A core purpose of Cresting was to advance the critical analysis of the concept and sustainability implications of the Circular Economy by training 15 ESRs (Early Stage Researchers) analysing Circular Economy related activity and initiatives in a range of geographic and economic settings.
The training programme for the ESRs was focussed on a series of Training Modules that were then assessed (Training Assessments) by the ESRs host Institution.
Workshops formed a core part of the Training of ESRs and provided them with the opportunity to hear from expert speakers and to update the project participants on their research projects. The ESRs participated in a series of six workshops over 3 years, taking place approximately every six months. Further details about each of the workshop programmes for the project are included below. The individual workshop programmes / academic guides are included in the relevant workshop and the speaker videos are available on the Cresting YouTube Channel.
Workshop 1: Hull, September 2018
Purpose: Introducing the Circular Economy; Research design for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary projects; Ethics; Career Development Planning; Local Circular Economy Showcase.
This workshop contributed classroom and field content for the first year of training within the Cresting project. Activities comprised a combination of speakers, discussion, and site visits.
Dr Pauline Deutz welcoming the delegates to the 1st Cresting Workshop in Hull, UK
Topics covered were:
- Stakeholder perspectives on the circular economy;
- Employment in the circular economy;
- Career development planning;
- Research methodologies: transdisciplinary research, interdisciplinary research and critical realism;
- Ethics in research; and
- Investigating the circular economy in practice.
Workshop 2: Utrecht, January 2019
Purpose: Circular Economy Policy; Cross-cultural Research; Observing, participating and reflecting as research methods and training for employment; Local Circular Economy Showcase.
This second workshop built on the first workshop of September 2018 in Hull, and was a part of the first year of training within the Cresting project. Activities comprised a combination of speakers, group discussion, and field visits.
Professor Walter Vermuelen welcoming delegates to the second workshop Utrecht, Netherlands.
Topics covered were:
1. Sharing the progress made and identifying areas of common interest and needs for mutual
recognition, integration or alignment;
2. Identifying stakeholder’s knowledge needs and required capabilities of academic professionals in
the field of circular economy;
3. Research methodologies: translating transdisciplinary research and critical realism into effective
methods for researcher’s engagement in secondments; and
4. Investigating the circular economy in practice.
Cresting Workshop 2: Programme and Academic Guide
View the speaker videos on the Cresting YouTube Channel
Workshop 3: Lisbon, September 2019
Purpose: Public Sector and the Circular Economy; Academic publishing; Local Circular Economy Show
Dr Tomas Ramos welcoming delegates to the third Cresting workshop in Lisbon, Portugal
case.
The central theme of this workshop was “Public Sector and the Circular Economy (CE)” and aimed to highlight the achievements and challenges of the Portuguese public sector regarding CE related policies, projects and practices.
Topics covered were:
- Exploring the links between public and private sector CE initiatives;
- Demonstration real life cases of CE policy-to-practice;
- Participatory research and design thinking; and
- Academic publishing.
Cresting Workshop 3: Programme
View the speaker videos on the Cresting YouTube Channel
Workshop 4: Troyes, February 2020
Purpose: Building a Regional Circular Economy; Communicating and Disseminating Research in an Open Access World; Local Circular Economy Employment Showcase.
This workshop is the second workshop of the second year of PhD training for the Early Stage Researchers.
This workshop focussed on the following objectives:
1. To provide knowledge and understanding of issues involved in building a regional circular
economy; and
2. To introduce practices and implications of communication and dissemination, including in an open
source access content.
To achieve the first objective, we explored and analysed the concept and operationalisation of the Circular Economy in France. With the guidance of national, regional and local representatives of different French institutions, the participants explored during the week the development of regulations
(European and French law regarding circular economy), and financing mechanisms to implement the transition to a circular economy. The participants were exposed to the current opportunities and challenges the transition towards a circular economy implies for both the public and the private sector. This transition also poses questions regarding the levels of sustainability that the circular economy can achieve in different s
Professor Sabrina Dermine-Brullot welcoming delegates to the fourth CRESTING workshop in Troyes, France
ectors of society and that’s why is imperative for the participants to engage in discussions about the “territorialisation” of the Circular Economy. From global to local, we explored together the impact of the circular economy agenda.
To achieve the second objective, we had meaningful discussions with experts on the current and future opportunities and challenges of Open Source, as well as the current different strategies of communication and dissemination of researchers. The participants learned and contributed to conversations that go from the use of social media (for researchers and for the general public) to the impact of alternative ways of communication of research content (through arts, virtual reality, festivals and other communication platforms).
Cresting Workshop 4: Programme
To find out more about the workshop view the video produced by the University of Aberta here.
View the speaker videos on the Cresting YouTube Channel.
Workshop 5: Graz, September 2020
Purpose: Business and the Circular Economy; Exploitation of Research; Building Relationships with Stakeholders; Gender in the Workplace; Local Circular Economy Employment Showcase; Stakeholder Event – valorising results.
This workshop is the first workshop of the final year of training and focused on the following objectives:
- Business engagement with the CE;
- Exploitation of research: Gender in the workplace; and
- Local employment show case and stakeholder event for valorisation of CRESTING findings.
Professor Rupert Baumgartner welcoming delegates to the fifth CRESTING workshop in Graz, Austria
The workshop explored the relationships established between private sector actors collaborating in the context of circular economy projects and reflected on the relationships we have established with our respective project partners during our research. We used the tools of ideation and analysis; business case and decision-making used in company settings to give circular solutions for a sustainability challenge; explored ways of increasing the impact of our research both in terms of content and communication and to understand how to navigate the ever-changing labor market scenarios regarding hard and soft skill development.
Cresting Workshop 5: Programme
To find out more about the workshop and to see the speaker videos, please visit the Cresting YouTube Channel.
Workshop 6: Pescara, April 2021
Purpose: Measuring the Circular Economy; Local Circular Economy Employment Showcase; Stakeholder Event – valorising results.
This workshop is the final workshop for the CRESTING Early Stage Researchers and had the following objectives:
- Measuring the circular economy
- Local employment showcase and stakeholder event for valorisation of Cresting research.
The workshop from 12-16 April was titled “Assessing the Sustainability of the Circular Economy”, thus mainly revolving around the question, whether a circular economy would also be a more sustainable one.
Professor Andrea Raggi is welcoming delegates to the sixth CRESTING workshop in Pescara, Italy
Two panel sessions, one on the connection of circular economy and sustainability assessment, and one on sustainable and circular finance, brought together a broad group of stakeholders. The ESRs were further trained how to assess circularity and to relate the findings to life cycle assessment results. Another crucial aspect of the workshop was co-authoring with academics from other fields and the private sector, and targeted dissemination of the created knowledge to audiences outside academia, such as businesses and policy makers. Given this was the last workshop, one session also focused on how to write a grant proposal for future research.
Cresting Workshop 6: Programme
To find out more about the workshop and to see the speaker videos, please visit the Cresting YouTube Channel.