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Dr. Balint Balazs
ESSRG

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0 Participatory Action Research
0 Sustainable diet
0 Sustainable value chains
0 Sustainable Food
0 Sustainable agriculture

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Journal article
Published: 16 August 2021 in Journal of Science Communication
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A Science Shop acts as a mission-oriented intermediary unit between the scientific sphere and civil society organizations. It seeks to facilitate citizen-driven open science projects that respond to the needs of civil society organizations and which, typically, include students in the work process. We performed a thematic analysis of a systematically selected literature on Science Shops to understand how the scientific literature reflects the historical evolution of Science Shops in different settings and what factors the literature associates with the rise and fall of the Science Shop. We used the PRISMA methodology to search for scientific papers in indexed journals in eight databases published in English, French and Spanish, and employed the thematic theory approach to extract and systematize our results. Twenty-six scientific articles met the inclusion criteria. We identified three meta-categories and ten sub-topics which can serve as key pointers to guide the set-up and future work of Science Shops. Our results identify a major paradox: Science Shops incorporate public values in their scientific agendas but have difficulties sustaining themselves institutionally as they do not fit the current dominant research paradigm. Science shops represent a persuasive complementary approach to the way science is defined, executed and produced today.

ACS Style

Anne-Sophie Gresle; Eduardo Urias; Rosario Scandurra; Bálint Balázs; Irene Jimeno; Leonardo De La Torre Ávila; Maria Jesus Pinazo. Citizen-driven participatory research conducted through knowledge intermediary units. A thematic synthesis of the literature on “Science Shops”. Journal of Science Communication 2021, 20, A02 .

AMA Style

Anne-Sophie Gresle, Eduardo Urias, Rosario Scandurra, Bálint Balázs, Irene Jimeno, Leonardo De La Torre Ávila, Maria Jesus Pinazo. Citizen-driven participatory research conducted through knowledge intermediary units. A thematic synthesis of the literature on “Science Shops”. Journal of Science Communication. 2021; 20 (05):A02.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anne-Sophie Gresle; Eduardo Urias; Rosario Scandurra; Bálint Balázs; Irene Jimeno; Leonardo De La Torre Ávila; Maria Jesus Pinazo. 2021. "Citizen-driven participatory research conducted through knowledge intermediary units. A thematic synthesis of the literature on “Science Shops”." Journal of Science Communication 20, no. 05: A02.

Journal article
Published: 07 July 2021 in Sustainability
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The food- and feed-value systems in the European Union are not protein self-sufficient. Despite the potential of legume-supported production systems to reduce the externalities caused by current cultivation practices (excessive use of N fertilizer) and improve the sustainability of the arable cropping systems and the quality of human diets, sufficient production of high-protein legume grains in Europe has not been achieved due to multiple barriers. Identifying the barriers to the production and consumption of legumes is the first step in realizing new pathways towards more sustainable food systems of which legumes are integral part. In this study, we engage stakeholders and decision-makers in a structured communication process, the Delphi method, to identify policy interventions leveraging barriers that hinder the production and consumption of legumes in the EU. This study is one of a kind and uses a systematic method to reach a common understanding of the policy incoherencies across sectors. Through this method we identify policy interventions that may promote the production of legumes and the creation of legume-based products in the EU. Policies that encourage reduced use of inorganic N fertilizer represent an important step toward a shift in the increased cultivation of legumes. Relatedly, investment in R&D, extension services, and knowledge transfer is necessary to support a smooth transition from the heavy use of synthetic N fertilizer in conventional agriculture. These policy interventions are discussed within current EU and national plant-protein strategies.

ACS Style

Bálint Balázs; Eszter Kelemen; Tiziana Centofanti; Marta Vasconcelos; Pietro Iannetta. Policy Interventions Promoting Sustainable Food- and Feed-Systems: A Delphi Study of Legume Production and Consumption. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7597 .

AMA Style

Bálint Balázs, Eszter Kelemen, Tiziana Centofanti, Marta Vasconcelos, Pietro Iannetta. Policy Interventions Promoting Sustainable Food- and Feed-Systems: A Delphi Study of Legume Production and Consumption. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (14):7597.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bálint Balázs; Eszter Kelemen; Tiziana Centofanti; Marta Vasconcelos; Pietro Iannetta. 2021. "Policy Interventions Promoting Sustainable Food- and Feed-Systems: A Delphi Study of Legume Production and Consumption." Sustainability 13, no. 14: 7597.

Journal article
Published: 28 February 2021 in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
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The food- and feed-value systems in the European Union are not protein self-sufficient. Despite their potential to improve the well-being of arable cropping systems, sufficient production of high-protein legume grains in Europe has not been achieved due to multiple barriers. The reasons are multiple and span economic, agronomic, research, and extension services, as well as aspects of culture and traditional dietary habits. Given the well-documented advantages of legume-supported production systems and diets, that include ecosystem and health provisions, acknowledging and promoting legumes as cornerstone species for more sustainable agri-food systems is a necessary and logical step. This paper provides an integrated analysis of case studies and current policies that shape the production and consumption of legumes in Europe. This study identified three key pathways, which can be integrated into sustainable farming systems to support current and future food security challenges via the use of legumes and legume-based products. At each pathway, we identified several enablers that support the sustainability transformation of legume production and consumption in Europe.

