Mapping research connections to environmental justice: Crisis Tree exercise

Modules

Mapping research connections to environmental justice: Crisis Tree exercise

Instructions for:TraineeTrainer

Related Initiative

RE4GREEN

Goal

This micromodule invites researchers and students to reflect on their work in relation to intersectional environmental justice using a visual “Crisis Tree”.

By the end of the module, participants should be able to:

• Identify systemic factors (e.g., public policy, health equity, urban inequality) that shape research impacts and responsibilities.
•  Map research linkages to climate justice, interspecies justice, and gendered (urban) contexts using the “Crisis Tree”.
•  Articulate how their research connects with environmental and climate justice using intersectionality-based thinking.

Duration (hours)

0.5

For whom is this important?

Citizen ScientistsGraduate and postgraduate studentsPhD StudentsEarly career researchersEarly-career researchers (PhD students, post-docs)

Steps

1Background, symptoms and root causes of the “Crisis Tree”

2Crisis Tree

3Key terms related to the Crisis Tree

4Reflect: Linking theory and visual practice

What is this about?

This micromodule invites researchers and students to reflect on their work in relation to intersectional environmental justice using a visual “Crisis Tree”. The tree structure helps participants position their projects in broader socio-political and ecological systems, connecting research aims, methods, affected populations, and ethical responsibilities. Drawing on examples from Chapter 6 of the Coloring Connections (Verdonk et al., 2024), this activity uses systems thinking and intersectionality as practical reflection tools for research design and impact assessment.

1

Background, symptoms and root causes of the “Crisis Tree”

Please go through the PowerPoint presentation (summary from chapter 6 of the Coloring Connections, Verdonk et al., 2024)

Background, symptoms and root causes of the “Crisis Tree”

2

Crisis Tree

Look closely at the image and reflect on the issues that might be affecting your research. Hover over the image to reveal example reflection questions that can help you reflect on your research.

Look closely at the image and note the most important issues that might be affecting your research. Hover over the image to reveal example reflection questions that can help you reflect on your research

3

Key terms related to the Crisis Tree

Please match the key terms related to the Crisis Tree with their descriptions

Match the key terms related to the Crisis Tree with their descriptions

4

Reflect: Linking theory and visual practice

Note the most important issues that might be affecting your research

Reflect: Linking theory and visual practice

Steps

Other information