The course aims to provide students with the following competences: D1-KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: to understand the main societal challenges in term of sustainability and to distinguish between different approaches in participatory research for the involvement of stakeholders. D2-APPLIYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: to adopt the acquired methodological and theoretical tools to develop scenarios, policy recommendations, and technological solutions aimed at promoting sustainability at human, social, economic, and environmental level. D3-MAKING JUDGMENTS: to develop original reflections supported by a substantial body of reference literature on the two main topics of the course (i.e., community energy and co-design of digital technologies) and related issues. D4-COMMUNICATION SKILLS: to discuss in class theoretical and methodological constructs coming from the literature, demonstrating conceptual accuracy, as well as to present the results of their own research. D5-LEARNING SKILLS: to work in groups, building with other students and the teacher a learning community.

There are no prerequisites. It is advisable to know the main notions of sociology and social research.

MODULE A It presents the main research approaches in participatory research, referring to methods and techniques aimed at involving stakeholders in the design of technological innovations for the promotion of sustainability at human, social, economic and environmental level. The contents presented in the module draw upon various research traditions such as action research, participatory design, co-design, and computer-supported cooperative work. The module will address the following topics: 1. scientific paradigms in social research (positivism, neo-positivism, interpretivism); 2. qualitative methods and participatory research. 3. traditional qualitative techniques for participatory research (interviews, participant observation, focus group); 4. innovative qualitative techniques for participatory research (cultural probes, participatory workshops, open spaces technology). 5. qualitative data analysis. 6. management and conduction of participatory research projects. MODULE B The second module will address the issues of the social construction of sustainability, the society-nature relationship, the tension between expert and contextual knowledge, environmental conflicts and local community involvement processes through the use of audio-visual materials. The audio-visual materials - mainly films or television series - will be used to teach students to: - sociologically analyse situations and frame issues; - raise research questions; - learn how to use research tools; - put sociological theories to work to interpret and discern different situations. The module will address the following topics: 1. different and conflicting ideas of sustainability 2. environmental and territorial conflicts 3. environmental justice 4. local and expert knowledge in ecological transition 5. power and inequalities in local conflicts 6. the participation of the local communities

MODULE A Cardano, M. (2020). Defending qualitative research: Design, analysis, and textualization. Routledge. Chapters: 2 and 5. Corbetta, P. (2003). Social research: Theory, methods and techniques. Sage. Chapter 1. Pink, S., Mackley, K. L., Mitchell, V., Hanratty, M., Escobar-Tello, C., Bhamra, T., & Morosanu, R. (2013). Applying the lens of sensory ethnography to sustainable HCI. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (TOCHI), 20(4), 1-18. Simonsen, J., & Hertzum, M. (2012). Sustained participatory design: Extending the iterative approach. Design issues, 28(3), 10-21. Silverman, D., & Marvasti, A. (2008). Doing qualitative research: A comprehensive guide. Sage. Chapter 12. MODULE B Bellucci, M., & Manetti, G. (2018). Stakeholder engagement and sustainability reporting. Routledge. Davis, M. (2022). Ecology of fear: Los Angeles and the imagination of disaster. Verso Books. Further materials and suggested readings will be illustrated at the beginning of the course and provided during the course.

The course topics will be lead through a combination of teaching methods (i.e., lectures with multimedia support, case studies presentations, and lab sessions) starting from the assumption that knowing, as well as producing innovation, is an active and participatory process. Consequently, students will be encouraged to collectively discuss the ideas presented in class and to construct new ones by conducting firsthand research activities. Each method will play a specific role in the participants' learning journey: lectures will be used to introduce the basic concepts of participatory design for sustainability and social inclusion; case study discussions, on the other hand, will be useful for exploring the possible applications of these theoretical constructs; finally, the lab component will be essential for facilitating the understanding and experimentation of the theoretical constructs and techniques presented.

Final evaluation will be based on: - Presentation of research results obtained from collective lab activities for the redesign of a digital technology chosen by the students (alternatively, non-attending students may present a written essay on participatory methods). - Elaboration and presentation of a thesis, through which an audio-visual material agreed with the lecturer is analysed from a sociological point of view, bringing out the relevant dimensions addressed in the course. - A final oral exam in English on the topics covered during the course. The evaluation criteria include understanding of the subject matter, ability to articulate arguments using an accurate language and synthesis skills. These three forms of evaluation will enable a thorough and comprehensive assessment of the knowledge developed by each student across the different learning areas. To pass the exam (18/30), the student must demonstrate a sufficient mastery of the topics covered in the course and present work of acceptable quality. To achieve the highest score (30/30 cum laude), however, the student must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in all the topics covered during the course and present an excellent quality research work.

The course will address the following SDGs of the Agenda 2030: 4. Quality education 7. Affordable and clean energy 10. Reducing inequalities 11. Sustainable cities and communities 13. Climate action