ACS Style

Bálint Balázs; Eszter Kelemen; Tiziana Centofanti; Marta W. Vasconcelos; Pietro P.M. Iannetta. Integrated policy analysis to identify transformation paths to more sustainable legume-based food and feed value-chains in Europe. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 2021, 45, 931 -953.

AMA Style

Bálint Balázs, Eszter Kelemen, Tiziana Centofanti, Marta W. Vasconcelos, Pietro P.M. Iannetta. Integrated policy analysis to identify transformation paths to more sustainable legume-based food and feed value-chains in Europe. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. 2021; 45 (6):931-953.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bálint Balázs; Eszter Kelemen; Tiziana Centofanti; Marta W. Vasconcelos; Pietro P.M. Iannetta. 2021. "Integrated policy analysis to identify transformation paths to more sustainable legume-based food and feed value-chains in Europe." Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 45, no. 6: 931-953.

Journal article
Published: 03 February 2021 in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
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Increasingly high-profile research is being undertaken into the socio-environmental challenges associated with the over-production and consumption of food from animals. Transforming food systems to mitigate climate change and hidden hunger, ensure food security and good health all point to reducing animal-based foods as a key lever. Moving beyond animal-based food systems is a societal grand challenge requiring coordinated international research by the social sciences and humanities. A ‘selective openness’ to this range of disciplines has been observed within multi-discipline research programmes designed to address societal grand challenges including those concerned with the sustainability of food systems, inhibiting the impact of social sciences and humanities. Further, existing research on animal-based foods within these disciplines is largely dispersed and focused on particular parts of food systems. Inspired by the ‘Sutherland Method’ this paper discusses the results of an iterative research prioritisation process carried out to enhance capacity, mutual understanding and impact amongst European social sciences and humanities researchers. The process produced 15 research questions from an initial list of 100 and classified under the following five themes: (1) debating and visioning food from animals; (2) transforming agricultural spaces; (3) framing animals as food; (4) eating practices and identities; and (5) governing transitions beyond animal-based food systems. These themes provide an important means of making connections between research questions that invite and steer research on key challenges in moving beyond animal-based food systems. The themes also propose loci for future transdisciplinary research programmes that join researchers from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities and stakeholders from beyond academia to develop cooperative research and implementation initiatives. The experiences gained from the prioritisation process draw attention to the value of spending time to discuss and collaboratively steer research enquiry into emergent and controversial matters of concern. Fundamental, ethical questions around the continuation or complete cessation of the use of animals for food was a key tension. The positioning of research towards these questions affects not only the framing of the research area but also the partners with whom the research can be carried out and for whom it may be of benefit.

ACS Style

Carol Morris; Minna Kaljonen; Kadri Aavik; Bálint Balázs; Matthew Cole; Ben Coles; Sophia Efstathiu; Tracey Fallon; Mike Foden; Eva Haifa Giraud; Mike Goodman; Eleanor Hadley Kershaw; Richard Helliwell; Pru Hobson-West; Matti Häyry; Piia Jallinoja; Mat Jones; Taija Kaarlenkaski; Maarit Laihonen; Anu Lähteenmäki-Uutela; Saara Kupsala; Annika Lonkila; Lydia Martens; Renelle McGlacken; Josephine Mylan; Mari Niva; Emma Roe; Richard Twine; Markus Vinnari; Richard White. Priorities for social science and humanities research on the challenges of moving beyond animal-based food systems. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 2021, 8, 1 -12.

AMA Style

Carol Morris, Minna Kaljonen, Kadri Aavik, Bálint Balázs, Matthew Cole, Ben Coles, Sophia Efstathiu, Tracey Fallon, Mike Foden, Eva Haifa Giraud, Mike Goodman, Eleanor Hadley Kershaw, Richard Helliwell, Pru Hobson-West, Matti Häyry, Piia Jallinoja, Mat Jones, Taija Kaarlenkaski, Maarit Laihonen, Anu Lähteenmäki-Uutela, Saara Kupsala, Annika Lonkila, Lydia Martens, Renelle McGlacken, Josephine Mylan, Mari Niva, Emma Roe, Richard Twine, Markus Vinnari, Richard White. Priorities for social science and humanities research on the challenges of moving beyond animal-based food systems. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. 2021; 8 (1):1-12.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carol Morris; Minna Kaljonen; Kadri Aavik; Bálint Balázs; Matthew Cole; Ben Coles; Sophia Efstathiu; Tracey Fallon; Mike Foden; Eva Haifa Giraud; Mike Goodman; Eleanor Hadley Kershaw; Richard Helliwell; Pru Hobson-West; Matti Häyry; Piia Jallinoja; Mat Jones; Taija Kaarlenkaski; Maarit Laihonen; Anu Lähteenmäki-Uutela; Saara Kupsala; Annika Lonkila; Lydia Martens; Renelle McGlacken; Josephine Mylan; Mari Niva; Emma Roe; Richard Twine; Markus Vinnari; Richard White. 2021. "Priorities for social science and humanities research on the challenges of moving beyond animal-based food systems." Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 8, no. 1: 1-12.

