Will Allen

Reflective and reflexive practice Overview of reflective practice, its use in professional learning, and how it supports work in sustainability and complex systems.

Making space to reflect and adapt in our work isn’t always easy, yet it feels more important than ever.

I’ve gathered a few resources to support reflective and reflexive practice in complex, multi-actor settings.

🔗 learningforsustainability.net/reflective-p...

Participatory action research: tackling today’s complex challenges - learningforsustainability.net Page highlights that participatory action research (PAR) helps create solutions that are both meaningful and sustainable.

How can participatory action research address complex challenges?

This LfS post explores collaboration, reflection action and co-design to empower groups for meaningful change.

learningforsustainability.net/post/par-for...

Rethinking scale in complex settings: reflections from practice A post exploring how scaling in complex settings is shifting from replication to supporting systemic and relational change.

Rethinking scaling in complex settings: reflections from practice learningforsustainability.net/post/scaling...

Rethinking scale in complex settings: reflections from practice A post exploring how scaling in complex settings is shifting from replication to supporting systemic and relational change.

Rethinking scaling in complex settings: reflections from practice learningforsustainability.net/post/scaling...

Participatory action research: tackling today’s complex challenges - learningforsustainability.net Page highlights that participatory action research (PAR) helps create solutions that are both meaningful and sustainable.

How can participatory action research address complex challenges?

This LfS post explores collaboration, reflection action and co-design to empower groups for meaningful change.

learningforsustainability.net/post/par-for...

A quick takeaway: A clear prompt has a purpose. I often start by deciding whether I need to explore, clarify, develop, improve, or prepare for engagement. It helps keep the AI in a supportive role rather than leading the thinking.

Australian households to get free electricity three hours a day Saying there is enough solar power for everyone in the daytime, the federal government will direct retailers to provide three hours of free power every day to consumers.

Australia has so much clean energy they're literally giving it away. Meanwhile, GOP is in all-out war to stamp out solar

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Using AI prompts for shared thinking and reflective practice Guidance on using AI prompts to support shared thinking, reflection, and preparation, while keeping human judgement and relationships at the centre.

Looking to use AI for preparation and reflection, not just polished outputs? Check out a short framework: five prompt types, plus a simple structure to keep the human work front and centre.

learningforsustainability.net/post/ai-prom...

New publication from #TIAH:

🌍Global climate R&D funding is skewed — UK, EU, and US dominate, while Africa and other regions lag behind. Critical areas like industrial decarbonisation and social sciences remain underfunded.

Read the policy brief here: tipconsortium.net/news/new-pub...

#Funding

Climate adaptation: frameworks, practice, and learning - learningforsustainability.net Explore practical climate adaptation frameworks, MEL, collaboration, and futures thinking. Updated ahead of Adaptation Futures 2025 in Christchurch.

Following #AF2025 in Ōtautahi Christchurch – inspiring focus on trust, relationships, and inclusion in how adaptation happens.

I’ve refreshed the Learning for Sustainability page, curating links to frameworks and reflections.

🔗 learningforsustainability.net/climate-adap...

#AdaptationFutures2025

Running a training scheme for new graduates or managers in the #energy sector? We can offer our #PowerTrader or #TransportPlanner #facilitated workshops as part of your training.

More information on our website: bit.ly/3HoqfdC
Game brochure: tinyurl.com/mvk9ubcv

Climate adaptation: frameworks, practice, and learning - learningforsustainability.net Explore practical climate adaptation frameworks, MEL, collaboration, and futures thinking. Updated ahead of Adaptation Futures 2025 in Christchurch.

#AF2025 (Adaptation Futures 2025) comes to Ōtautahi Christchurch next week. I’ve refreshed the climate adaptation hub on Learning for Sustainability, bringing together frameworks, MEL, collaboration, and futures resources.

🔗 learningforsustainability.net/climate-adap...

#ClimateAdaptation #MEL

Doughnut 3.0 is here | DEAL The Doughnut, updated, now monitors global trends in social shortfall and ecological overshoot over the 21st century

DOUGHNUT 3.0 IS HERE! 🎉

Today, DEAL is launching the latest update of the global Doughnut, now monitoring trends in social shortfall and ecological overshoot across the 21st century.

#DoughnutEconomics
Check out the link below to see all the resources and dive in:

Adaptation: frameworks, practice, and learning - learningforsustainability.net This section highlights why climate adaptation is no longer optional – and how it can be turned from plans into practice. Climate adaptation is no longer optional. As risks accelerate, societies every...

Most climate adaptation plans look good on paper. The real test is whether they work in practice.

I’ve curated a revamped LfS site section with annotated links to key open-access resources on adaptation – frameworks, tools, adaptive management & MEL.

🔗 learningforsustainability.net/adaptation/

Developing indicators and metrics - learningforsustainability.net This page provides guidance and resources for developing indicators that support monitoring, learning, and improved decision-making.

Indicators help track change, but often miss what matters.

This LfS page update shares frameworks & examples for designing indicators that are credible, useful & connected to real-world decisions.

🔗 learningforsustainability.net/developing-i...

