Joanne Tippett
Position: Lecturer in Spatial Planning
BA (Hons), A, Dipl., PhD
Room Number: 1.057 [Arthur Lewis Building]
Tel: +44(0)161 275 6866
Fax: +44(0)161 306 6677
Email: joanne.tippett@manchester.ac.uk
Joanne Tippett is a Lecturer in the Discipline of Planning and Landscape, School of Environment and Development at the University of Manchester. Her research is based in the Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology. She is Associate Theme Leader for Theme 5 - Understanding the Skills and Staffing Challenge - of the Sustainable Consumption Institute.
Joanne holds a PhD from the University of Manchester (ESRC-CASE award with the Mersey Basin Campaign) and Chartered Environmentalist Status as a Member of the Institution of Environmental Sciences. She holds a Diploma in Permaculture Design and a Masters Degree in Social Research Methods.
Joanne began working in the field of community participation in ecological planning in 1993, working with rural communities in Southern Africa. Building on existing approaches, she developed new ways to communicate about sustainability and to design alternative futures. Following this work, she began to develop these ideas into a coherent methodology, called DesignWays. She went on to test this methodology with a wide range of organisations in Europe and the USA. She has carried out ecological site-planning projects ranging in scale from a school of 5 hectares to a rural development centre of 300 acres.
She ran the Creative Futures workshops that engaged community participation in the plan for regenerating Moston Vale, in North Manchester. She has run stakeholder workshops for organisations including: The Environment Agency, Manchester City Council, the National Association of Gifted Children, Hewlett Packard, Milliken Industrials and Robert Mondavi Winery. Before starting her PhD, she taught Environmental Studies at Dominican University in California.
Joanne was awarded an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2004/5 and was short listed for the ESRC Michael Young Prize in 2007, which is awarded for ‘exceptional promise and the potential for impact of the applicant's work’. She received a commendation in recognition of submitting an excellent business plan for the social enterprise start-up, Ketso to the prestigious Research Council UK's Business Plan Competition in 2008. Kevin Moore, the Deputy Head of Knowledge Transfer at ESRC said that the plan for Ketso was seen as "the best business plan from the social sciences, arts and humanities".
She is on the Board of the UK Systems Society, and was the Chair of Society’s International Conference for 2008. She gave a keynote presentation at the 11th UK Systems Society International Conferences (University of Oxford, Sept. 2007). she is on the working group of the Association of European Schools of Planning’s Thematic Group: Planning and Complexity
She is a member of European Science Foundation COST-Action C22, on Urban Flood Management, and gave an invited keynote presentation to the Sustainable Management of Urban Rivers and Floodplains ‘Know-how’ Workshop (Birmingham, April 2003).
Specific research interests
Systems based ecological planning
Many of the social and environmental problems faced by industrial societies will not be solved without a fundamental re-think of how citizens and organisations interact with the environment. A shift towards sustainability will require new approaches that effectively integrate stakeholder and community participation with ecologically informed planning. In this research, Joanne draws on systems thinking and complexity theory, asking how changes in scientific paradigm may change the way we go about spatial planning. Future action research will test and develop the concepts underlying this approach.
Capacity building and adaptive learning
There is a lack of skilled practitioners able to facilitate integrated, participatory planning. This is a major barrier to sustainable development and our ability to respond to global challenges. In this research area, Joanne is developing new ways to build capacity amongst professionals, with a focus on reflective learning, creativity and communication. Joanne has conducted a research project with the Environment Agency, which looked at action learning for sustainability practitioners. She is the Associate Leader for the research theme ‘Skills and Staffing Challenge’ in the Sustainable Consumption Institute at the University of Manchester.
Open source in knowledge propagation
Joanne’s research into capacity building has led to an emerging area of interest, looking at the potential for open source concepts of intellectual property to help in the development and sharing of new approaches to knowledge. This new area will look at open source as social process in planning; it will apply ideas developed in software to spatial planning.
Refereed, academic journal articles
2007 'Meeting the challenges of sustainable development—A conceptual appraisal of a new methodology for participatory ecological planning', Progress in Planning 67 (1) (Tippett was lead author, with Handley, J. F. and Ravetz, J.).
2007 'Social learning in European river basin management; Barriers and fostering mechanisms from 10 river basins', Ecology and Society 12 (1) (authors: Mostert, E., C. Pahl-Wostl, Y. Rees, B. Searle, D. Tabara and J. Tippett).