Chapter
Published: 12 January 2021 in The Science of Citizen Science
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This chapter discusses the broad and complex topic of data quality in citizen science – a contested arena because different projects and stakeholders aspire to different levels of data accuracy. In this chapter, we consider how we ensure the validity and reliability of data generated by citizen scientists and citizen science projects. We show that this is an essential methodological question that has emerged within a highly contested field in recent years. Data quality means different things to different stakeholders. This is no surprise as quality is always a broad spectrum, and nearly 200 terms are in use to describe it, regardless of the approach. We seek to deliver a high-level overview of the main themes and issues in data quality in citizen science, mechanisms to ensure and improve quality, and some conclusions on best practice and ways forwards. We encourage citizen science projects to share insights on their data practice failures. Finally, we show how data quality assurance gives credibility, reputation, and sustainability to citizen science projects.

ACS Style

Bálint Balázs; Peter Mooney; Eva Nováková; Lucy Bastin; Jamal Jokar Arsanjani. Data Quality in Citizen Science. The Science of Citizen Science 2021, 139 -157.

AMA Style

Bálint Balázs, Peter Mooney, Eva Nováková, Lucy Bastin, Jamal Jokar Arsanjani. Data Quality in Citizen Science. The Science of Citizen Science. 2021; ():139-157.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bálint Balázs; Peter Mooney; Eva Nováková; Lucy Bastin; Jamal Jokar Arsanjani. 2021. "Data Quality in Citizen Science." The Science of Citizen Science , no. : 139-157.

Preprint content
Published: 31 December 2020
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Citizen science has expanded rapidly over the past decades. Yet, defining citizen science and its boundaries remained a challenge, and this is reflected in the literature - for example in the proliferation of typologies and definitions. There is a need for identifying areas of agreement and disagreement within the citizen science practitioners community on what should be considered as citizen science activity. This paper describes the development and results of a survey that examined this issue, through the use of vignettes - short case descriptions that describe an activity, while asking the respondents to rate the activity on a scale from ‘not citizen science’ (0%) to ‘citizen science’ (100%). The survey included 50 vignettes, of which 5 were developed as clear cases of not-citizen science activities, 5 as widely accepted citizen science activities, and the others addressing 10 factors and 61 sub-factors that can lead to controversy about an activity. The survey has attracted 333 respondents, who provided over 5,100 ratings. The analysis demonstrates the plurality of understanding of what citizen science is and calls for an open understanding of what activities are included in the field.

ACS Style

Muki Haklay; Dilek Fraisl; Bastian Greshake Tzovaras; Susanne Hecker; Margaret Gold; Gerid Hager; Luigi Ceccaroni; Barbara Kieslinger; Uta Wehn; Sasha Woods; Christian Nold; Balint Balazs; Marzia Mazzonetto; Simone Rüfenacht; Lea Shanley; Katherin Wagenknecht; Alice Motion; Andrea Sforzi; Dorte Riemenschneider; Daniel Dörler; Florian Heigl; Teresa Schäfer; Ariel Lindner; Maike Weißpflug; Monika Mačiuliene; Katrin Vohland. Contours of citizen science: a vignette study. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Muki Haklay, Dilek Fraisl, Bastian Greshake Tzovaras, Susanne Hecker, Margaret Gold, Gerid Hager, Luigi Ceccaroni, Barbara Kieslinger, Uta Wehn, Sasha Woods, Christian Nold, Balint Balazs, Marzia Mazzonetto, Simone Rüfenacht, Lea Shanley, Katherin Wagenknecht, Alice Motion, Andrea Sforzi, Dorte Riemenschneider, Daniel Dörler, Florian Heigl, Teresa Schäfer, Ariel Lindner, Maike Weißpflug, Monika Mačiuliene, Katrin Vohland. Contours of citizen science: a vignette study. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muki Haklay; Dilek Fraisl; Bastian Greshake Tzovaras; Susanne Hecker; Margaret Gold; Gerid Hager; Luigi Ceccaroni; Barbara Kieslinger; Uta Wehn; Sasha Woods; Christian Nold; Balint Balazs; Marzia Mazzonetto; Simone Rüfenacht; Lea Shanley; Katherin Wagenknecht; Alice Motion; Andrea Sforzi; Dorte Riemenschneider; Daniel Dörler; Florian Heigl; Teresa Schäfer; Ariel Lindner; Maike Weißpflug; Monika Mačiuliene; Katrin Vohland. 2020. "Contours of citizen science: a vignette study." , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 13 July 2020 in European Journal of Futures Research
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This empirical paper presents a case of a participatory agenda-setting exercise for green care services in Hungary. Science Cafés were utilised as a participatory agenda-setting tool within the framework of the InSPIRES H2020 project. The objectives were to collect perceptions of research needs from key actors in the green care field in Hungary, to generate collaborative research projects on green care services and to initiate social dialogue around green care in Hungary. The main research question was as follows: how can we co-create a research agenda on green care by eliciting responses from concerned citizens and experts in a very open and democratic setting? While a growing body of evidence supports the need for, and benefits of, green care services, there is not much research in Hungary addressing diverse knowledge needs of the multiple social actors in the green care field. Science Café as developed for institutionalising an informal and lively dialogue between science and society proved to be a useful tool to co-generate a research agenda for such a relatively neglected but socially highly beneficial theme as green care.

