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Are you interested in hallucinating to solve urban challenges?
Our summary today works with the report titled Harnessing social imagination in the era of the climate crisis by the Centre for Public Impact, published on their website.
This is a great preparation to our next interview with Carina Gormley in episode 298 talking about the need for our collective imagination to solve the climate crisis, for example.
Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see why our hallucination matters to solve urban crises. This project investigated how we might use social imagination to create new practices and processes.
[intro music]
Welcome to today’s What is The Future For Cities podcast and its Research episode; my name is Fanni, and today I will introduce a research paper by summarising it. The episode really is just a short summary of the original paper, and, in case it is interesting enough, I would encourage everyone to check out the whole paper. This is also an experiment as I produced and generated the summary part with Notebook LM as two hosts dissecting the whole report.
[music]
Speaker 1: We’re diving deep into this project in Melbourne, Australia. They’re tackling climate change, but not with like new laws or fancy tech, but with this thing called social imagination. They ran this whole experiment in Southbank, which is this really vibrant and diverse area, but where a lot of people actually feel kind of isolated, ironically. We’re using this report by the Center for Public Impact, it’s our guide for this, and I have to say, I was a bit skeptical at first, you know, like, is social imagination just like a fancy way of saying daydreaming?
Speaker 2: Yeah, it’s easy to think that, but honestly, it goes much deeper than that. The report describes it as, like, becoming aware of these, like, unwritten rules that we all follow in society. These scripts, they call them. And then, like, daring to imagine better ones.
Speaker 1: So instead of just accepting things as they are, you start to question, like, why things are done a certain way. And then picture how they could be different.
Speaker 2: The report actually has this great quote. Hold on, let me see if I can find it. Okay, here it is. Social imagination is an emerging discipline that invites us to see the scripts and rules that shape our world and imagine what might happen if they were different. It really emphasizes that this isn’t just about personal daydreams, but like collectively rethinking how we operate as a society.
Speaker 1: Okay, that makes sense. Now I’m curious, why choose self bank for this?
Speaker 2: No, South Bank is fascinating, really. It has this really interesting mix of things going on. It’s densely populated, incredibly diverse, and people are like constantly moving in and out. It’s dynamic, but that can also lead to people not feeling truly connected to the community, you know?
Speaker 1: So they’re trying to use social imagination to like get people more engaged and invested in their shared space. Which in turn might lead to more action on climate change.
Speaker 2: Yeah, precisely. And what they did was hold this series of workshops over five days, each one with a specific theme, and in a different location within South Bank. It was designed like an immersive experience, not just, you know, talking heads in a conference room.
Speaker 1: And they brought in a really diverse group of people, right?
Speaker 2: Oh, absolutely. You had residents, business owners, community leaders, even a poet, I think. The report mentions that this mix was really important for getting different perspectives.
Speaker 1: I bet. I’m also curious about the activities themselves. The report mentioned something called Trojan koala exercises, which honestly sounds kind of intriguing.
Speaker 2: Right? Yeah. So Trojan koala exercises, they were designed to get participants comfortable with trying new things, pushing them outside their comfort zones, but in like small ways. Think of it as like a low stakes way to practice breaking out of those societal scripts.
Speaker 1: That’s clever. So they’re not just talking about change, but actually getting people to do things differently. What else stood out to you?
Speaker 2: Oh, there was the scavenger hunt where they had people looking at buildings, streets, parks, the built environment to see how it reflects our values. You know, it was about making that connection between like our physical surroundings and the way we live our lives.
Speaker 1: Interesting. It’s like training yourself to see things with fresh eyes. Noticing things you might have, like, walked past a hundred times. Mm hmm. But without really seeing. Almost like a mindfulness exercise, but for your community.
Speaker 2: That’s a great way to put it. And speaking of seeing things from a new angle, they even took the participants up to the 89th floor of the Eureka Tower.
Speaker 1: Whoa. That’s one way to broaden your perspective. What was the thinking behind that?
Speaker 2: Well, the report suggests it was about helping people see the bigger picture, literally and figuratively getting above it all to spark some creative thinking about what the future of South Bank could look like.
Speaker 1: It sounds like they really went all out to engage people on multiple levels, you know, not just intellectually, but emotionally, even physically.
