Artful and sensory sustainability science: Exploring novel methodological perspectives

Abstract

Sustainability science is marked by a quarter century of conceptual and methodological development. Despite successful expansion and promising experiences, there are limitations to be considered. This article argues that novel methodologies and methods need to be developed and employed to better grasp the qualitative complexity of human life, including its multisensorial and aesthetic dimensions. The methodological perspectives of sensory ethnography and arts-based research are discussed and a case study, in which pertinent methods have been employed, is presented. The article ends with an outlook on the potential of artful and sensory sustainability science.