ACS Style

Bálint Balázs; Janka Horváth; György Pataki. Science-society dialogue from the start: Participatory research agenda-setting by Science Cafés. European Journal of Futures Research 2020, 8, 1 -9.

AMA Style

Bálint Balázs, Janka Horváth, György Pataki. Science-society dialogue from the start: Participatory research agenda-setting by Science Cafés. European Journal of Futures Research. 2020; 8 (1):1-9.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bálint Balázs; Janka Horváth; György Pataki. 2020. "Science-society dialogue from the start: Participatory research agenda-setting by Science Cafés." European Journal of Futures Research 8, no. 1: 1-9.

Originalpaper
Published: 07 May 2020 in Palgrave Communications
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Citizen science evolved through multiple disciplinary manifestations into a new field of study and a participatory method of enquiry. While most citizen science projects take place within problem-focused natural sciences, social sciences and humanities help understanding the human dimension and open a broad methodological spectrum for enriching scientific research with new approaches and for boosting public participation. In this paper, we use a meta-synthesis approach to explore how citizen science is practised in the so far less addressed social sciences and humanities by focusing on the role of the citizens, the goals and approaches of the projects, the tasks in which citizens are engaged and their gains across projects of diverse disciplinary background. Our findings indicate that social sciences are gaining more acknowledgment within interdisciplinary citizen science projects by addressing ‘wicked’ problems of human behaviour and agency, while humanities are in quest of a better-defined locus in citizen science. We conclude that social sciences and humanities still face considerable barriers to infiltrate citizen science; the payoffs are substantial and already rewarding for several subfields in social sciences and humanities.

ACS Style

Loreta Tauginienė; Eglė Butkevičienė; Katrin Vohland; Barbara Heinisch; Maria Daskolia; Monika Suškevičs; Manuel Portela; Bálint Balázs; Baiba Prūse. Citizen science in the social sciences and humanities: the power of interdisciplinarity. Palgrave Communications 2020, 6, 1 -11.

AMA Style

Loreta Tauginienė, Eglė Butkevičienė, Katrin Vohland, Barbara Heinisch, Maria Daskolia, Monika Suškevičs, Manuel Portela, Bálint Balázs, Baiba Prūse. Citizen science in the social sciences and humanities: the power of interdisciplinarity. Palgrave Communications. 2020; 6 (1):1-11.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Loreta Tauginienė; Eglė Butkevičienė; Katrin Vohland; Barbara Heinisch; Maria Daskolia; Monika Suškevičs; Manuel Portela; Bálint Balázs; Baiba Prūse. 2020. "Citizen science in the social sciences and humanities: the power of interdisciplinarity." Palgrave Communications 6, no. 1: 1-11.

Journal article
Published: 27 April 2020 in Journal of Rural Studies
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Drawing on our long-term research experiences, in this deliberately provocative but also reflexive paper we argue that international food and agriculture studies constitute a research area that would particularly benefit from insights obtained from research conducted in the world's peripheries—in this case, specifically from insights on East European food systems. Instead of seeing them as textbook case studies of undeveloped, traditional and hence uninspiring systems, we propose to study them from the East European perspective. This enables us to move away from a unidirectional development path and to acknowledge the diversity, resilience and unintended but real sustainability of the melange of East European formal and informal food systems. Such endeavour reveals food practices that cannot easily be reduced to ‘food chains’, ‘food initiatives’ or diets. It recognises meanings that go beyond the conventional food system terminology and are rooted in surrounding contexts. Evidence from Eastern Europe reveals a rich diversity of food practices challenging normative assumptions and neatly structured explanatory models underlying Western food system scholarship.

ACS Style

Petr Jehlička; Miķelis Grīviņš; Oane Visser; Bálint Balázs. Thinking food like an East European: A critical reflection on the framing of food systems. Journal of Rural Studies 2020, 76, 286 -295.