2005 'The Value of Combining a Systems View of Sustainability with a Participatory Protocol for Ecologically Informed Design in River Basins', Journal of Environmental Modeling and Software 20 (2): 119 - 139
2005 ' "Think like an ecosystem" - Embedding a Living System Paradigm into Participatory Planning', Systemic Practice and Action Research (formerly: Systems Practice) 17 (6), 603 - 622.
2005 'Social Learning and Public Participation in River Basin Management - Early findings from HarmoniCOP case studies', Environmental Science and Policy 8 (3). (Tippett was lead author, with Searle, B., Pahl-Wostl, C., & Rees, Y.).
Book chapters
Forthcoming: ‘Going beyond the metaphor of the machine –complexity and participatory ecological design’. A Planner's Meeting with Complexity. (author Tippett, J.) eds. E. Silva, N. Karadimitriou and G. De Roo, Eds. Aldershot, UK, Ashgate Publishers Ltd. (accepted pending revision)
2007 ‘New approaches to flood risk management - implications for capacity-building’. Advances in Urban Flood Management. (authors: Tippett, J. and Griffiths, E..) R. Ashley, S. Garvin, E. Pasche, A. Vassilopoulos and C. Zevenbergen, Eds. London, Taylor & Francis: 383 - 413.
2000 ‘Permaculture Principles’. Permaculture Teachers’ Guide. London, Permaculture Association (Britain) and WWF - UK: 85 - 90.
2000 ‘Teaching A Permaculture Design Course’. Permaculture Teachers’ Guide. London, Permaculture Association (Britain) and WWF - UK: 29 - 32.
2000 ‘Patterns in Design’. Permaculture Teachers’ Guide. London, Permaculture Association (Britain) and WWF - UK: 222 - 224.
2000 Permaculture Principles. Permaculture Teachers’ Guide. London, Permaculture Association (Britain) and WWF - UK: 85 - 90.
2000 Teaching A Permaculture Design Course. Permaculture Teachers’ Guide. London, Permaculture Association (Britain) and WWF - UK: 29 - 32.
2000 Patterns in Design. Permaculture Teachers’ Guide. London, Permaculture Association (Britain) and WWF - UK: 222 - 224.
Refereed conference papers
2007 ‘Creativity, networks and openness – the potential value of an open source approach to support practitioners in planning for sustainability’, (PDF). AESOP Napoli 2007 - Planning for the risk society, Naples, July 11 - 14.
2007 ‘Systems and sustainability - the art of creativity in a changing climate’. UK Systems Society 2007 International Conference - Joined up thinking for a joined up world, St. Annes, Oxford, Sept. 3 - 4.
2006 ‘Applying Systems to Capacity-Building in Participatory, Ecologically Informed Planning’. Complexity, Democracy and Sustainability: The 50th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, (authors Tippett, J. and Griffiths, E. J. ), Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California, USA, July 9th - 14th, International Society for the Systems Sciences.
2005 'Joining Up' Participation in Planning - Barriers to Integration and a Proposed Model for Holistic Planning, Findings from Action Research into Regeneration in the North West of England, The Power of Planning: The Reform Agenda, April 10-12, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK (published as draft paper).
2005 Think Like an Ecosystem', Animating the Process of Ecological Design in Participatory Planning, Engineering Sustainability - Next-generation technology in green construction and sustainable water use, April 10-12, Pittsburgh, USA (published as extended abstract).
2004 Participatory Planning in River Catchments, an Innovative Toolkit Tested in Southern Africa and North West England, International Water Association World Water Congress and Exhibition, Sept. 19-24, Marrakech, Morocco (published as abstract).
2004 'Think Like an Ecosystem' - Embedding a Living System Paradigm into Participatory Planning, UK Systems Society International Conference - Citizens and Governance in the Knowledge Age - the Contribution of Systems Thinking And Practice, Sept. 19-24, St. Anne's College, Oxford.
2004 Meeting the Challenges of the Water Framework Directive – A Participatory Protocol for Ecologically Informed Design Within River Catchments. 30th Congress of the International Geographical Union, Incorporating Joint International Geomorphology Conference, Aug 15 – 20, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow.
2002 The Value of Combining a Systems View of Sustainability with a Participatory Protocol for Ecologically Informed Design in River Basins. Policies and tools for the sustainable water management in the EU, Nov. 21-23, Venice, Italy (published as abstract and summary paper in conference proceedings).
