In a collaborative effort to address pressing global challenges, the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD), alongside the university-wide Education for Sustainable Development Initiative and the iForge Makerspace, recently organised an interdisciplinary problem-solving workshop. This unique initiative drew together students from diverse fields, including Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning, and Geography, aiming to harness innovative thinking for real-world solutions.
Focused on the persistent issue of fires in South Africa's informal settlements, participants engaged in brainstorming sessions guided by Dr SJ Cooper-Knock (ESD), Dr Pete Mylon (iForge) and Professor Dorothea Kleine (IGSD).
Dr SJ Cooper-Knock, a Fellow of IGSD, summarised their recent work with communities in South Africa. Despite a constitutional right to housing, two million households in South Africa live in more than 4,297 informal settlements. These settlements often lack basic amenities like water, electricity, and sanitation facilities. In some areas, residents resort to workarounds such as creating informal connections to electricity or using candles, paraffin lamps, and open flame stoves for heating. These practices make life possible but they also increase the risk of deadly fire outbreaks. Meanwhile the densely packed structure of the settlements makes evacuation and access for fire services extremely challenging. The solution to fire safety is, ultimately, political: access to safe and secure housing. SJ’s research in South Africa has been learning how residents reduce fire risk in the interim, and what lessons can be learned from their insights.
Professor Dorothea Kleine (Director of IGSD) underscored the value of the workshop for students, particularly those working on their dissertations: “The workshop not only provided them with practical knowledge for engaging with policymakers or communities, but also promoted interdisciplinary collaboration. Learners were encouraged to consider how to co-create change while learning from other disciplines.”
The workshop tasked groups of participants with developing and discussing potential interventions to reduce the risk of fire incidents in informal settlements. This simulated a situation that policy makers and consultants find themselves in. Initial ideas included a range of interventions from fire-fighting drones to improved emergency numbers and community education. After this initial exploration, students reflected on how their ideas had been shaped by their disciplines and they heard more about the preferences, priorities and actions of informal settlement residents. They used these reflections to improve and shape their recommendations.
This innovative approach highlights the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle global challenges and achieve sustainable solutions. This initial pilot workshop will now be followed by others, including co-creation with community members.