AMA Style

Petr Jehlička, Miķelis Grīviņš, Oane Visser, Bálint Balázs. Thinking food like an East European: A critical reflection on the framing of food systems. Journal of Rural Studies. 2020; 76 ():286-295.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Petr Jehlička; Miķelis Grīviņš; Oane Visser; Bálint Balázs. 2020. "Thinking food like an East European: A critical reflection on the framing of food systems." Journal of Rural Studies 76, no. : 286-295.

Journal article
Published: 20 April 2020 in Research Policy
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Citizen Science (CS) projects involve members of the general public as active participants in research. While some advocates hope that CS can increase scientific knowledge production (“productivity view”), others emphasize that it may bridge a perceived gap between science and the broader society (“democratization view”). We discuss how an integration of both views can allow Citizen Science to support complex sustainability transitions in areas such as renewable energy, public health, or environmental conservation. We first identify three pathways through which such impacts can occur: (1) Problem identification and agenda setting; (2) Resource mobilization; and (3) Facilitating socio-technical co-evolution. To realize this potential, however, CS needs to address important challenges that emerge especially in the context of sustainability transitions: Increasing the diversity, level, and intensity of participation; addressing the social as well as technical nature of sustainability problems; and reducing tensions between CS and the traditional institution of academic science. Grounded in a review of academic literature and policy reports as well as a broad range of case examples, this article contributes to scholarship on science, innovation, and sustainability transitions. We also offer insights for actors involved in initiating or institutionalizing Citizen Science efforts, including project organizers, funding agencies, and policy makers.

ACS Style

Henry Sauermann; Katrin Vohland; Vyron Antoniou; Bálint Balázs; Claudia Göbel; Kostas Karatzas; Peter Mooney; Josep Perelló; Marisa Ponti; Roeland Samson; Silvia Winter. Citizen science and sustainability transitions. Research Policy 2020, 49, 103978 .

AMA Style

Henry Sauermann, Katrin Vohland, Vyron Antoniou, Bálint Balázs, Claudia Göbel, Kostas Karatzas, Peter Mooney, Josep Perelló, Marisa Ponti, Roeland Samson, Silvia Winter. Citizen science and sustainability transitions. Research Policy. 2020; 49 (5):103978.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Henry Sauermann; Katrin Vohland; Vyron Antoniou; Bálint Balázs; Claudia Göbel; Kostas Karatzas; Peter Mooney; Josep Perelló; Marisa Ponti; Roeland Samson; Silvia Winter. 2020. "Citizen science and sustainability transitions." Research Policy 49, no. 5: 103978.

Editorial
Published: 18 October 2019 in Frontiers in Plant Science
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Editorial: Transitions to Sustainable Food and Feed Systems

ACS Style

Marta Wilton Vasconcelos; Bálint Balázs; Eszter Kelemen; Geoffrey R. Squire; Pietro P. M. Iannetta. Editorial: Transitions to Sustainable Food and Feed Systems. Frontiers in Plant Science 2019, 10, 1 .

AMA Style

Marta Wilton Vasconcelos, Bálint Balázs, Eszter Kelemen, Geoffrey R. Squire, Pietro P. M. Iannetta. Editorial: Transitions to Sustainable Food and Feed Systems. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019; 10 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marta Wilton Vasconcelos; Bálint Balázs; Eszter Kelemen; Geoffrey R. Squire; Pietro P. M. Iannetta. 2019. "Editorial: Transitions to Sustainable Food and Feed Systems." Frontiers in Plant Science 10, no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2018 in GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society
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Both citizen science and transdisciplinary sustainability research involve nonacademic actors in the production of knowledge while seeking to contribute to sustainability transitions, albeit in different ways. From citizen science, transdisciplinary researchers can learn about the multiple ways of engaging knowledge holders, and producing and sharing knowledge.

ACS Style

Lisa Pettibone; Birgit Blättel-Mink; Bálint Balázs; Antonietta Di Giulio; Claudia Göbel; Katja Heubach; Diana Hummel; Johannes Lundershausen; Alexandra Lux; Thomas Potthast; Katrin Vohland; Carina Wyborn. Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research and Citizen Science: Options for Mutual Learning. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society 2018, 27, 222 -225.