#Evaluation #Sustainability

Social learning in action How creating space for reflection, dialogue, and shared understanding helps groups navigate complexity

🌱 New post: Social learning in action
When challenges are complex, progress often comes from people learning their way forward together. Reflection, dialogue, and trust make collaboration possible.

🔗 medium.com/@will_allen/...

#SocialLearning #SystemsChange

Standing Tall under Brooding Skies - Pukehou, Hawke's Bay, NZ.

#photography #landscape #newzealand

Social learning in action How creating space for reflection, dialogue, and shared understanding helps groups navigate complexity

🌱 New post: Social learning in action
When challenges are complex, progress often comes from people learning their way forward together. Reflection, dialogue, and trust make collaboration possible.

🔗 medium.com/@will_allen/...

#SocialLearning #SystemsChange

Artificial intelligence in sustainable development research - Nature Sustainability The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in sustainability-related scholarly work, such as Sustainable Development Goal research, is growing. An analysis now finds that few studies actually use AI to a...

Although more researchers use #AI, its full potential for achieving global sustainability goals #SDGs is largely untapped. An new analysis of 792 peer-reviewed articles finds few combine advanced AI applications with deep #sustainability expertise: www.nature.com/articles/s41... @efesce.bsky.social

Graphic of how the UN Sustainable Development Goals can be overlaid against ESG pillars in business.

A great visualization of how focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals #SDGs can help guide the pillars of an #ESG strategy, representing the major global challenges that businesses can help to address. #responsiblebusiness #corporatesocialresponsibility

Golden Reflection - Lake Tutira, Hawke's Bay.

#photography #landscape #nz #foggytrees

📢 HAPPENING NOW 📢

The IPBES Bureau has commenced its 24th meeting in Bonn, Germany! 🇩🇪 On the agenda: charting the course for future Plenary sessions, reviewing financial plans, and enhancing engagement with key partners.

Wishing all a productive day of discussions #ForNature !

Micro-RCTs Meet Action Research: A New Model for Participatory School Reform in the North East Last week, our co-founder Dr Wayne Harrison joined the Durham County Council–Durham University Education Working Group to share insights from our research collaboration with the North East Combined Au...

A powerful example of participatory systems thinking in education. Evidence as dialogue, not decree.
🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/micro-...
🌍🧪 #Education #SystemsChange #ParticipatoryResearch

Great article. In a world saturated with mis- and disinformation, trust in science must rest not just on evidence, but on openness, care, and connection. 🌍🧪

We need social science as much as STEM in policymaking - Impact of Social Sciences STEM dominated policymaking during COVID-19 – social sciences were sidelined. Ludwicki-Ziegler and Moawad urge greater integration of social studies for balanced, effective policy.

💥New: We need social science as much as STEM in policymaking

STEM steered the #COVID-19 response, but Sebastian Ludwicki-Ziegler ( @sebaszieg.bsky.social) & Lise Moawad @humboldtuni.bsky.social argue for integrated, interdisciplinary science advice beyond the #crisis

🤝

Why ‘awareness’ isn’t enough: shifting public engagement on sustainability - learningforsustainability.net Awareness isn’t enough—real change in sustainability depends on context, relationships, and support to act.

Raising awareness isn’t enough.
Real change in sustainability depends on alignment, not just information.

My latest post explores why collaboration, context, and practice matter more than persuasion. 🌍🧪

🧭 learningforsustainability.net/post/shiftin...

#behaviourchange #sustainability

Social learning - learningforsustainability.net Social learning supporting sustainable change Explore the concept of social learning, a collaborative approach to addressing complex environmental challenges. Discover key strategies, frameworks, and resources that emphasise dialogue, reflection,...

New resource hub on social learning in complex settings—tools, framings, and links to support reflection, collaboration, and adaptation.

🔗 learningforsustainability.net/social-learn...

#SocialLearning #SystemsThinking #Collaboration #Complexity #LfSinsights 🌍🧪

Social learning in action: working together on complex challenges - learningforsustainability.net In complex, real-world settings, progress often depends on people learning together. This post explores what social learning looks like in practice, and why creating space for reflection, dialogue, an...

New blog post: Social learning in action 🌍🧪

In complex settings, progress depends on people learning together. This post explores how reflection, dialogue, and shared sense-making help teams adapt and move forward.

🔗 learningforsustainability.net/post/social-...

#LfSinsights

Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) - learningforsustainability.net Resources and strategies to support monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) for systems change and sustainability work.

New resource hub on evaluation in complex settings 🌍🧪

Tools, framings, and approaches to support learning and adaptation. For practitioners, evaluators & facilitators working on systems change and sustainability.

🔗 learningforsustainability.net/evaluation/

#Evaluation #Complexity #LfSinsights

Participatory action research: tackling today’s complex challenges - learningforsustainability.net Participatory action research (PAR) offers a practical and inclusive approach to tackling today’s complex challenges. By combining collaboration, critical reflection, and iterative cycles of inquiry a...

🌍 Participatory action research (PAR) blends reflection, collaboration, and action. In this post I explore how it supports work on climate, equity, and systems change. 🧪

🔗 learningforsustainability.net/post/par-for...

#PAR #collaboration #systemschange