala, India IUP

7. 1. Seeds of change: Theorising Intraface • Preparingthegroundforteamwork • Interdisciplinary • Intercultural • International • Transdisciplinary • Gender • Conceptualising • Knowledge Integration IUP

8. Negotiations at the intraface 2. Transdisciplinaryenvironment and life-world 3. Disciplinary perspectives on 1. Social-ecological artefact 5. Equity outcomes Negotiations at the intraface 4. Gender analysis of power and interests

9. Integrating disciplinary contributions: Ecology • Properties of nature’s components become gendered through interactions between nature and actors • Agroecology illuminates the interaction of anthropogenic utilisation and ecological dynamics (Tscharntke 2012) • The human-nature interdependence is expressed in farmer’s gendered knowledge and management practices • Intraface analysis reveals gender-based spatial and temporal exposure to ecosystems

10. Integrating disciplinary contributions: Economics • Gendered access and control of resource • Property rights to nature’s components are an outcome of institutions of environmental coordination • Gendered commodity chain analysisKitchen as the most undervalued place for utilisation • The intraface can be observed in terms of welfare, employment andincome in a gendered pattern

11. 1. Seed of change: Theorising Intraface • Intellectual challenge to think human-nature relationship anew crowds out the gender perspective • Disciplinary identity issues: intellectual home • Feminist scholarship as new body of literature IUP

12. 2.Seed of change: Learning via Ph.D. tandems Plantingtheseedofchange: • Disciplinarytandems • Intercultural • Gender Complementary • Experience • Knowledge • Perspective IUP

13. 2.Seed of change: Learning via Ph.D. tandems Developing interpersonal skills to: • Communicate • Joint design and conduct field work • Share knowledge Challenge • Tendency to reinforce core disciplinary beliefs • Critical perspectives as an extra effort IUP

14. 3. Transformative action workshops • Transformative action • Spiral of multistakeholder workshops • Via village /district /state/ national level • BioDIVA committee: local level joins state event • Sharing and developing actionable knowledge IUP

15. 3. Transformative action workshops 1.Spiral ofworkshops – feedbackloops • presentation of research findings • results of feedback workshops with stakeholders 2. Scenario development • participants’ assessment of the situation in Wayanad 2030 • if business-as-usual 3. Visualisation exercise • vision building exercise by drawing future scenario • formulating concrete steps towards this desirable future

16. Vision Wayanad 2030

17. 3. Transformative action workshops • Complementary scenario workshops of different stakeholders • Trade-off between • Multistakeholder dialogue • and seperate gender groups • Continous need to enable a non-hierarchical dialogue • Transgressing boundaries to enable communication • Liberating or muting effect IUP

18. Seeds of change Feminist and social-ecological perspectives prepare the ground for critical research, but demand constant care theorising - learning - transformative action IUP

19. Thank you Parto for inspiration as an outspoken intellectual and a dedicated teacher bringing change about!