AMA Style

Lisa Pettibone, Birgit Blättel-Mink, Bálint Balázs, Antonietta Di Giulio, Claudia Göbel, Katja Heubach, Diana Hummel, Johannes Lundershausen, Alexandra Lux, Thomas Potthast, Katrin Vohland, Carina Wyborn. Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research and Citizen Science: Options for Mutual Learning. GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 2018; 27 (2):222-225.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lisa Pettibone; Birgit Blättel-Mink; Bálint Balázs; Antonietta Di Giulio; Claudia Göbel; Katja Heubach; Diana Hummel; Johannes Lundershausen; Alexandra Lux; Thomas Potthast; Katrin Vohland; Carina Wyborn. 2018. "Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research and Citizen Science: Options for Mutual Learning." GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society 27, no. 2: 222-225.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2017 in Journal of Environmental Management
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Stakeholder participation in nature conservation policies and especially in the management of protected areas has gained importance in the last decades. These changes are underlined by democratic principles and the perceived contribution of stakeholder involvement to the effectiveness of conservation management. Evaluating participatory processes is essential to learn about the past and thus increase the quality of future processes. The evaluation can be useful for the organisations responsible for planning and management, stakeholders and policy makers as well. The present paper shows the results of a systematic evaluation of 25 participatory processes related to the development of management plans for Natura 2000 sites in Hungary between 2007 and 2015. A conceptual framework was developed to evaluate the process and outcome of participatory management planning processes. Criteria were based on the scientific literature on public participation and tailored to conservation-related management planning and stakeholder involvement. Evaluated processes were grouped in three cases based on their time range and financial sources. Overall, the analysed processes scored at a medium level, showing better performance in the process criteria than in the outcome criteria. The best case scored significantly higher in four criteria compared to the other cases: representativeness, resource availability for facilitation, new, creative ideas and impact on the plan. The main factors behind the success were (1) embeddedness of the planning process in a larger project, where the plan was a tool for conservation, (2) carrying out only one process at a time, (3) previous experience of facilitators and planners with participatory planning and (4) the opportunity and capacity to propose a payment scheme as an incentive. But even this case received low scores in some criteria: conflict resolution, early involvement and well defined goals. Based on the results we suggest that more data is needed to evaluate the implementation of the plans and, in many cases, the impact of the process on the plan. Performance can be improved with the assistance of policy makers by further developing guidelines, harmonising payment schemes with the conservation measures of the plans and providing training on conflict resolution. The evaluation framework proved to be suitable for the assessment of a large set of conservation related management planning processes, but it also had some limitations, e.g. concerning the incorporation of stakeholders' views in the evaluation.

ACS Style

Eszter Kovács; Eszter Kelemen; Gabriella Kiss; Ágnes Kalóczkai; Veronika Fabók; Barbara Mihók; Boldizsár Megyesi; György Pataki; Barbara Bodorkós; Bálint Balázs; Györgyi Bela; Katalin Margóczi; Ágnes Roboz; Dániel Molnár. Evaluation of participatory planning: Lessons from Hungarian Natura 2000 management planning processes. Journal of Environmental Management 2017, 204, 540 -550.

AMA Style

Eszter Kovács, Eszter Kelemen, Gabriella Kiss, Ágnes Kalóczkai, Veronika Fabók, Barbara Mihók, Boldizsár Megyesi, György Pataki, Barbara Bodorkós, Bálint Balázs, Györgyi Bela, Katalin Margóczi, Ágnes Roboz, Dániel Molnár. Evaluation of participatory planning: Lessons from Hungarian Natura 2000 management planning processes. Journal of Environmental Management. 2017; 204 ():540-550.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Eszter Kovács; Eszter Kelemen; Gabriella Kiss; Ágnes Kalóczkai; Veronika Fabók; Barbara Mihók; Boldizsár Megyesi; György Pataki; Barbara Bodorkós; Bálint Balázs; Györgyi Bela; Katalin Margóczi; Ágnes Roboz; Dániel Molnár. 2017. "Evaluation of participatory planning: Lessons from Hungarian Natura 2000 management planning processes." Journal of Environmental Management 204, no. : 540-550.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2017 in Journal of Cleaner Production
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ACS Style

Gábor Király; Alexandra Köves; Bálint Balázs. Contradictions between political leadership and systems thinking. Journal of Cleaner Production 2017, 140, 134 -143.

AMA Style

Gábor Király, Alexandra Köves, Bálint Balázs. Contradictions between political leadership and systems thinking. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2017; 140 ():134-143.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gábor Király; Alexandra Köves; Bálint Balázs. 2017. "Contradictions between political leadership and systems thinking." Journal of Cleaner Production 140, no. : 134-143.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2017 in Természetvédelmi Közlemények
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ACS Style

Bálint Balázs; Eszter Kelemen; György Pataki; Györgyi Bela. Féltermészetes agrártájak ökoszisztéma-szolgáltatásai a gazdálkodók szemszögéből. Természetvédelmi Közlemények 2017, 23, 144 -167.

AMA Style

Bálint Balázs, Eszter Kelemen, György Pataki, Györgyi Bela. Féltermészetes agrártájak ökoszisztéma-szolgáltatásai a gazdálkodók szemszögéből. Természetvédelmi Közlemények. 2017; 23 ():144-167.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bálint Balázs; Eszter Kelemen; György Pataki; Györgyi Bela. 2017. "Féltermészetes agrártájak ökoszisztéma-szolgáltatásai a gazdálkodók szemszögéből." Természetvédelmi Közlemények 23, no. : 144-167.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2016 in Futures
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Alternative food supply systems have been a subject of increasing interest for many decades in various perspectives of food and agriculture studies. This paper contributes to the discussion by examining how farmer led Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) movement in Hungary creates an alternative in the dominant food regime. To examine CSAs future potentials, semi-structured interviews with producers, consumers-members, and experts, a consumer-member survey, and secondary data sources were utilized. We analyse ambiguities or uncertainties of production, logistics, economic viability, and community formation to sort out social and material practices that co-produce goods and values centred on sustainability. We conclude that CSAs create open and democratic spaces of active and direct producer-consumer cooperation and thus present a model for rethinking our food system. However the scaling up of these experiences is the main challenge today.