Speaker 2: Yeah, they did. And a really important part of all of this was identifying shared values. The participants, they all work together to come up with a set of values. That they wanted their community to embody. What did they come up with? Well, they identified a pretty inspiring set, I think. Diversity and inclusion, sustainability, and climate action. A sense of community and belonging. Connection to nature. And being approachable and welcoming.
Speaker 1: It’s striking how many of those directly address the challenges of living in like a dense, dynamic area like South Bank. Yeah. But also how they push back against the me first mentality we often see today. It’s like they’re yearning for something deeper.
Speaker 2: That’s a really astute observation. And it goes to show that this project was about so much more than just ticking off boxes on a climate action checklist.
Speaker 1: Now I’m really curious about the how, like what made it actually work? What were the key ingredients that made it so effective?
Speaker 2: The report goes into some detail about the lessons they learned, and one that really jumps out is the power of what they call embodied exercises.
Speaker 1: Embodied exercises. That sounds kind of familiar. Can you remind me what that means again?
Speaker 2: Sure. Think of it this way. Instead of just like sitting around talking about climate change, they had people doing things like meditation, creative writing, even playing games. It’s about engaging not just the mind, but the body and emotions, too. Oh,
Speaker 1: right, right. I can see how that could, like, help people break out of their typical ways of thinking. Almost like shaking things up on a deeper level, not just intellectually.
Speaker 2: Exactly. The report specifically mentions this game they played involving proverbs. It helped people see things from, like, different perspectives. But by physically acting things out instead of just thinking about them, it’s about getting out of your head and into your body. Which can really open up new possibilities.
Speaker 1: It’s fascinating how they connected the idea of social imagination to physical action. It’s like they were practicing change in a way that felt real, not just theoretical.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and that was a big aha moment for the project designers too. They realized that simply using a traditional intellectual approach It wasn’t enough to address something as complex as climate change.
Speaker 1: Well, that makes sense. Climate change is a deeply personal and emotional issue for many people, not just scientific or political.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. The report even mentions how the product designers themselves, who are, you know, used to working in a more intellectual space, they actually found it challenging to come up with these embodied exercises. It was a learning curve for everyone involved.
Speaker 1: It’s interesting that even the experts had to stretch themselves, step outside their comfort zones to facilitate this kind of deep change. It makes you think, right?
Speaker 2: It does. And this ties into another key takeaway from the report, the importance of recognizing and challenging the scripts that shape how we participate in society, particularly when it comes to civic engagement.
Speaker 1: Okay. Break that down for me. What exactly do they mean by scripts in this context?
Speaker 2: Think of it as those unwritten rules and expectations about how we should act in society, for instance, in a consumerist society, the main script might be that that our primary role is to buy things, not to, like, actively shape our community or advocate for change,
Speaker 1: right?
It’s like we’re all following these invisible instruction that tell us how to behave, and those instructions might actually be limiting our ability to make a real difference. Exactly.
Speaker 2: And the report suggests that the project helped participants become aware of these scripts to see how they were being influenced by them. And then to start questioning those influences.
Speaker 1: So it’s not just about, like, picturing a better world. It’s about understanding what’s stopping us from getting there. And then finding ways to push back against those forces.
Speaker 2: Yes. And a big part of that is understanding how our own values influence our actions.
Speaker 1: Values. We touched on this earlier, but I’d love to dig a little deeper. What did they learn about the link between values and social imagination?
Speaker 2: Well, the project designers really emphasized that values are at the core of those scripts we follow. So, if we want to rewrite the scripts, we need to examine the values driving them.
Speaker 1: That’s logical. So which values were most important to the South Bank participants?
Speaker 2: Well, there were diversity and inclusion, sustainability, community connection to nature, and being welcoming values that resonate with people from all walks of life, but especially in a place as dynamic as South
Speaker 1: Bank. It’s interesting because those values seem to directly counter some of those consumer scripts we were just talking about. Instead of focusing on individual gain, they’re all about collaboration, connection, caring for something bigger than ourselves.
Speaker 2: That’s a great observation. The report suggests that by consciously choosing to live by these values, the participants were able to rewrite the scripts that were holding them back from building the kind of community they wanted.