2002 Integrated Catchment Management and Planning for Sustainability - the case of the Mersey Basin Campaign (published as abstract),
A Pattern Based Approach to Participatory Ecological Design – Action Based Learning and Ecological Education (published as abstract)
Participatory Action Research – Key Issues in Participation
87th Annual Meeting of Ecological Society of America and Annual Meeting of Society for Ecological Restoration, August 4-9, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
2001 Integrated Catchment Management and Stakeholder Partnerships, The Case of the Mersey Basin Campaign. International River Basin Management, Sept. 11-13, Wessex Institute of Technology, Cardiff, Wales.
1999 SUNstainable Pathways Design: Enhancing Creativity and Communication, HOPES Ecological Design and Arts Conference, April 15-18, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA. Presented plenary session and workshop on The Natural Step, was a panellist in closing discussion.
Policy input: consultation reports
2006 'Green City Network Launch Conference - Defining the Future of the Green City Network', Manchester, Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology (CURE), (authors Tippett, J., Le Roux, E., Griffiths, E. J. and How, F.) University of Manchester: 42.
2005 Manchester Biodiversity Strategy - Stakeholder Workshop, (PDF) - SUMMARY REPORT. For Manchester City Council, Manchester, pp. 26.
2005 Rees, Y., Searle, B. and Tippett, J., Good European Practices for Stakeholder Involvement - Lessons from Real Planning Processes, Case-studies and Experiments: WorkPackage 5 report of the HarmoniCOP project - Harmonising COllaborative Planning. WRc, Swindon, UK, pp. 71. www.harmonicop.info
2005 'A response to 'Water for life and livelihoods - A strategy for River Basin Planning – a consultation', Manchester, Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology (CURE), University of Manchester, for Environment Agency.
2004 Fox, P., D. Bond, et al. Ribble Pilot River Basin Public Participation and River Basin Planning – Early Experiences. Preston, Environment Agency, Contributors: Black, S., Holt, C., Kidd, D., Oates, R., Tippett, J., Wright, A., Herran-Young, W.
2004 A response to ‘PPS1 Planning Policy Statement 1: Creating Sustainable Communities’ by the Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology (CURE), University of Manchester, Manchester, for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), (with Handley, J. F.).
2004 A response to ‘Making Space for Water’ from the Centre for Urban & Regional Ecology', University of Manchester, for DEFRA.
2004 River Basin Planning Strategy - Workshop 1, WORKSHOP REPORT for NORTHERN REGIONS, 21 June. Leeds, for Environment Agency, pp. 11. (with Collins, K.).
2004 River Basin Planning Strategy - Workshop 2, WORKSHOP REPORT for WALES, 25 June. Builth Wells, Wales, for Environment Agency, pp. 11.
2004 River Basin Planning Strategy - Workshop 4, WORKSHOP REPORT for SOUTH WEST AND MIDLANDS, 2 July. Environment Agency, Bristol, pp. 16.
2004 River Basin Planning Strategy - Workshop 5, WORKSHOP REPORT for SOUTH EAST, 30 July. London, for Environment Agency, pp. 20.
2004 River Basin Planning Strategy - WORKSHOPS SUMMARY REPORT, May - July 2004, for Wales and the Regions of England. Manchester, for Environment Agency, pp. 11.
2003 A response to ‘Second Consultation Paper on the Implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)’ Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology, University of Manchester, for DEFRA (with Handley, J. F. & Wilkinson, M. M.).
Joanne is launching a social enterprise as a spin off from her research, for the manufacture and distribution of Ketso™ , an hands-on kit for creative groupwork. This workshop ‘in a bag’ enables people to think and work together.
Joanne currently supervises four PhD students: Eben le Roux , a Commonwealth scholar looking at reflective practice in the context of local government in South Africa, Ann Kolodziejski, carrying out action research in Bolton, UK into the role of envisioning and local action in enhancing the connection between people and nature; Julie Crawshaw, looking at holistic ways to evaluate the impact of the arts in community development; and Job Kleijn, who is carrying out a longitudinal study into the changing paradigm of participation in international development, in parallel with his roles as Diplomat/ First Secretary for Development, Water and Environment, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Sana'a, Yemen and Chairman of the Donor Coordination Group Water (World Bank, DFID, Germany, Netherlands) for the Yemen.
She would welcome enquires from prospective postgraduate students interested in her fields of research.
At the postgraduate level, Joanne teaches a course in Qualitative Research Methods, entitled ‘Participatory Learning and Action’. She also teaches ‘Actors and Networks in Land and Development’. ‘Community Planning and Development’, and contributes to courses in ‘Planning Theory’ , ‘Study Skills’ and ‘Planning for Environmental Change’.