ACS Style

Bálint Balázs; György Pataki; Orsolya Lazányi. Prospects for the future: Community supported agriculture in Hungary. Futures 2016, 83, 100 -111.

AMA Style

Bálint Balázs, György Pataki, Orsolya Lazányi. Prospects for the future: Community supported agriculture in Hungary. Futures. 2016; 83 ():100-111.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bálint Balázs; György Pataki; Orsolya Lazányi. 2016. "Prospects for the future: Community supported agriculture in Hungary." Futures 83, no. : 100-111.

Conference paper
Published: 25 August 2016 in Computer Vision
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In this paper we show the results of our studies carried out in the framework of the European Project SciCafe2.0 in the area of Participatory Engagement models. We present a methodological approach built on participative engagements models and holistic framework for problem situation clarification and solution impacts assessment. Several online platforms for social engagement have been analysed to extract the main patterns of participative engagement. We present our own experiments through the SciCafe2.0 Platform and our insights from requirements elicitation.

ACS Style

Atta Badii; Franco Bagnoli; Balint Balazs; Tommaso Castellani; Davide D’Orazio; Fernando Ferri; Patrizia Grifoni; Giovanna Pacini; Ovidiu Serban; Adriana Valente. Collective Awareness Platforms and Digital Social Innovation Mediating Consensus Seeking in Problem Situations. Computer Vision 2016, 9934, 55 -65.

AMA Style

Atta Badii, Franco Bagnoli, Balint Balazs, Tommaso Castellani, Davide D’Orazio, Fernando Ferri, Patrizia Grifoni, Giovanna Pacini, Ovidiu Serban, Adriana Valente. Collective Awareness Platforms and Digital Social Innovation Mediating Consensus Seeking in Problem Situations. Computer Vision. 2016; 9934 ():55-65.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Atta Badii; Franco Bagnoli; Balint Balazs; Tommaso Castellani; Davide D’Orazio; Fernando Ferri; Patrizia Grifoni; Giovanna Pacini; Ovidiu Serban; Adriana Valente. 2016. "Collective Awareness Platforms and Digital Social Innovation Mediating Consensus Seeking in Problem Situations." Computer Vision 9934, no. : 55-65.

Review
Published: 17 May 2016 in Conservation Biology
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The number of collaborative initiatives between scientists and volunteers (i.e., citizen science) is increasing across many research fields. The promise of societal transformation together with scientific breakthroughs contributes to the current popularity of citizen science (CS) in the policy domain. We examined the transformative capacity of citizen science in particular learning through environmental CS as conservation tool. We reviewed the CS and social‐learning literature and examined 14 conservation projects across Europe that involved collaborative CS. We also developed a template that can be used to explore learning arrangements (i.e., learning events and materials) in CS projects and to explain how the desired outcomes can be achieved through CS learning. We found that recent studies aiming to define CS for analytical purposes often fail to improve the conceptual clarity of CS; CS programs may have transformative potential, especially for the development of individual skills, but such transformation is not necessarily occurring at the organizational and institutional levels; empirical evidence on simple learning outcomes, but the assertion of transformative effects of CS learning is often based on assumptions rather than empirical observation; and it is unanimous that learning in CS is considered important, but in practice it often goes unreported or unevaluated. In conclusion, we point to the need for reliable and transparent measurement of transformative effects for democratization of knowledge production.

ACS Style

Györgyi Bela; Taru Peltola; Juliette Young; Bálint Balázs; Isabelle Arpin; György Pataki; Jennifer Hauck; Eszter Kelemen; Leena Kopperoinen; Ann Van Herzele; Hans Keune; Susanne Hecker; Monika Suškevičs; Helen E. Roy; Pekka Itkonen; Mart Külvik; Miklós László; Corina Basnou; Joan Pino; Aletta Bonn. Learning and the transformative potential of citizen science. Conservation Biology 2016, 30, 990 -999.

AMA Style

Györgyi Bela, Taru Peltola, Juliette Young, Bálint Balázs, Isabelle Arpin, György Pataki, Jennifer Hauck, Eszter Kelemen, Leena Kopperoinen, Ann Van Herzele, Hans Keune, Susanne Hecker, Monika Suškevičs, Helen E. Roy, Pekka Itkonen, Mart Külvik, Miklós László, Corina Basnou, Joan Pino, Aletta Bonn. Learning and the transformative potential of citizen science. Conservation Biology. 2016; 30 (5):990-999.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Györgyi Bela; Taru Peltola; Juliette Young; Bálint Balázs; Isabelle Arpin; György Pataki; Jennifer Hauck; Eszter Kelemen; Leena Kopperoinen; Ann Van Herzele; Hans Keune; Susanne Hecker; Monika Suškevičs; Helen E. Roy; Pekka Itkonen; Mart Külvik; Miklós László; Corina Basnou; Joan Pino; Aletta Bonn. 2016. "Learning and the transformative potential of citizen science." Conservation Biology 30, no. 5: 990-999.