Speaker 1: It’s like they created a whole new set of guidelines, a new story for Southbank that’s based on connection, sustainability, shared responsibility.
Speaker 2: And that idea of storytelling is really important here. Social imagination isn’t just coming up with ideas. It’s about crafting new narratives about ourselves in the world.
Speaker 1: I love that. We all have a part to play in the stories we live in and through social imagination. We can actually change the plot and create better ending.
Speaker 2: That’s a fantastic analogy. The South Bank Project proves that this kind of storytelling, it isn’t just for artists and writers. It’s something we can all do in our own lives and communities.
Speaker 1: So instead of feeling trapped in a story we didn’t choose, we can become like active participants shaping the narrative toward a more just and sustainable future.
Speaker 2: And while the South Bank project took place in Australia, the lessons are universal, wouldn’t you say?
Speaker 1: Absolutely. We’re all facing these complex global challenges, and we need fresh ways of thinking and acting to create a better world.
Speaker 2: Projects like this one are so exciting because they show us what’s possible. They remind us. That even a small shift in perspective, embracing our collective imagination can be a powerful engine for change.
Speaker 1: That’s so well said, you know, as a wrap up our exploration of the South Bank project, I’m kind of struck how it challenges our assumptions about what it takes to actually tackle something as big as climate change.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it really flips the script, doesn’t it? Instead of just focusing on policies and technology, it goes deeper looking at the human side of the equation.
Speaker 1: One thing that’s been kind of swirling in my mind is this idea of civic agency. The report mentions how they really wanted the participants to feel empowered, to make change in their community. But how do you actually foster that kind of agency in a society where we’re constantly bombarded with messages telling us to just consume, consume, consume? It’s a
Speaker 2: real hurdle, yeah. It’s easy to feel like our individual choices don’t really matter when you’re faced with such a massive global issue. But I think the South Bank project offers some valuable insights, like creating spaces where people can connect with others who share their values and collectively envision a different future. That seems to be key.
Speaker 1: It reminds me of those moments when you’re surrounded by people who are, like, really passionate about a cause. Yeah.
Speaker 2: And
Speaker 1: you suddenly feel like part of something bigger than yourself. That energy can be incredibly motivating.
Speaker 2: Exactly. It’s that feeling of shared purpose, the sense that you’re not alone in this fight. That can be the spark that ignites real action.
Speaker 1: And it’s not just about, you know, making grand gestures or waiting for sweeping policy changes. The South Bank project seems to highlight the importance of, like, those smaller wins, those incremental steps that move us in the right direction.
Speaker 2: Yeah, those smaller steps, they’re crucial. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer scale of climate change, but focusing on what we can control, even if it seems insignificant, it can help us stay engaged and avoid that feeling of paralysis.
Speaker 1: It’s about reclaiming our power. Not waiting for someone else to fix things, but realizing that we can each play a role, however big or small.
Speaker 2: And, and what’s so powerful is that those small actions often ripple outwards, inspiring others to join in. It’s like that old saying, you know, be the change you want to see in the world.
Speaker 1: I find it incredibly hopeful that this project, with its focus on like shifting perspectives and rewriting narratives, actually led to tangible outcomes in South Bank. It’s a real testament to the power of social imagination.
Speaker 2: It reminds us that change is. possible, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs start with just a shift in mindset, a willingness to imagine different possibilities.
Speaker 1: As we reach the end of our deep dive, we turn to you, dear listener, what’s resonated most with you throughout this exploration of social imagination and it’s. Potential to drive climate action.
Speaker 2: Perhaps you’re feeling inspired to initiate a project in your own community. Maybe you’re reflecting on the scripts that might be holding you back from making a difference. Whatever it is, we encourage you to nurture that spark of inspiration.
Speaker 1: Because as we’ve seen in South Bank, even the smallest act of imagination, it can ripple outwards, creating waves of change that extend far beyond ourselves. It’s a reminder that we all have the power to contribute to a more just and sustainable future.
Speaker 2: Maybe your own act of imagination will be the catalyst for a movement, a force for good that shapes a brighter tomorrow.
Speaker 1: Keep exploring, keep questioning, keep imagining, and keep making a difference.
[music]
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