STAR LAB

STARlab is a research unit within the University of Otago's Social & Community Work Programme, in the School of Social Sciences. STARlab conducts applied research using an interdisciplinary approach drawing from systems science, social innovation, community development, and digital strategies. We partner with communities, organizations, and government to enable systemic change that is socially, economically, spiritually, and environmentally restorative. Our focus is on social issues that disproportionately affect vulnerable and marginalized populations.

 

Our current programme of research focuses on the role of social innovation and social entrepreneurship in systemic change initiatives that seek to advance progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. 

 

What is systems transformation? A systemic approach sees our communities as interdependent and holistic structures. A transformative process is one that fundamentally changes the nature of the system. Systems Transformation is the result of actions taken to address the root causes of shared problems. At STARlab we research what those root causes are, and explore how to create enabling environments for positive change.

 

What is action research? Action research is a form of applied, community-based inquiry that involves both action and critical reflection to co-create practical solutions to shared questions. STARlab uses both human centred design and intervention research approaches to guide this process.

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What are the Sustainable Development Goals? 

Our work is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), interconnected global goals that support collaboration and partnership to address the urgent social, economic, and environmental challenges we share.  As part of our commitment to the SDGs, STARlab leads the New Zealand chapter of Catalyst 2030. 

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Contact us via the link below if you would like to discuss collaboration with STARlab.