Journal article
Published: 15 October 2015 in European Planning Studies
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ACS Style

Zsófia Benedek; Bálint Balázs. Current status and future prospect of local food production in Hungary: a spatial analysis. European Planning Studies 2015, 24, 607 -624.

AMA Style

Zsófia Benedek, Bálint Balázs. Current status and future prospect of local food production in Hungary: a spatial analysis. European Planning Studies. 2015; 24 (3):607-624.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zsófia Benedek; Bálint Balázs. 2015. "Current status and future prospect of local food production in Hungary: a spatial analysis." European Planning Studies 24, no. 3: 607-624.

Journal article
Published: 09 October 2015 in Journal for Nature Conservation
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Halting biodiversity loss is a critical aim for the forthcoming decades, but is hindered by the gap between research and practice. Bridging this gap is a significant challenge in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, where, compared to Western European countries, biodiversity is higher but the research budget is lower. Approaches to address bridging this gap include participatory research prioritizing exercises. These demand-driven collaborative ranking processes have proven to be a useful tool in providing a research agenda derived from a review of critical challenges based on stakeholder engagement. However, for research agendas to be effectively realized, they are best developed and implemented at the operative level of research financing and implementation. This paper shows the process and the outcome of an exercise conducted in Hungary aiming to compile the most important conservation research questions at the country-level and outlines a set of further measures and tools required for dissemination and advocacy for the research agenda. During the process 792 research questions were collated from conservation practitioners and natural resource managers based on interviews and via an online questionnaire; the final 50 most important questions were identified by practitioners and policy makers during an expert workshop. Questions are embedded in global and EU biodiversity targets and imply a pragmatic approach with the aim of identifying research that supports policy- and decision-making regarding habitat management, land-use and regional development, while also focussing on conflicting issues. The outcome of the process includes the potential for lobbying, therefore post-publication activities and dissemination strategies are outlined as an integrated part of the exercise.

ACS Style

Barbara Mihók; Eszter Kovács; Bálint Balázs; György Pataki; András Ambrus; Dénes Bartha; Zoltán Czirák; Sándor Csányi; Péter Csépányi; Mónika Csőszi; György Dudás; Csaba Egri; Tibor Erős; Szilvia Gőri; Gergő Halmos; Annamária Kopek; Katalin Margóczi; Gábor Miklay; László Milon; László Podmaniczky; János Sárvári; András Schmidt; Katalin Sipos; Viktória Siposs; Tibor Standovár; Csaba Szigetvári; László Szemethy; Balázs Tóth; László Tóth; Péter Tóth; Katalin Török; Peter Török; Csaba Vadász; Ildikó Varga; William Sutherland; Andras Baldi. Bridging the research-practice gap: Conservation research priorities in a Central and Eastern European country. Journal for Nature Conservation 2015, 28, 133 -148.

AMA Style

Barbara Mihók, Eszter Kovács, Bálint Balázs, György Pataki, András Ambrus, Dénes Bartha, Zoltán Czirák, Sándor Csányi, Péter Csépányi, Mónika Csőszi, György Dudás, Csaba Egri, Tibor Erős, Szilvia Gőri, Gergő Halmos, Annamária Kopek, Katalin Margóczi, Gábor Miklay, László Milon, László Podmaniczky, János Sárvári, András Schmidt, Katalin Sipos, Viktória Siposs, Tibor Standovár, Csaba Szigetvári, László Szemethy, Balázs Tóth, László Tóth, Péter Tóth, Katalin Török, Peter Török, Csaba Vadász, Ildikó Varga, William Sutherland, Andras Baldi. Bridging the research-practice gap: Conservation research priorities in a Central and Eastern European country. Journal for Nature Conservation. 2015; 28 ():133-148.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Barbara Mihók; Eszter Kovács; Bálint Balázs; György Pataki; András Ambrus; Dénes Bartha; Zoltán Czirák; Sándor Csányi; Péter Csépányi; Mónika Csőszi; György Dudás; Csaba Egri; Tibor Erős; Szilvia Gőri; Gergő Halmos; Annamária Kopek; Katalin Margóczi; Gábor Miklay; László Milon; László Podmaniczky; János Sárvári; András Schmidt; Katalin Sipos; Viktória Siposs; Tibor Standovár; Csaba Szigetvári; László Szemethy; Balázs Tóth; László Tóth; Péter Tóth; Katalin Török; Peter Török; Csaba Vadász; Ildikó Varga; William Sutherland; Andras Baldi. 2015. "Bridging the research-practice gap: Conservation research priorities in a Central and Eastern European country." Journal for Nature Conservation 28, no. : 133-148.