Ingles_Oportunidades

The current crises are bringing to the fore for people living in cities (and beyond) a series of challenges for which technical and scientific knowledge is an indispensable but insufficient tool. Whereas previously most problems seemed solvable through a new machine or management methodology, today we are faced with an accumulation of complex problems that can only be tackled collectively. Regardless of the strategies employed, this type of situation can rarely be completely resolved or neutralised. Examples include climate change, genetic manipulation and artificial intelligence, amongst others. One way to address them is to help the groups affected by them to understand the context in which they find themselves, as well as the risks and uncertainties associated with their situation. Next, it is necessary to understand the technical issues related to the problem and define which risks will be collectively assumed in an attempt to reduce damage, mitigate expected effects, anticipate possible outcomes and identify ways to deal with them. In this type of process, some groups organise themselves spontaneously and operate extremely efficiently. In situations where this does not happen, civil society – through associations, foundations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) based in different parts of the world – has been implementing decision-making methodologies based on dialogue, the co-construction of knowledge and the sharing of responsibility. The Citizens’ Convention is one such methodology. Widely tested and used in tackling problems, it consists of a decision-making stage preceded by a preparatory stage and underpinned by strategies aimed at preserving the diversity of opinions, minimising polarisation and organising dissent to make the best possible use of it. In this course, the example chosen is that of a water crisis, in the face of which participants will be invited to reflect and develop a firm conviction as to the best approach for dealing with it. Subsequently, alternatives for applying this tool within an educational context will be explored.